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CMA salutes Claasen and Fraser

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George Claassen – #994

The Comrades Marathon Association has expressed its sadness at news of the death of George Claassen, the 1961 Comrades Marathon winner and a notable member of the Comrades Green Number Club. He was 97 years old.

During his Comrades running years – 1960 to 1977 – George had earned two Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze medals to his name; claiming 3rd position in 1960 and his winning title in 1961.
Former CMA Chairman and Green Number Club Convener, Barry Varty reflects on news reports of George’s win at the 1961 Comrades Marathon. “George Claassen was greeted by Vic Clapham, founder of the Comrades Marathon, as he crossed the Finish Line. It was a great moment!”

Barry tells us that the Claassen Family has over the years made a significant contribution to the Comrades Marathon Association. He says, ‘George is the father of Wynand Claassen, the Springbok Rugby Captain from 1981 to 1984. Wynand was also involved in the restoration of Comrades House for the Official Opening in 1988. There is a plaque at Comrades House to this effect.’

On George’s death, Barry says, ‘Another great Comrades veteran fades in the light of the setting sun. Sadly his race is now over, and we on the road, don't say goodbye. We say “Carry on George, we'll catch you later.”’

George will be fondly remembered. The memorial service will be held at 11h00 on Monday, 23 June 2014 at the NG Kerk, Bloubergstrand.

*******

Graeme Fraser – #666

The Comrades Marathon Association is saddened by news of the death of Graeme Fraser, an ardent Comrades Marathon runner and long respected member of the Comrades Green Number Club.


Graeme passed away on Sunday, 15 June 2014 after a battle with a degenerative illness. He was 65 years old.

Graeme ran for the Hillcrest Villagers Athletics Club, was a top Comrades gold medalist, with 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals to his name between the years 1975 to 1988. He won third position in both 1982 and 1983.


He will be sincerely missed. The memorial service will be held at 14h00 on Thursday, 19 June 2014 at the Kloof Methodist Church – 4 Park Lane, off Village Road in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal.

What Inspires So Many To Complete A Triathlon?

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We investigate the mystique behind this sport that has a classic sub-culture and yet captivates the imagination of the planet.

Most people don’t think they are in a position to finish an event that comprises three different sports, without resting, for various reasons. The motives that hold people back are personal and varied but the one truth is that we all aspire to complete a triathlon, or “to be a triathlete”. We look at some of the factors that have spawned the global growth in the sport over a relatively short period of time.

The long distance format of triathlon has its beginnings at the 1977 awards ceremony for the Oahu Perimeter Relay (Hawaii), in an attempt to see whom the fittest person was; swimmers, cyclists or runners. Combining all three disciplines into one would be the ultimate test for athletes; at least this was the thought of US Navy Commander John Collins back then. Little did he know that this would inspire millions to train on a daily basis with the goal of completing any one of a multitude of races around the globe consisting of a swim, a cycle and a run.

The heart wrenching stories


Was it Julie Moss crawling across the finish line in 1982 or was it Paula Newby-Fraser crawling just to finish after being dethroned as Queen of Kona? There have been epic race rivalries between great athletes across the globe, including the Dave Scott-Mark Allen rivalry all the way to today with the Javier Gomez-Alistair Brownlee rivalry on an Olympic stage which have inspired millions, but more realistically it has been the true heart wrenching stories of triumph over adversity which we have identified with and said “I too can do that.” Maybe the most significant of stories comes from those triathletes who have crossed the finish line with a physical or mental challenge that inspired us, knowing what courage and determination it took just to get to the start line, not the finish line.

Finding out what your limits are and then challenging yourself to push them further:
Humans are not all equal in their physical abilities but do have equal parts of courage, tenacity and determination. This mix of abilities is what results in the various places, positions and times it takes athletes to complete a similar challenge. The question each person has to deal with is what his or her personal potential limit, in terms of performance, is and then starts to work on making that a reality. This takes persistence and patience over a long period of time, very often the biggest motivating factor for triathletes, simply to find out just how far and fast they can go. Is there a limit, and if there is, can you go beyond it?

Iconic events


Challenges mapped out before us globally have inspired millions to train for and complete a triathlon. Iconic locations (Robben Island) or iconic mountain passes (Alp de Huez) host triathlons, or the distance itself (like Australian David Holleran who swam 26 miles, cycled 1242 miles and ran 310 miles) or amazing city venues (like Nice, Durban or New York) all add to the mystique of completing a triathlon. With a plethora of events worldwide athletes are spoilt for choice and the discerning triathlete is looking for an entire experience out of the event. Race Organisers have responded and the challenges range from tropical coastal festivals to mountain top altitude challenges. There is an event out there to inspire everyone.

Your own time


Training for three different disciplines in the sport requires time; time spent doing each sport and mastering the different skill sets. The juggling act of balancing the time spent on these 3 sports starts becoming an art in itself to produce the best result on race day. Every event done is a test of the training and analysis of the result will allow athletes to enhance, improve and focus on specifics. This keeps them motivated to race themselves and improve on their best, regardless of the level.

Connection with nature


Today’s busy lifestyles and workplaces create stressors beyond our abilities to cope and manage. So an opportunity to have time to do your sport, either alone or with friends, is an opportunity to connect with the outdoors, with nature and re-ignite the passion and fire in your soul to be healthy and happy with your life. Swimming, cycling and running is the perfect opportunity to be outdoors, connect with Mother Nature and enjoy the real beauty of the world. A swim in the ocean or a river satisfies the soul more than just training the physical body. The wind blowing in your face, full-speed down a mountain pass on a bicycle is a treat we all live for. Running through a forest, with freshly fallen leaves and moist underfoot is an experience that must be had by all.

But all of these can only be experienced if we take that first decision and leap of faith to “be a triathlete”. More often than not you join forces with a friend in an attempt to finish your first event or you are just simply inspired to achieve what many people dream of. The reason for the motivations are varied but the real goal is to get out there, be part of it and to simply to “Be a Triathlete.”

TriRock-Durban will satisfy your race needs as an athlete and provide the ultimate race experience, from beginner to Pro. Visit www.trirock-durban.com for full details.

Lift, Squat, Run!

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Attempting pull-ups, burpies, the perfect squatting technique and more, all while running 400m in between sets… let’s just say that the Modern Athlete newbies weren’t the prettiest bunch in class. But while we predicted a few sore bodies the next day, CrossFit did give us a look into the importance of strength work to maintain good form and avoid injuries on the run, and made a pleasant change from the usual gym circuit.

CrossFit is an exercise philosophy that focuses on strength training and conditioning, incorporating weight-lifting, interval training, plyometrics (‘jump training’) as well as gymnastics and strongman workouts (deadlifts or squats). Typically, each class or ‘box’ offers an hour-long session incorporating a warm-up, a skill development period, and then a high-intensity workout featuring whatever was learnt in that session – usually with running in between. There is a library of workouts to choose from, from a basic bench-press to rope climbing, and the workouts develop stamina, strength, balance, flexibility and speed. You definitely feel like you’ve worked your butt off at the end!

BETTER RUNNING


We wanted to know if CrossFit will benefit us as runners, so we asked Pierre Ferreira, owner and instructor at CrossFit Flaming Heart in Bedfordview, about that after the session. “I have encountered runners and cyclists who have done CrossFit and it’s only benefited their training,” he says. “They develop a stronger core and upper body, and it helps for overall fitness, which you’ll feel helping at the end of a run.”

Also, with CrossFit’s focus on conditioning, endurance athletes become less prone to injuries because the knees and core can handle hitting the road better, and with the running intervals between sets, athletes can also test their stamina and progression. “Running is important for base fitness,” says Pierre. “I’ve been doing CrossFit for five years and instructing and competing for three years. In the beginning I didn’t focus on running that much, and it showed.”

There are different styles from box to box, so find the coach and style that suits you. To give CrossFit a try with Pierre, call him on 082 532 2962 or e-mail [email protected]. Or find the nearest CrossFit to you at http://map.crossfit.com

Follow on Twitter: @flamingheartCF
Like on Facebook: CrossFit Flaming Heart.

Our Team on CrossFit


Nicole: “I was pleasantly surprised at how effective the combination of cardio and strength training is. I can imagine quick results, as my muscles were aching afterwards!”


Charlie: “This mommy is so unfit, I’m in need of a hell of a lot more exercise, but it was great fun.”


Richard: “Was awesome to build some camaraderie outside the office walls, whilst frantically wiping the flowing torrent of perspiration from my brow that was threatening to drown me!”


Jen: “The combination of strength and cardio is tough, but a nice change from either just running or the usual gym routine. And ‘burpies’ is a swear word!”

Feet of Flames

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When you take those first few steps in the morning after getting out of bed, or after sitting for a while, and the bottoms of your feet hurt like crazy with a burning pain, chances are you have plantar fasciitis, a common overuse injury. That’s the bad news. The good news is that a bit of rest should be enough to get you up and running again.

Knee pain, shin splints and Achilles pain seem to get all the ‘fame and glory’ when it comes to running injuries, whereas the bottom of the foot literally stays out of the limelight. Until you get plantar fasciitis, that is. Then every step just walking around at home can be painful, let alone actually running. If you’re lucky, the pain will go away or get less after a few steps, but your foot may hurt still more as the day goes on, especially when you go up stairs or just stand for a long time.

The plantar fascia is the thick, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) that reaches from the heel to the toes, supporting the muscles and arch of the foot. When this fascia is overly stretched, tiny tears can occur in its surface, causing inflammation and pain when you stand or walk. This is known as Plantar fasciitis, can happen in one foot or both, and is common in middle-aged people, but can also occur in younger people who are on their feet a lot, like athletes or soldiers, especially if:


Your feet roll inward too much (overpronate) when you run.
You have high arches or flat feet.
You walk, stand, or run for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces.
You are overweight.
You wear shoes that don’t fit well or are worn out.
You have tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles.

DOCTORS’ ORDERS


When you go for a check-up, your doctor will check your feet and watch you stand and walk, and may take an X-ray if he or she suspects a problem with the bones of your foot, such as a stress fracture. Once diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, there is no single treatment that works best for everyone, but there are several things you can try:
Give your feet a rest: Cut back on activities that make your feet hurt, and try not to walk or run on hard surfaces.
Ice your heel: This will reduce the pain and swelling – or take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin.
Stretch the fascia: Do toe stretches, calf stretches and towel stretches several times a day, especially when you first get up in the morning. (For towel stretches, pull on both ends of a rolled towel that you place under the balls of your feet.)
Replace your shoes: Pick shoes with good arch support and a cushioned sole, or try heel cups or shoe inserts (orthotics).

If these treatments do not help, your doctor may give you a splint to wear at night, shots of steroid medicine in your heel, or other treatments. You probably will not need surgery, which is only recommended for people who still have pain after trying other treatments for six to 12 months. Instead, good old rest is your best bet to get over the problem.

Knows his Shoes!

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Few things make a runner as happy as expert advice from a fellow runner when buying shoes, so having top trail runner Nicholas Rupanga guiding you through the latest models is a real bonus!

Walk into The Sweat Shop branch in Claremont, Cape Town, and chances are you will be served by Nicholas Rupanga, a Zimbabwean national who has lived in South Africa for just over seven years and who divides his time between being a professional runner and professional shoe salesman. The 39-year-old hails from the Mashonaland, about 300km south of Harare, and has been running since his school days, but only took it up professionally once he came to SA to find work. He has a marathon PB of 2:18:41, which he set in Portugal in 2001, and has clocked 30:21 for 10km and 1:05:29 for the half marathon, so this man can run!

Judging by comments posted on Facebook, Nicholas not only knows his shoes, but also offers customers great service in the shop. He has worked at The Sweat Shop for four years, since the Claremont branch opened, and says he loves going to work each day. “I really enjoy working here, because we are like a family and they are so supportive of my running – whenever I want to go training in the mornings, they say go for it and come to work once I’m done. Also, working here means I meet people that I also meet when running, and runners are such nice, friendly people.”

SMILING RUNNER

Another thing that people always comment on is that Nicholas is always wearing a smile, even when running, but he is an ultra-competitive athlete, and lists winning the Pronutro AfricanX Trailrun in 2009 with running partner Patrick Cox as the highlight of his career. “That is still my best run, but it was also great to finish second last year with Kane Reilly. I love the AfricanX and had run it every year since 2009, but missed it this year because of a calf injury. I am seeing a physio, but I think it needs complete rest for a few months.”

Looking ahead, Nicholas will be getting married to fiancé Precious in a few months’ time, and then he says he still has big goals to chase in running, once he recovers from the injury. He wants to run some of the big trail runs in the US or Europe, but his sights are firmly set on a local race first. “My goal is to win the Otter Marathon, even though some people say my age is against me, but I am inspired by Ian Don-Warchope – he is even older than me and still came second at Otter, so I believe that I can still win it. There is strong competition in trail running amongst the vets at the moment, and I’ll be 40 soon, but at heart I feel like I’m in my late 20s. I want the youngsters to see that if you look after yourself, you can still run competitively as you get older.”

Sign up for Dare to Tri 2014/15!

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Registration is now open for the fourth intake of the Modern Athlete Dare to Tri Academy, so make that commitment to become an IRONMAN in 2015. Training starts 1 July!


The Dare to Tri programme has enjoyed three very successful years since our initial pilot project with just 10 athletes in 2011, transforming ‘Average Joe’ athletes and couch potatoes alike into IRONMAN 70.3 finishers, and this year we also had our first group going on to the full IRONMAN. Last season we had 170 finishers across various events – for an incredible finishing percentage of 97% – and the success of the programme is down to a manageable training workload that fits in with your family, work and social schedule, with group training sessions on weekends that really keep the athletes motivated.

SIGN UP TODAY!


– The 2014/15 programme will run from 1 July 2014 to 31 January 2015.
– We take complete novices to their first standard Olympic-distance finish, then train for the 70.3 half IRONMAN.
– The programme is aimed at triathletes in Gauteng who can participate in our weekend group training sessions, but triathletes from all over SA can sign up and follow on their own.
– DTT members receive a weekly e-mail from Dare to Tri Coach Derick Marcisz, reviewing the past weekend’s training and detailing the next weekend, and a full programme for the month is distributed at the beginning of each month.
– New this year: ‘Performance Programme’ for athletes looking to improve on previous results.

Register at www.modernathlete.co.za at R1000 for the full seven-month programme. Plus, we have our own distinctive training and racing kit available online!

MARK THE DATE:
DARE TO TRI 2014/2015 LAUNCH!
When: Sunday 29 June
Where: Jeppe Quondam Club, Bedfordview
Time: 9am (optional 7am easy 10km run – showers available)
Who: Coach Derick will give you more info on this year’s programme, plus hear from previous DTT members about their experiences.

#NedbankGreenMile

Big Wave Warrior

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Newly-crowned Big Wave World Tour World Champion Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker of South Africa is not only one of the world’s best surfers, he is also one of the fittest.

Launching yourself down the front of a wall of moving water 80 feet (25 metres) high might sound exciting, but even the big wave surfers who do this admit that it is one scary sport! So says Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, whose wins at the Punta Galea Challenge in Spain and Mavericks in the USA saw him top the points standings of the 2014/2015 Big Wave World Tour at the end of March and thus be crowned World Champ.

“I still get terrified when the waves are that big, but it’s about controlling your fear and using it to make smart decisions, and surf smarter. If the fear wasn’t there, you’d probably be killed, because you’d do something stupid,” says 40-year-old Twiggy. “I’ve had friends who have drowned, and I’ve come close, too, but that was in the old days. We’ve got a lot more safety measures in place now, like the jetskis that tow us in and fetch us if we come off our boards, inflatable emergency vests, better leashes, and the right people on the jetskis with medical training and big wave experience.”

FIT TO SURF


Anybody who has tried surfing will know that it takes a lot out of you physically, even more so as the waves get bigger, and thus Twiggy works out in the gym regularly, doing weights and core work, plus bike work, stepping and running on the elliptical flyer for leg work. “I played a lot of soccer when I was younger and then tore my knee ligaments while surfing, so I don’t run on the road any more to reduce impact on my knees. I also do Yoga, which I find is the best possible thing for mental and physical preparation, but the best way to be surfing fit is to do a lot of surfing!”

Twiggy is actually in the water most of the time. When the waves aren’t good, he brings out the paddle for some stand-up paddling (SUP) to work on pure stamina fitness, and if the wind is up, he goes kite-boarding, which he says is a great cardiovascular workout. He also does a lot of pool work: “I swim and do free-diving, which helps build confidence for when you’re underwater after a wave hits you. I can hold my breath for five minutes static.”

LIVING THE LIFE


While it is a dangerous profession, Twiggy is definitely enjoying his current lifestyle. He owns a bar in Cape Town, has his own surfboard and clothing labels, both called TWIG, is engaged to model Kate Lovemore, and is based in Hawaii much of the year. “I prefer Hawaii, as I can spend more time in the water, but every time there is a big swell off the US West Coast I’ll be down there, and I also go over to Europe quite often.” However, his recent success came just in time, as he was close to making some big changes in his lifestyle.

“I was almost ready to retire from competitive surfing if I didn’t do well this past Northern Hemisphere winter. I will always surf big waves – that will never change – but maybe the travelling would have slowed down. Luckily, Bos Iced Tea backed me with a three-year contract, and my recent wins helped me pick up a few other sponsors as well, and that now allows me to follow this most amazing lifestyle, travelling around the world to these contests, making some money and then staying for a few weeks to surf with the locals. Without Bos coming on board, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to go to the US and Europe, and we wouldn’t have a South African champion.”

SPAR Women’s Challenge 2014 Pretoria Officially Launched

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Yesterday the official launch for the Pretoria leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge in association with Jacaranda FM was held at Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria. The launch heralds the official opening of entries for the race. Among other announcements, the official race date was made public, this year’s theme revealed and the 2014 Brand Ambassadors were unveiled.

The sight of some 25 000 runners taking part in the Pretoria leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge each year is often referred to as “a sea of colour”. This year, that might literally be the case as bright blue t-shirts worn by SPAR staff at Atterbury Theatre unveiled 2014 colour. Key partners, sponsors, organising committee members, SPAR staff, celebrities, top runners and the media all joined in to officially kick off this year’s race.

Entries are Now Open

Entries are now officially open for the Pretoria Leg of the SPAR Women’s Challenge, the biggest and most popular race in the SPAR Women’s Challenge Grand Prix series, which attracts a whopping 25 000 avid runners each year. “We are so excited at this time of year,” says Jerome Jacobs, Marketing Director at SPAR North Rand. “Once entries open we know that it is crunch time but at the same time we start to look forward to seeing all the ladies turn out on race day.”

Entry costs R70 per person and entry forms are available at SPAR stores across Pretoria or online. Visit www.spar.co.za for more information. All participants will receive a t-shirt, a race number and a copy of My Race Magazine when they enter.

My Shoes, Your Shoes

The 2014 theme is My Shoes, Your Shoes. This concept invites all the race participants to think about what it means to walk in another woman’s shoes. “The phenomenon of 25 000 ladies running side by side, on a singular path striving for the same goal naturally led us to this theme for the 2014 race,” says Jacobs. “Last year we wanted every runner to think about what makes life beautiful, for the theme to become a celebration of everything that is good in life and for each participant to understand that every woman would have a different aspect of life that is beautiful for her. This year we want to build on that understanding and to take it further by asking participants to think about the woman running next to you – who she is and what her struggled might be.”

The theme is being backed by a social media campaign asking all women running in honour of someone who cannot – those literally running in another woman’s shoes – to share their stories on the SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria Facebook page.

2014 Brand Ambassadors

The 2014 Brand Ambassadors were chosen for their efforts in using their positions and success in life to make tangible changes to the world around them. They represent the spirit of the race and the epitome of the values it represents. This year’s group includes longstanding race patron Annie Malan, representatives of the Mrs United Nations initiative as well as Pretoria couple Pierre and Juanné Spies. Annie Malan has been the patron of the race over 5 years. She is a well known figure in South African film and television and is also a successful business woman. She has generously supported the race for all these years lending her positive outlook and vibrant image to the race brand. Mrs. United Nations South Africa is a national competition that gives married women a platform to make a difference in their communities, charities and families. Its founder, Zantie Swanepoel together with six Mrs UN Alumni (Ingrid Burger, Londiwe Moyane, Martha ‘Soso’ Thamae, Dr Toni Jay, Cindy Oosthuizen and Kona Brown) have come on board as brand ambassadors as a way of showing South African women that if you believe in change, anything can happen.

Pierre and Juanné Spies have also put their stamp on this year’s SPAR Women’s Challenge as brand ambassadors. Pierre and Juanné saw this year’s theme as a chance to represent and celebrate all the women who do for their husbands and partners, what Juanné does for Pierre. “I am sure that I am not the only woman who believes in supporting your husband and family. I am here to represent all the women who share these values and let them know that the role they play is not only recognised but appreciated,” says Juanné. They decided to represent the race as a couple as a reflection of their approach to life, love and marriage.

Fully committed to her role as a mother; breast cancer survivor and road safety activists, Zoleka Mandela’s life is a story she believes will change many lives. As a product of two legendary icons; former President of South Africa Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and freedom fighter, Nomzamo Winfred Madikizela Mandela, Zoleka’s social responsibility is tremendously inspired by her grandparents and their passion to bring about change. She envisions the awareness of breast cancer and road safety as by no means an obstacle on her road to extending her project work in South Africa but merely as preparation on her personal journey to counter act the lives lost due to road carnage and breast cancer. In sharing her story she hopes that her life will inspire people to follow many of their dreams.

A New 5km Start

The race now boasts a separate starting point for the 5km and 10km races. The 10km will start in South Street and the 5km will start in West Street. “After years of trying to make this happen, we have finally secured a separate start for the two races in order to better accommodate the thousands of participants,” says Jacobs. “It is important to us that all of our runners know how much effort we put into understanding their needs. From the novice runner to our major Grand Prix contenders, our goal is to ensure that every lady feels accommodated and that nothing gets in the way of them enjoying their race experience.”

The My Race Magazine

The official publication for the Spar Women’s Challenge, My Race, is back for the 2014. Now in its third edition, the magazine is jam-packed full of helpful articles to help participants get ready for race day. A complete race preparation guide will help entrants train for a 5 or 10km race and includes all you need to know from what to eat to what shoes to wear. Additional topics range from the top running watches to making time for you. Alongside this content, vital race information has also been included such as frequently asked questions and a map of Super Sport Park. The magazine will be distributed by providing each participant with a copy when they enter the race.

2014 SPAR Women’s Challenge Sponsors

An event of these proportions is impossible to carry off single handedly and that is where SPAR’s crucial race sponsors come into play. SPAR North Rand is fortunate this year to have been able to team up with a number of valued partners and sponsors. These include Super Sport Park, City of Tshwane, Jacaranda FM, Athletics Gauteng North, New Balance and Suzuki Montana as major partners as well as Gary Rom, Arial, Ultra Mel, Shield, Starke Ayres, Futurelife and Ava as sponsors. “We are so fortunate to have these companies on board because their contribution goes further than just helping to make the race itself happen. Their contributions mean that our race beneficiaries stand to benefit so much more from the race and at the end of the day, this what the event is all about – giving back to our local community,” says Retha Ingenbleek, Sponsorship Controller for SPAR North Rand.

Race Beneficiaries

All of these sponsors came together with SPAR to create a great event, not only for the runners, but for those who stand to benefit from the proceeds of the day as well. A percentage of the proceeds of the race will be divided among SPAR’s four beneficiaries – the Chrysalis Foundation, the Jacaranda Good Morning Angels and Helpnet.

The race organisers have tasked the Contracts Centre at Irene Homes in Pretoria East with packing some 25 000 goodie bags in time for the race. The Contracts Centre at Irene Homes is a Protective Work Centre ensuring a safe environment for residents and day workers who enjoy the social interaction and daily activities of the Workshop. The Contracts Centre is a registered Protective Day Centre serving 69 mentally and sometimes physically disabled men and women in a safe environment.

Good Morning Angels is a Jacaranda FM CSI initiative founded and spearheaded by Dianne Broodryk. The program is broadcast on The Complimentary Breakfast every Wednesday morning. Throughout the year, an average of between 60 and 70 individuals, families or community projects are helped, through the kindness of sponsors.

The Help-Net Fund is a non-profit organization that focuses on the care and rehabilitation of abused, neglected and abandoned children. The Help-Net Fund works to source the funds to establish SafeHouse places of safety countrywide. SafeHouse focuses their resources on care, love, provision of basic needs and healing tools such as counselling. You can play an important role in Help-Net’s funding structure by signing a debit order for the amount of your choice.

The Chrysalis Foundation is a life skills and finishing school course for girls from 14 to 18 who have been traumatised, and are living in children’s homes, places of safety or foster care. The purpose of the Chrysalis Foundation is to enable the girls to attain self respect and confidence and to reach their full potential. Several past students have secured good jobs and many have been successfully placed in rehabilitated parental or family care.

Race Day Details

The race will start at 14:00 on Saturday 30th August 2014 and takes place at Super Sport Park in Centurion. As always, the race will offer women the opportunity to partake in a 5km or a 10 km race, with the 10km challenge forming part of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Grand Prix Series, which has cash prizes at stake for the more advanced athletes amongst us. As always several local artists will entertain the crowds with live performances on race day and will set the stage for the handover of SPAR’s donations to the race beneficiaries.

On the day, all entrants will receive a goodie bag filled with wonderful products and all runners to cross the finish will receive a medal compliments of SPAR and the race sponsors. Families, groups and friends are encouraged to come and enjoy the day together – bring a picnic basket and make the most of this great event!

SPAR Women’s Challenge Background

The SPAR Women’s Challenge is the most popular and inclusive road race in South Africa, attracting the country’s top professional female athletes and a vast range of recreational runners. The race began in 1999 with just 600 entrants racing along the University of Pretoria’s Groenkloof Campus. Today, more than 25,000 entrants from around Gauteng run through Centurion’s streets, starting at Super Sport Park stadium and looping back along both a 5km and 10km route. Participants include Olympians, top age-group competitors, and many thousands who run for charity and to achieve their own personal goals. An estimated 15 000 spectators turn out in support of the event, along with hundreds of print and broadcast media. The Pretoria race is a key part of the SPAR Grand Prix series – the only competition of its kind in South African road running. It allows outstanding women runners to score points over the series of 5 SPAR Women’s 10km races, and be eligible for cash prizes and other rewards. The SPAR Women’s Challenge is the premier event of the Gauteng road running calendar.

Stay on top of the latest race news, enter exciting competitions and show your support by Liking the SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria Facebook Page or following @SPARladiespta on Twitter.

Challenging the Outeniqua Mountains, the Outeniqua Quest!

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The launch of a new Ultra Trail Run in the Garden Route, South Africa, a Trail run of more than 100km. The TriSport team is hosting a new and exciting event, the Outeniqua Quest. The Outeniqua Quest is taking place from the 7 – 8 June 2014. It’s definitely not one to miss!

Outeniqua Quest gives you a chance to run (or walk, for the fast walkers) the full Outeniqua Hiking Trail either non-stop (yes, the full 104 km in one shot) or over 2 days. The Outeniqua Trail officially start at the Beervlei hut, close to Wilderness and finish at the Hakerville hut, close to Hakerville. You get to spend running in the beautiful mountains and through the indigenous forests, on an internationally popular hiking trail. The Hiking Trail normally take up to 7 days to complete, but we are giving you a chance to challenge yourself and run the trail as fast as you can, or you can do it over 2 days.

The various race options to choose from include a Non-Stop option, where athletes will run the full 104km of the Outeniqua Hiking Trail in one go without sleeping over, a 2-day Ultra Trail Run option where athletes will sleep over halfway at Millwood and therefore do the Outeniqua Hiking Trail over 2 days, or for those who are looking for a shorter option, there is a Lite Quest, where athletes will be able to run only 48km to the half way mark at Millwood.

The event is a solo event, but of course, you are more than welcome to bring friends or family along. If you feel like cheering your friends on running this race or to keep in the loop, please follow the TriSport FB page on www.facebook.com/trisportsa.

Sonja Terblanche-Otto (MSc Exercise Science) from TriSport and organizers of the Outeniqua Quest Trail Run in Ebb and Flow, Wilderness, Southern Cape on the 7th – 8th June 2014.

For more info contact Michelle on [email protected]

Rene Kalmer at the 2012 at the World half marathon Championships in Kavarna

CMA Medical Statistics for 2014 Comrades Race Day

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Comrades Doctor, Dr Jeremy Boulter has issued the medical statistics for the 2014 Comrades Marathon.

Nearly 800 runners received medical treatment at the Finish Venue at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium. Of these, 362 were attended to at the main Medical Tent while more than 400 runners received R&R, rub-downs, strapping, massage and mild treatment at the St. John’s Tent.

60 patients were treated at Durban’s St. Augustine’s Hospital while 14 patients were referred to the Umhlanga Hospital. As at last night (Monday 2 June 2014), 4 patients remained in hospital for further investigation while the rest were treated and discharged.

The CMA has over the years, implemented extensive medical, emergency, first aid and physiotherapy provisions for its thousands of participants. Sponsored by Netcare 911 and Ampath Laboratories, these much-needed medical amenities are made available at strategic positions along the route and at the Finish Venue.

This comprises eight physiotherapy stations, a fleet of ambulances, several rapid response vehicles, a team of paramedics, a dedicated emergency helicopter, the extensive Adcock Ingram Critical Care Medical Tent at the Finish Venue, a 3-bed fully equipped ICU-type resuscitation area; a critical care emergency facility on the Finish Line and the St. John’s Ambulance Tent. The referral hospitals are St Anne’s and St Augustine’s Hospitals.

Dr Boulter says, ‘The Comrades Marathon is a tough race. The aim of our extensive medical provisions is to allow us to help a runner in just about any medical eventuality should the need arise.’

He adds, ‘The majority of the runners who were attended to at the medical tent were dehydrated and exhausted. Although these are fairly minor symptoms, our medical staff had another busy Comrades Race Day on their hands but all within their grasp.’