Category: Columns

Fitness enthusiasts can now work out to music and track their activities 24/7 through their GPS fitness watch. TomTom has launched the all-new TomTom Spark GPS Fitness Watch with integrated music player, making it easier for fitness enthusiasts to boost their training. Now users no longer have to strap a phone to their arm or worry about wires getting in the way during their workout. TomTom Spark gives them everything they need in one easy-to-use device on their wrist.

3GB of music storage space on the TomTom Spark means users can now leave their smartphone at home while listening to over 500 songs directly from the watch around their wrist. This highly rated, high quality fitness watch, streams music to a wide variety of bluetooth headphones, and comes preloaded with Running Trax – a thirty minute mix of motivating, high energy, upbeat dance anthems – from some of the world’s best DJs, curated by The Ministry of Sound. Playlists can be easily accessed and downloaded to the TomTom Spark from iTunes as well as Windows Media Player.

“We know that music plays an important role when it comes to motivating and improving sports performance, but relying on a smartphone is an uncomfortable experience,” says Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director of TomTom. “The unique combination of an integrated music player, a built-in heart rate monitor, as well as 24/7 activity tracking, multi-sport modes and GPS in the TomTom Spark makes it easier than ever to track progress, improve overall fitness levels and ultimately get more from your workout.”

Steps, active minutes, distance, calories burned, and sleep duration are tracked by the 24/7 activity tracking feature in the TomTom Spark. Users are able to set and track daily, weekly, and monthly goals while following their progress towards these goals on their watch or via the TomTom MySports app on their smartphones. The built-in heart rate monitor accurately tracks heart rate, without the need for a chest strap. The multi-sport mode means that users can track all of their indoor and outdoor sporting activity including running, cycling, swimming, treadmill and gym workouts.

TomTom Spark also includes highly accurate GPS tracking to provide real-time information including time, distance, speed and pace. Users can upload their stats via the MySports app and review their stats wirelessly on multiple platforms including TomTom MySports, RunKeeper, Nike+ and more.

More information on this fantastic product can be found here.

Race number collection for the 2016 Dischem Half Marathon starts tomorrow!

Set to start at 06:00 sharp on Sunday 17 January, the Dischem Half Marathon has become one of the most popular events to kick off the running year which regularly sells out way before the cut-off date due to its popularity.

And the 2016 event is no exception so, unfortunately, if you haven’t entered you are too late for this year.

But if your entry was successful, you can collect your race number, plus your awesome Goodie Bag and T-shirt from the following locations:

• Thursday 14 January, Dischem Fourways Mall, from 09:30 to 17:00.
• Friday 15 January, Dischem Park Meadows (opposite Eastgate), from 09:30 to 17:00.
• Saturday 16 January, Virgin Active Bedfordview, from 09:30 to 15:30.

And if you miss those dates for any particular reason, you’ll still be able to collect your race number at Virgin Active Bedfordview on race day itself from 05:00 before the start. Unfortunately, you won’t get your goodie bag or your T-shirt as you will only be able to get them at the collection points mentioned above.

In addition to the half marathon, there is also a 5km Dash, which starts at 06:30, which is a fun run for the whole family.

The Dischem Half Marathon is organised by the Bedfordview Country Club Athletics.

So, if you do have an entry, make your way to the collection points sooner rather than later. And good luck for Sunday!

For more information, click here!

Participants of the Dischem Half Marathon will run for two worthy causes, the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation and the Lambano Sanctuary, when they take to the streets on Sunday 17 January 2016.

The Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation is a registered, non-profit organisation which focuses on the treatment of domestic dogs and cats in the informal settlements of Barcelona, Danville, Putfontein and Angelo on the East Rand.

Thanks to the donations made by the Dischem Half Marathon runners and the Dischem Foundation, animals are vaccinated and de-wormed, sprayed, neutered and provided with any other treatment they might need. Find out more about this worthy cause here.

Founded in 2001, the Lambano Sanctuary is a fully-registered residential care and support facility. The organisation’s mission is to accept and to care for children who have been abandoned or orphaned, particularly those infected by HIV/Aids.

The organisation was established in response to the lack of facilities caring for HIV/Aids infected children at the time of its founding. To find out more and to see how you could possibly assist, click here.

In fact, thanks to the Dischem Foundation, any money donated to these two charities via the Dischem Half Marathon entry system will be doubled.

And this Dischem Half Marathon charity drive is an on-going process, with about R400 000 raised for the various charities decided on by the sponsor Dischem Pharmacies and the Bedfordview Country Club Athletics organising committee over the last five years or so.

Unfortunately entries for the Dischem Half Marathon are now closed, but you can find out more about this event here or read more articles here.

Sometimes we have voices in our heads that can prevent us from getting out the front door to go running, and sometimes we find new voices that can get us going. – BY SEAN FALCONER

A few weeks back it had just gone 5pm and I was contemplating getting changed into running kit to go meet up with the 6pm Monday evening running group at the entrance to the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve near my home in Stellenbosch. However, I was feeling a bit tired after a long day in front of my computer, and I was this close to just skipping the run.

The excuses were already forming in my head – leading the charge was that the south-easter had come up and it was just a wee bit too windy for my liking – but luckily for me some running friends then started chatting about going for a run on one of our WhatsApp groups, and that spurred me into movement. I duly went to meet up with the group and ended up having an absolutely stupendous run! Didn’t even notice the wind…

In the next few days I did various interviews for our December edition, currently in stores and available online, and some of them really made me stop and think about how easy it is to fall into the trap of making excuses not to run, or convincing yourself that you don’t have time to train. And that made me ask myself, what is my excuse?

It started when I met up with Brian Key, all of 77 years old, a great-grandmaster that I have shared a few trails with over the years, although he is normally considerably faster than me. In spite of his age, Brian still hits the trails on Table Mountain as often as he can, and given that he lives in a very steeply hilled suburb of the Mother City, he often does hill sessions on the roads as well. No excuses, he just gets out there and runs, because he simply loves to run… and if he can do it, what is my excuse?

Then I spoke to Jaap Greyvenstein, a para-athlete from the Eastern Cape who lost part of his right leg when he fell under a train at the age of 21. Many years later he took up running and went on to do hundreds of marathons and ultras, but now he is struggling with his prosthetic running leg and is desperately in need of a new one, but can’t afford it. And yet he still runs every day. In fact, he runs twice most days! If he can do it, what is my excuse? (Side note: The article on Jaap led to a number of people contacing Jaap and his friends to offer help, which really makes me happy – great to know the mag can have such a positive influence on people's lives!)

The third interview really got me thinking when I chatted to Expresso TV hosts Ewan Strydom and Leigh-Anne Williams, two ultra-busy celebs that sometimes put in 16-hour work days and are often on the road – and yet they both make sure to fit in time for regular training. And it’s not just because they’re on TV and have to look the proverbial part, but because they genuinely enjoy training and feeling healthy, and thus they have made training part of their lifestyle, instead of a ‘chore.’ If they can do it, what is my excuse?

Throw in René Kalmer’s column on what it is like to be a professional runner who must train right through the Festive Season holidays, when everybody else is relaxing and taking time off, and add the Training column by Ray Orchison on holiday maintenance training, and you see a strong theme running through this edition, that there is no excuse for making excuses for not running or training. No matter how busy you think you are, or how tired you may feel right that moment, or how hot it is, or how windy it is, or how anything for that matter, you can still make a plan to fit in an enjoyable and satisfying run. And you’ll feel like a million bucks afterwards – especially if you first had to overcome the excuses in your head!

So if you are prone to making the odd excuse not to get out there and run, I suggest you read these articles – simply click on the names highlighted above and you'll go straight to the articles – and then tell those voices in your head to pipe down, because there’s a new sheriff running this town!

Try these five simple do-it-yourself home remedies for Plantar Fasciitis. – BY SEAN FALCONER

If you are experiencing persistent pain and stiffness in the bottom of your foot, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis, one of the most common running injuries. This condition is caused by inflammation of the thick tissue, or fascia, that runs along the bottom of the foot, and some contributing factors could be tight hamstrings, back, calves and Achilles tendons, or running in shoes that do not provide your feet with enough arch support.

The condition may also be caused by a muscle imbalance in the hips or pelvis, which can cause you to make a slight compensation in your stride, including rotating your one hip more than the other, which in turn places more stress on one leg than the other, sometimes causing a build-up of pain down in the feet.

If you pick up plantar fasciitis, you need to stop or reduce your running, and then follow these steps:

1. Stretch the fascia: Prop your feet up against the wall, keeping your arch and heel flat so the toes stretch. Hold for a count of 10 and repeat up to 10 times, three or four times per day.

2. Roll the arch: Stretch and then roll the bottom of your foot for 10 minutes on a frozen water bottle, or on a frozen golf ball, starting from the front and working your way back. Put good pressure on each of the inner, central and outer sections, rolling each for at least 15 seconds.

3. Foam-roll everything: A tight backline of muscles, even tight shoulders, can lead to plantar fasciitis, so work on loosening tight muscles with a controlled stretching programme and by foam-rolling all your muscles above the feet.

4. Get yourself balanced: Correct the muscle imbalance in your hips or pelvis with a strengthening programme focused on calf- and pelvis-strengthening. (You will need expert help with this from a physio or biokineticist.)

5. Change your shoes: If your current running shoes so not provide enough arch support, you may want to try a different model or manufacturer, but keep in mind that many people blame their shoes for a running injury when the problem actually stems from their muscle misalignment or a strength imbalance.

The last two of these remedies are more long-term solutions, but in the meantime you can use the first three simple home remedies to temporarily relieve the pain.

As they open the Dischem Half Marathon goodie bag, athletes are seen with big smiles on their faces.

In fact, this goodie bag is widely regarded as the best in the business and definitely sets the standard for the rest of the year’s running events.

And its perhaps not surprising that the Dischem Half Marathon’s naming sponsor Dischem Pharmacies is instrumental in supplying both the goodie bags and everything in them.

Stan Goetsch, the director of Dischem Pharmacies, says that the contents of the goodie bag is carefully monitored to give athletes relevant products.

“As with each of our events, we make every effort to ensure that the event experience for entrants is of a high standard and good value of the entry fee,” he explained. “With the support of our suppliers, we manage to put, what we believe, is the best quality goodie bag together for each of our events.”

And Stan is one to know what athletes need as he, himself, is a runner with no less than seven Comrades and two Oceans under his belt. He actually ran the race – then sponsored by Bliss Dairies – in 1989 as his first running event.

Like previous years, the goodie bag includes an awesome T-shirt which runners wear with pride after they have conquered the Dischem Half Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 17 January through the picturesque streets of Bedfordview.

So if you have entered this race, remember to collect your numbers, goodie bags and T-shirts at the following collection points:

• Dischem Fourways Mall, Thursday 14 January from 09:30 to 17:00;
• Dischem Park Meadows (opposite Eastgate), Friday 15 January from 09:30 to 17:00;
• Virgin Active Bedfordview, Saturday 16 January from 09:30 to 15:00.

And if you miss those dates, you can pick up your number, but not your goodie bag and T-shirt, at the event between 05:00 and the start of the race.

For those who didn’t enter the 2016 Dischem Half Marathon, remember to get your entry into the 2017 Dischem Half Marathon early, ensuring that you receive your goodie bag which will put a smile on your face.

Breaking South African race walking records will be the last thing on Lebogang Shange’s mind next year. The goal he will be striving for will be much more difficult and also much more important.

He will be preparing himself to get a top-three finish in the 20km race walk at the Olympic Games in Rio.

To prove how serious he is about this, he has stuck a big note on the ceiling of his bedroom. It is the last thing he sees before he turns off the light at night and it reminds him why he has to push his body to the limit day after day and why he needs to make certain sacrifices.

Shange was the most prolific record breaker this season. He did so on no less than five occasions but now he cannot help wondering whether it was worth the effort.

“People read about my record-breaking exploits and see me talk about it on television and they presume that I must be raking in ‘big’ money. The honest truth is I did not get one cent for any of the records I have broken. I actually received very little recognition for my efforts from any of the decision makers in South African sports. All I received was one congratulatory letter from a personal assistant working at Athletics South Africa (ASA) and that was it.

“That is why I am planning to change my whole strategy next year. I am going to be more selective when and where I will race. I am not getting any younger and therefore it is important that I start to make a living as a race walker.”

Shange is planning to do things different next year. His coach, Chris Britz, wants him to drastically change his racing strategy.

“Chris wants me to start racing from the front, rather than chasing down the leaders over the last kilometres. I guess adapting to a new racing strategy will take some time. One of the things I love about race walking is the chase over the last kilometres. While I am racing I get involved to such an extent that I totally forget about the kilometres. All that matters is catching up and passing the athletes in front of me. But I am up to the new challenge. Chris reckons it will take about three races for me to get used to racing from the front.

“Although my focus will not be on breaking any records, my aim will still be to consistently walk times of between 1:18:00 and 1:22:00. If I manage to do that, I ought to be able to get a top-five or better finish in Rio. The racing at the Olympic Games is usually a tactical battle.”

Shange is full of praise for the role Monja Human, a sports psychologist at the HPC, plays in his success as a race walker.

“I must admit that I, especially coming from a township, was sceptical at first about going to see a psychologist. I thought it was only crazy people who did so, but she totally changed my perception about psychology. Monja helped me believe in my abilities as a race walker and to be fearless when I race.

“More importantly, she taught me how to stay focused and calm when I race and not to get intimidated by the athletes against whom I am racing. She keeps emphasizing that it is important that I stick to my race plan.”

Shange will fly out to Canberra in the first week of January to attend a race walking camp organized by his role model, the Olympian medallist Jarred Tallent.

He is planning to stay on for a few weeks after the camp to do some more training and he also plans to compete in one race in Australia.

Running while on holiday can be a pain… and even the most dedicated runners find it difficult sticking to a training programme during the Festive Period and time away from work – even us pro runners. It is tough to stay motivated to keep putting your running shoes on and hitting the road while the rest of the nation is in a laid back festive mood. – BY RENÉ KALMER

With the Olympic Games only nine months away, this December/January holiday won't be any different from all my previous ‘running holidays.’ Luckily I realised from a very young age that training during the holidays gave me the competitive advantage for the New Year's athletic season, and I have also been really lucky to have my sister Christine as my travelling training partner for many years. She grew up thinking that this is what we do on holidays… train, and train some more! (Whereas my brother Herman soon realised that there are better things to keep busy with while on holiday.) The Kalmer family are ‘happy campers’ and most holidays were planned making sure that there was enough good training terrain nearby. An athletics track close by was always an added bonus.

My main focus while on holiday is rather on maintaining my fitness, versus gaining fitness. I'm also very flexible about my approach to training on holiday, because there is no way that you are going to find a track to do speed sessions while on holiday in Zanzibar or Mozambique. Another handy hint is to remember to pack in your club kit and licence numbers, and check out the racing schedule for local races or parkruns at your holiday destination, as there may be some great organised runs you can participate in.

Getting it Done
First, you have to accept the fact that you have to keep training while on holiday, especially with the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon being almost a month earlier next year (26th of March, due to Easter moving each year) and its qualifying cut-off at the end of February. So, best you get up early and get your training done and dusted before breakfast. It might be a bit ‘traumatic’ for you to get up early while on holiday, especially if you are not a morning person, (like my hubby Andre), but I promise that you will feel great for the rest of the day. It is also a great idea to end your run close to the nearest water. Dipping in the pool or ocean is a great way to recover after a run.

A new environment, different climate or terrain can be some of the challenges we face while on holiday. I always try to see these ‘challenges’ as an adventure to be creative with my running. Combining running with sightseeing is the best way to explore a new city or holiday destination. Just remember that it is best to get some local advice in advance about possible running routes and which areas to avoid, for your safety. It is also important to focus on some markers on your run, as it can be a little disastrous when you get lost and have to find your way back, especially if in a foreign country where you don’t speak the local language… It is also a great time to experiment with different types of running, like hitting some trails in the mountains or forests. Personally, I stay away from running on the beach during holidays, as the unstable surface can sometimes lead to injuries.

Use Your Time Wisely
Even if you are staying home this holiday, you can use the extra hours you have at hand to boost your fitness. It is a great time to focus on the areas we may have neglected during the year, like cross-training and rehab exercises. You can even behave like a professional runner and work in some afternoon naps after a morning run! But if you only have a little time available this holiday for training, rather do shorter runs. Remember, something is better than nothing, so some running is better than no running!

Happy Holidays! Whether you run, race, rest or recover, make it count!

With his thick curly grey hair, 77-year-old Brian Key of Western Province cut a distinctive figure as he came home first male Great Grandmaster in 3:28 at the SA Marathon Champs in Mossel Bay on 26 September. It was his second national title of the year, having already won the SA Half Marathon Champs title, to go with his seventh consecutive 70-79 age category win in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, where he was also the oldest male participant – and he says he has no intention of slowing down any time soon, because he simply loves his running. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Ever humble about his running exploits, Brian says “it’s not that I am so good, it’s more that others are just not as fast as me any more. I guess I have been lucky with my genes. I am flattered when younger runners ask me for advice, or say they look up to me for still running at my age. I simply tell them to make sure that their running is always fun and enjoyable – that is the secret to running success.”

Music Man
Born in England, Brian is a retired classical musician, having played the Double Bass, and he moved to South Africa in January 1969 after accepting a job to play for the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. He met his late wife Sonja in the UK one night while playing in a club in Birmingham, and they were together for 47 years before her passing two years ago. Besides playing music, Brian kept himself busy with mountaineering and hiking, trout fishing and later cycling, but he retired his road bike at age 53 when he was hit by a car while out riding.

“I decided the roads were just not safe enough, but five years later I took up running, both on trail and roads. So I was running on the mountain 20 years ago, long before trail running became fashionable.” He ran his first half marathon aged 58, clocking 92 minutes in the Tradouwspas Half. “Then I wanted to do a marathon, so I ran another half in Durbanville, then did the Peninsula Marathon, clocking 3:25. Your first marathon is always exciting, but I didn’t know what to expect with the increased distance.”

Oceans Podiums
The next step up came at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in 2000, when Brian, then 61, won the grandmaster category with a sparkling debut 4:19:52. The following year he went even faster, clocking 4:16:48, but had to settle for second in his category, and he was on the podium in six out of seven runs from 2000 to 2007. He failed to finish in 2008, due to a hamstring injury – still his only DNF in a race – but since 2009 he has dominated the 70-plus category with seven consecutive wins, including a course record 4:30:38 in 2010. He also holds the Western Province 70-79 records for 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km, as well as the 60-69 marathon record, and can boast a marathon PB of 2:57, run when he was 61.

He also tried his hand at the Comrades Marathon, running the Down runs in 2003 and 2010. In 2003, he tripped over the cat one day at home and stubbed his toe against the lounge furniture, then limped through the Two Oceans (still finishing in 4:36:52 as third grandmaster), only to find out afterwards he had a broken metatarsal in his foot. “I took some time off running to heal, then ran the Comrades with Sonja at her pace, so it was very stop-start for me as we came home in 11:32. In 2010 I ran my best time of 8:45, but I have to say that I’m not a fan of the Comrades – it’s a great race, but too many people on the road for me, and it’s a hassle to get there, whereas Two Oceans is right on my doorstep.”

Trail Pioneer
While Brian has made a name for himself on the road, his achievements in trail running have also caught the eye. He ran his ninth PUFfeR 80km this year after taking a few years off from this gruelling ultra, and he has also run various multi-day stage races, including the AfricanX, Amatola, Southern Cross and Namaqua Quest. “The Amatola was my first multi-day event, 100km over two days, and I recall we got a bit lost on day one and did an extra 10 kays. I didn’t know how I would be able to run the next day, but I got up and felt OK. I always did the multi-day races with Sonja, and because she was considerably slower than me, I would wait for her. She took up running a bit after me, but we had done a lot of mountaineering together, and she was actually a very fast race walker.”

Another of Brian’s favourites is the Three Peaks in Cape Town, which ascends Devils Peak, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and he was due to run his 14th one just after this interview was done. “It’s a nice event because you get to see the other runners all day, with some going up and others coming down the various peaks. I remember in previous years I would finish back down at Green Market Square, then wait for Sonja, only to find her finishing just her second peak, so I would joke with her that I was going home to sleep and she should ring me when she’s done so I can come fetch her. She loved the trails on Table Mountain as much as me, and I think it is wonderful that the Two Oceans Trail Run named a floating trophy for her.”

More to Come
Looking ahead, Brian says he will be running Two Oceans again in 2016, as well as doing his 10th PUFfeR, plus he will be looking for new trail races to explore, and he says he has no problems finding the motivation to keep running at 77. “I just want to keep getting out there, enjoying the fresh air and great views, and feeling good afterwards. I just love being able to run, because it’s such a nice feeling. I have never regretted going for a run, even though some days I might not feel like it, but once you’re out the front door you’re OK. Also, I have met so many great like-minded people, and seen some incredible places, thanks to running. And I love that you can talk for hours about running with fellow runners, even though it is basically just one foot in front of the other.”

There were two very familiar faces in the biathlon/duathlon event of the Freshpak Fitness Festival in Clanwilliam in October, as Expresso TV breakfast show hosts Ewan Strydom and Leigh-Anne Williams found some time in their crazily busy schedules for a bit of running and biking. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Things didn’t quite go to plan for well known TV celeb Leigh-Anne at the Freshpak Fitness Festival. While co-presenter and close friend Ewan had done many road runs before, as well as doing the biathlon race at the festival the year before, it was her first ever competitive race, having only walked a few 5km fun runs before, and she was feeling a bit nervous. “The training I had done was mostly in the gym, due to my hectic schedule, and I don’t think anything can really prepare you for running on the road, or for the heat,” says Leigh-Anne. “I thought I would do a lot better, but I’ll be honest, I was gassed in the first couple of minutes of running!”

“When I got to the cycling section, I thought I was going to be equally bad, but I actually made up a lot of time. However, I was supposed to be done after the bike leg and just jog around the corner from transition to the finish line… but when I asked the officials which way to go, they told me to continue straight, because they thought I was doing the duathlon. So they made me run the entire course again! But I’m happy I did it, and it has spurred me on to improve for the next one. I can’t deal with the fact that I struggled so much with the run!”

Ewan jumps in here: “I’m proud of Leigh-Anne, especially since she did an extra unplanned run and still looked so fresh when she came in. In fact, I’m proud of her just for rocking up for the race, because it can be daunting for somebody who’s never done something like that before. Being my second time at the Freshpak Fitness Festival, I think I was mentally better prepared, especially after the heat of last year, but I had done less training due to just coming off a boxing event training programme, and then work took over, plus I picked up a bad chest infection just before the race, so I was really surprised to finish fourth. Next year I’m going to go out for a place on the podium!”

Hectic Schedules
Fitting in training is a major challenge for these two celeb athletes. They are up at 3am on weekdays to drive to work and prepare for the daily television show, and that is then followed by other TV, radio and film work, voice-overs, presenting, emceeing and modelling, and they often only get home again around 8pm. And yet both still find time to train and work on their fitness.

“If something is important to you, you will find time to fit it into your life, especially things that make you feel good,” says Leigh-Anne. “Yes, we are required to look good and feel good, because we’re selling a feel-good show, and when people watch us it has to translate on screen, but training is also important to me because I like the way I feel when I’m healthy and fit. It’s about finding a gap in the day, and often I have to sneakily fit it in by creating a ‘meeting’ here and there, but if that doesn’t happen, I train after the radio show, from 7pm till 9pm. I find a way.”

Ewan immediately nods in agreement, saying, “Just like I need to fit in eating and sleeping, so training is part of my day, and if I can’t fit it in, I will make a plan, because it’s part of my lifestyle. It doesn’t matter where I am working or travelling, I will always pack my training goodies. If I can I train six days a week, and if I know in advance that I am going to be very busy for a few days, I try to put in the extra work before or afterwards, to make sure I don’t lose momentum. Sometimes that does bite into my already limited family time with my wife and two young kids, but I try to make it up on the weekends. And then some people tell me they don’t have time to train… You can do it if you put your mind to it.”

Star Qualities
Leigh-Anne comes from a radio background, having worked at Good Hope FM since 2006, and for the past four years she has also been on Expresso. Earlier this year she was one of the 10 celebrity contestants on the reality competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and she says that really raised her public profile. “At Expresso I was actually lucky to fly under the radar – people would recognise me, but would it would always be ‘There goes Expresso,’ I didn’t have a name – but then I did Strictly Come Dancing, and after that things were insane. Expresso has also grown so much this year, and I think people now think of us as part of their family.”

Ewan grew up in Gauteng and was a swimmer and sprinter at school, then relocated to Cape Town in 2001 for modelling work, where he took up road running to keep fit and explore the city. His appearance on the front cover of Men’s Health magazine in 2008 and participation in that year’s Men’s Health Look competition launched his TV career. He’s also a qualified personal fitness trainer who has made it his mission to motivate and inspire people to change their lifestyles and become healthier and fitter, and that’s why he and Leigh-Anne are working on their own sideline project to produce an online health and fitness programme.

“This is something that we’ve been wanting to do for a while, we just needed to find a gap,” says Ewan. “There’s so much information out there, but it can be overwhelming, so I think it is important for people to hear it from somebody like Leigh-Anne or myself, using our personal experiences to help them. People want to look good and feel good, especially looking at us and knowing our hectic lifestyles, and yet we still manage to lead healthy lives and look good. We live in a very fast-paced life, so naturally people are always looking for a quick-fix, but when it comes to achieving your goals, it’s not easy, you need to work for it – and that’s also why Leigh-Anne’s story is so important to our message.”

In October last year Leigh-Anne decided to get into shape ahead of going on the road for three months for the Presenter Search show, so she signed up with a personal trainer and lost 11 kilograms in five months. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but there was such a massive response from women across the country who said please can I help them do the same,” says Leigh-Anne. “Before embarking on this journey I think I was always hiding, not being true to myself and not living to my full capacity, and once the weight was gone I found who I really was. With it came confidence, and the courage to do things I had never done before, like Strictly Come Dancing, and the biathlon. I would never have done either of those before in a million years! That’s the gift that we want to give people with the new show.”