Category: Columns

When we talk about the core, we are referring to the
muscles deep within the abdomen and back, attaching to the spine or pelvis,
that work together with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support
the spine and keep the body balanced and stable during movement. The transverse abdominis (a muscle layer on
the front and side of the abdominal wall)
is the major abdominal ‘core’ stabiliser, along with the multifidus (muscle along the vertebrae) and the quadrates lumborum (lower back muscle). However, if one is doing a
simple squat, for example, a collection of prime movers are activated: The
quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, calves and gluteals.

 

So when you think core, you should think about the
muscles from your mid-torso to mid-thigh. Your core is your hub of energy, and
without stable core muscles, energy won’t be properly transferred to the rest
of the body. Think of your body as a wagon wheel where your core (the centre of
the wheel) needs to be stable so that the energy created can be sent to the
spokes of the wheel (the rest of your body). Shaky spokes won’t make for a
great journey and you’re likely to feel the effect of an unstable journey in
your feet and shins. The same applies to your core.

 

CORE BENEFITS

Maintaining a strong core will help to improve your
running in a number of ways.

 

1 More power: As you extend your
stride on a run, your lower abdominals are put to work, and with a defined
core, more force can be applied and you will immediately feel okay to pick up
the pace. When you reach a hill, too, the lower abs, hamstrings and glutes need
a stable platform to ‘push off’ from.

 

2 Better form: A strong core will
improve overall posture, which will help you maintain form in the second half
of a long run. With a strong, balanced lower back, you are more likely to stay
upright while running, thus reducing fatigue. If your core is weak, you’re more
likely to slouch at the end of a race, putting added pressure on your shins and
calves. Weak abs can also cause you to propel your pelvis from side to side, which
will leave your hips absorbing more impact.

 

3. Improved agility and balance: You will also have enhanced agility because your trunk will have a
better sense of motion, while your balance will steadily improve, too – perfect
if you’re hitting the trails!

 

4. Less niggles: Most importantly, once
you reduce impact on a run, you’re less likely to pick up injuries. Strong
glutes and hip flexors allow your body to absorb more impact, especially on the
downhills.

 

While your engine might be ready to hit the road, your
frame needs to be in the right condition to handle the mileage and terrain. So
whether you plonk yourself in a plank or do squats every day, you are working
your biomechanics for a better performance in the long run!

Kasha Dickie is a Biokineticist and Exercise Scientist
at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa.

Luna Mono Sandals 

While
these may look like flip-flops meant for beach holidays, the Mono (Monkey in Spanish) is actually a versatile
shoe that can be used for road and trail running. It has a light, flexible Vibram outsole and non-slip leather footbed for a combined thickness of 12mm, which allows enough traction and protection for rocky
trails. The ATS (All Terrain Strapping) laces and elasticised heel strap
provide a snug fit, but also that lovely feeling of fresh air between your
toes! I found the sandals light and supportive, but was more aware of
each step compared to my normal running shoes, so I
wouldn’t recommend the Mono for your next marathon – but they’re great for shorter
distances. – Lauren van der Vyver

GET
THEM: R1050 from www.thebarefootrunner.co.za
(free shipping to major cities).

 

TECHNIblock Sun Protection Spray

This South African company was one of the first in the
world to produce an aerosol sunscreen in the early 90s and now offers various
sprays from SPF15 to over 50, in various sized tins from 125ml to 340ml, and
all offering both UVA and UVB protection to prevent sunburn, cell damage and
premature aging. Being transparent and non-greasy, the spray is so easy to
apply, even to hairy arms and legs like mine, with just a bit of rubbing
required to ensure full coverage. And if, like me, you hate that ghostly white
look once you’ve applied sunscreen, you’ll love this product! Another bonus is
that these sprays are easy to apply to your head if you have somewhat less hair
than before – as I unfortunately do! – Sean Falconer

GET IT: R189 (340ml, SPF 30), R214 (340ml, SPF 50+) at
Dis-Chem, selected Clicks stores and other independent pharmacies.

The Cow Bar

The Cow Bar forms part of the product range from
MOOTRITION™, a range of quality food energy products sold to raise funds for CHOC
(Children’s
Haematology Oncology Clinics), which plays a key role in providing care for
children in SA diagnosed with cancer. The cereal food energy bars come in three
flavours: Apple cinnamon, choc peanut butter or banana nut – my favourite is
the choc peanut butter – and I found them rather tasty, plus it felt like I had
a bit more energy on my morning runs when I had one for a pre-run snack. These
bars are quite ‘chewy,’ so I found it best to eat them during a run or bike
ride once they had warmed up a bit and were easier to chew. –
Craig van der Westhuizen

GET THEM: R10
per bar, sold in boxes of 10. Place orders with [email protected]

adidas adistar Boost

 Adidas rolled out its springy new Boost
midsole material end of last year and is now carrying it through to other shoes
in its range. This lightweight model mixes the new material and adi’s independent
Formotion crash-pad on the outer side of the heel with a section of traditional,
firmer foam on the inner side of the midsole, so you get a super-springy,
cushioned landing and boosted toe-off, but with that stable feeling on the
inner side of the shoe that really kicks in as you get tired later in a run and
your feet start pronating a bit more. Having run in the original Boost, I found
the new shoe even more springy, which I absolutely loved. I was positively
bouncing down the road! – Sean Falconer

GET THEM: R1299 at adidas concept stores and select sports
retailers.

Early in 2012 a group of triathlete friends who were all training for
the Ironman came up with an idea to create more team camaraderie within their
highly individualised sport, to help each other, as well as help to grow the
sport in the Western Cape. The idea was to create a sponsored team of select
multisport athletes to compete as brand ambassadors, and invite athletes who
showed promising results in the various disciplines that make up triathlon, or
who really ‘live’ the multisport brand to the full, to be part of the mix and
create a platform for brand visibility.

 

With Tiaan Pretorius and Morne van Greunen taking the lead, a group of
17 athletes was selected, and the Dynamic Multisport team was born in October –
but that name was short-lived. “Dynamic Coaching contacted us to say they were
starting a multisport club and wanted to use the name, so we offered to change,
to keep the peace,” quips Tiaan. “Seven of us sat around to decide on a new name,
and since I am putting in a lot of time on the team, we decided to use my
family’s business name, Cape Auto Centre, as our new team name. It’s a bit of a
different sponsorship, as car dealerships normally go into motor sport, not
multisport, but my brother Corne and I like that triathlon is one of the
fastest growing sports in the world, that the triathlon community is vibrant,
and triathletes are courageous, committed, passionate and bold. We feel these
are characteristics we would like our business to be associated with.”

 

GETTING
NOTICED

Other sponsors also came on board, like 32Gi, Virgin Active, Quali
Juice, Power Protection Testing and Tuna Brands, and the team members all
signed up to join the New Balance Multisport Club in order to obtain their ASA
and TSA licence numbers. They now compete in team colours whenever possible,
but also in club colours when necessary, and their team kit features all their
sponsors’ and club names.

 

“Our team is a diverse group of talented athletes who train like professionals,
yet race as amateurs whilst holding down a full time job or studying. The team gives
us the support base that all athletes need, and we feed off each,” says Morne.
“Also, we’re above average athletes, but not at the elite level, so obtaining
sponsorship is that much harder. Now we have a team and thus more presence at
events, so it is easier to approach sponsors.” Tiaan adds that the criteria for
team selection went further than just results. “We chose good athletes that
have a bit of an audience, and we encourage the members to increase their own
profile by not only participating in events, but also to blog about and publicise
their racing – if you can have a result and an audience, it’s a win-win.”

 

The team also decided to work towards a worthy cause, so they chose SCAS
(Sport for Christ Action South Africa) as their official charity. “Each team
member is responsible for raising funds through friends, colleagues, etc., and
we will do a cheque handover at the end of the triathlon season, just after
Ironman,” says Tiaan. “Next season we’re thinking of getting involved in the development
side of the sport, such as sponsoring young kids from disadvantaged communities
to introduce them to multisport.”

 

STAR
PERFORMERS

The team’s profile has grown rapidly thanks to the great performances of
many of its members. There is not enough space here to list them all, but
stand-out performances include Colleen De Oliveira winning her age category at
the XTERRA SA Champs and then representing SA at the World Champs in Hawaii for
the second time, Elma van Noordwyk representing SA at the Long Distance
Triathlon World Champs in Spain and Cornelis Engelbreght representing SA at the
Olympic Distance Triathlon World Champs in New Zealand. Added to that, many of
the team were picked to represent Western Province in various disciplines and
distances.

 

Looking ahead, Tiaan says they don’t have plans to grow the team for
now, but instead want to focus more attention on supporting the members who
have the potential to compete internationally. “Next year the Olympic Distance
Triathlon World Champs are in London, which would be a cheaper trip than to New
Zealand, so we hope to support our members who qualify. We’re also planning to
put on our own weekend multisport event and of course, get many more podium
finishes.”

For
more on the team, check out www.facebook.com/capeautomultisport.

A
good running cap is a good investment. Whether it’s blazing hot or briskly
cool, running caps can protect your noggin from the sun’s harmful UV rays,
provide shade for your face and eyes on bright days, provide warmth during the
colder months, or add a reflective safety element when you’re running in the
evening. Heck, they even make a good place to store your sunglasses temporarily
without the lenses getting all sweaty or misted up on top of your head. So
check out all these great caps and peaks and then go get the one that catches
your fancy.

 

adidas
Women’s ClimaCool TR Cap

This
cap offers UPF 50+ UV protection, and is made from ventilated CLIMACOOL
material with a breahable sweatband to wick sweat away.

R139.00 at adidas concept stores and selected retail outlets.

 

adidas Run 3 Stripe ClimaCool Cap

A
super-thin, lightweight running cap with CLIMACOOL materials and strategic
breathable mesh ventilation sections to keep you cool and dry during those hot runs.

R169.00 at adidas concept stores and selected retail outlets.

 

Capestorm Visual Cap

Made from soft waterproof fabric to
protect you from sun and rain while the comfortable inner headband wicks away
moisture to keep you dry and comfortable.

R99 at Sportsmans Warehouse

 

First Ascent FRESCO VISOR

Visors
allow maximum ventilation while still keeping the sun off your face. Made from
Lite-Speed fabric, with a moisture-managing inner band and reflective print for
visibility.

R99 at Sportsmans Warehouse

 

First Ascent Overdrive Cap

A
moisture management performance peak designed to protect you from the sun with
high UPF rating on the Moisture management Lite-Speed fabrics used. Also
features.

R99 at Sportsmans Warehouse

 

First Ascent Radiate Cap

The
contoured cut of this cap catches the eye and provides a great fit, and its
effective moisture-wicking performance does the rest of the job.

R99 at Sportsmans Warehouse

 

K-Way
Sporty Peak

Here you get a simple,
lightweight microfibre peak with Aertex mesh panels on both sides for
breathability plus reflective piping for visibility in low light conditions.

R120 at Cape Union Mart

 

K-Way
Trainer Cap

With absorbent
microfibre material and large Aertex mesh side panels, this cap offers great
ventilation and breathability, so take it for a sunny spin. 

R150 at Cape Union Mart

 

PUMA Running Cap II

Made
from coolCELL materials to draw sweat away from your skin and sunCell material
for protection from UV rays, it also has air-flow features for temperature
regulation to keep you cool and dry.

R179 at selected retail outlets.

 

Salomon
Trail Visor

Lightweight visor with sweatband, for maximum shade
on the face coupled with maximum breathability. Stashes away easily in a pocket
when not being used.

R179 at
Salomon Concept Stores, Trappers and Sportsmans Warehouse

 

Salomon XA Cap

A lightweight cap made from ClimaWIND fabric that
offers both breathability and wind protection, with integrated sweat band,
small mesh vents and reflective logos.

R199
available at Salomon Concept Stores, Trappers and Sportsmans Warehouse.

 

Buff High UV

This version of the versatile Buff
offers the customary soft, ultra-thin, highly breathable performance, but also
98% protection from UV rays and double the wicking performance of other Buffs.

R189 at Buff stockists

The
incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes aged 12 to 35 is
about 0.5 to 2 per 100 000 per year, and they occur far more commonly in males
than females (10:1). The incidence in runners over 35 years of age is about 1
per 15 000 to 50 000. (These are world wide figures). The tragedy is that these
athletes are usually fit, healthy individuals, not the sort of people one would
expect to die participating in sport.

 

There
has been a lot of research done into the causes of SCD, with many papers
published and many causes identified, the main one being undiagnosed congenital
cardiac disorders, of which Cardiomyopathy (progressive weakness of the heart
muscle) is the most common. Other causes include post-viral myocarditis
(inflammation of the heart muscle) and Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
(commonly known as hardening of the arteries).

 

RISK FACTORS

The
question arises as to what risk factors, either individually or in combination,
can suddenly trigger a fatal cardiac arrest, when an athlete has been doing the
same activity for years and is very fit. It is thought that a natural
progression of the underlying disorder may be one of the factors, where the
heart eventually cannot cope with the stress applied to it, e.g. a marathon, which
it was previously able to. Other factors are thought to be:

?        
Electrolyte imbalance.

?        
Viral infections and Myocarditis.

?        
The use of common analgesics, such as
anti-inflammatories and Paracetamol, which can affect the kidneys and heart.

?        
There are quite probably other factors which have not
yet been identified.

 

COMRADES STUDY

Professor
Efraim Kramer, Head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wits University
Medical School, is going to be doing a study during the Comrades Marathon in
2013 and/or 2014 to try to positively identify some of these triggers. This
will involve in the region of about 250 to 300 volunteer runners being screened
and monitored on a weekly basis during the five months of training prior to and
after the Comrades.

 

He
will be looking for any medical problems, injuries and use of any medication
which may affect a runner during training or Comrades itself. In particular he
will be looking for any specific effect on the heart. Runners who are
interested in participating in the study can contact the Comrades Marathon
office for further details. Hopefully this will provide some positive results
as to what precipitates these catastrophic events, and some insight as to how
they can be avoided.

 

PREVENTION

So
how can runners try to prevent something like this happening to them? Probably
the most important is a person’s family medical history, which could provide
important pointers as to the possible presence of a congenital/genetic
undiagnosed problem. You need to go for a thorough medical check-up and even
see a Cardiologist if:

?        
There is a family history of Cardiac disease,
especially if it manifested at a young age, e.g. before age 35-40.

?        
There is a family history of an unexplained death, or
death due to heart problems, at a young age.

?        
There is a family history of raised Cholesterol or
Diabetes at a young age.

 

If
the individual has heart problems, raised cholesterol or diabetes, or any other
chronic ailments, then they should probably have an annual check-up at some
stage prior to an event like Comrades, or even shorter races as well. In short,
if you are worried or not sure, rather get checked.

 

BASIC RULES

Despite
this, I must emphasise that physical activity is healthy and generally safe –
but only if runners apply the basic rules.

?        
Make sure they are fit enough for the event that you
are going to attempt.

?        
Never take part in an event if you are ill, have flu,
or have only just recovered.

?        
Do not take painkillers, anti-inflams or any other
medication during a race.

?        
Also make sure you are adequately hydrated.

There’s
nothing like a new challenge to get Clive Chowles going: “It’s nice to try something
you don’t know about,” he says. “For example, I knew nothing about canoeing and
got into a boat and was wobbling around. I remember completing a 2km leg
without falling out and an expert told me I would never be ready to compete in
the Duzi in a few months, but I got there!”

 

With
a runner-up finish in the World Duathlon Championships in 1997 and a win in
1999, Clive went on to win the Powerman in 2001, grabbed an 11^th
placing in Ironman South Africa in 2005, finished the Duzi Canoe Marathon and completed
the ABSA Cape Epic. And he achieved all that while working full-time in the
sport retail market, first with New Balance for 12 years, then helping Inov-8
to put their first range together for SA, and more recently by relaunching the
Brooks running footwear and apparel brand in South Africa through his SBR
(SwimBikeRun) Agency, which he runs with his wife Michelle.

 

“We
wanted to find an alternative running brand where there was a huge demand in
the country,” he explains, “and we wanted Brooks so much that I flew out to
Germany a few times to meet with HQ.” Clive is very proud of what they have
already achieved, and is committed to the brand. “Brooks is a brand for runners
by runners,” he explains. “It’s not only for the elite runner who’ll win
Comrades, but for the guy who is starting out. In the next few years, I hope Brooks
will dominate in speciality running stores and retain the ‘run happy’
experience the brand brings.”

 

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

“I
never take a rest day,” says Clive, “my family and work depict my rest.
Sometimes you miss a session with a meeting running late, but I have a
structure I try and stick to.” This structure is training every day, from 15km
morning runs at 4:30am to 3km swim sessions and three-hour bike rides. Weekends
are dedicated to events or five-hour long rides while he fits in a three-hour
run on Sundays. And with his first ever Comrades Marathon coming up, the more
training the merrier.

 

Having
grown up with a running background, Clive made various SA schools athletics and
cross-country teams as well as provincial spots at club level. After his stint in
the army, he came back with a new interest in duathlon, and after his world
championship win, Clive decided to take his training and competing more
seriously, including entering several international races. “It was always great
to target a few races elsewhere, especially during South Africa’s winter
season. I’ve also enjoyed a few Ironman competitions over the years… I targeted
just under nine hours at Ironman Austria and with 8km to go I
remember running into a spectator and getting cramp, then missing out with a 9:02.
It was still amazing though!”

 

IF THE SHOE FITS…

After
his three-hour morning ride, Clive is welcomed home by Michelle and his
two-year-old daughter Hannah. “I can’t wait to get back from a ride and see
them. Hannah is also at gym and events with her bike, and I want to imprint
that active lifestyle from an early age. It’s also great working together with
Michelle, and we have very defined roles: I do sales and liaise with the
company in Germany, while she does the marketing and operations side.”

 

For
Clive and his team, there is an active culture in the company, and even
Michelle is now training for her first 5km while Clive aspires to a silver
medal at this year’s Comrades. “I’m not intimidated by the distance and length
of time, but it’s physically harder than Ironman,” he says. “But at the start
line, we’re all fit and ready – it’s who’ll stick it out mentally in the end.”
Clive would also like to go back to Ironman South Africa next year and says he will
push for other goals as well. “One can always make time to train and compete.
You can have all the money in the world, but without your health, you have
nothing. Time will be available if you really want it.”

Being a top athlete in South Africa
in the 70s and 80s had its highs and lows. It was a time of world class
athletics, performing to stadiums packed with thousands of spectators, and two
of the best on the track were married couple Sarina and Danie Cronje. Between
1979 and 1981 she set South African records in the 800m, 1000m, 1500m, mile and
3000m, and ran the fastest 10km on the road in 1980, while Danie was awarded
his Springbok colours in 1981 for the 3000m steeplechase after he ran the then
second-fastest time ever by a South African. The disappointing part of their
success was that they were never able to compete on the international stage,
despite their times being more than good enough to qualify for most
international meets, because South Africa was suspended from international competition
due to its apartheid laws.

 

“There are many days that I sit and
wonder what we could have achieved if we were allowed to compete internationally,”
says a wistful Sarina, and this borne out by the fact their running times still
compare favourably to those run by the current top South African athletes. Some
of Sarina’s records remained unbeaten for eight to 10 years, and her best times
still rank in the top five of all time in SA in some distances, and nearly as
high in the rest. Danie, meanwhile, is still ranked eighth in his favourite
event. “At that stage we were not aware on what we were missing out on,” says
Sarina. “My coach, De Villiers Lambrecht, used to tell me what times I should
be making on each distance and I was pretty good at reaching them. Now, when I
see where these international race meetings are held, I realise how much we
missed out on. I think the athletes in the era between the 70s and 90s can be
called the ‘disadvantaged athletes.’’’

 

YOUNG TALENT

Sarina’s interest in athletics began
in primary school. By grade 7 she had won her first cross-country event, and
when she began high school she surprised everyone, notably the older girls that
she beat, when she had to race against the senior girls because there were no middle
distance events for girls between the ages of 14 and 15. In 1971 she won the
South African under-16 title in the 400m and that was when she decided she was
going to give athletics everything she had. “I really enjoyed running – the further,
the better. There is nothing more exhilarating than being fit and floating
through your 1500m and 3000m distances.”

 

Danie’s athletics career started a
bit later in school, thanks to an injury early in matric. An avid rugby player
and sporty person by nature, he had broken his arm in a rugby match, and being
unable to play, he found solace in running. Danie ended up packing away his
rugby togs for good, having become addicted to athletics, specifically the
3000m steeplechase.

 

The two aspiring athletes’ paths
crossed when they both started training with coach De Villiers Lambrecht’s
training group in 1977. By early 1979 they were engaged and got married in
Bloemfontein that July. “We understood and could motivate each other, as we had
the same goals,” says Danie. Sarina adds that “Danie could often predict my
race times, as he would monitor my training. It was definitely an advantage
having my partner in the same industry as what I was in. When a person is
serious about achieving success, you need to plan your whole day, month and
year around your training. Between 1977 and 1981 I managed to run my best times,
and Danie managed to get his Springbok colours in his favourite event, the
3000m steeplechase, with a time of 8:27:62.”

 

ATHLETICS NOWADAYS

Danie and Sarina’s outlook on the
South African athletics scene of today is that efficient marketing tactics need
to be set in place in order for it to grow and thrive. “Athletics meetings in
South Africa need to be televised live on television, highlighting selected
events as well as our elite athletes. Newspapers scarcely publish anything
about athletics anymore, while the public isn’t aware of what our athletes in
South Africa are capable of. We need to have more organised meetings and
showcase our talented athletes to the public,” they say.

 

The couple are also outspoken about
the standard of meets: “Some of the events are so badly organised and it has
created a bad reputation for the athletics industry. There are too many
inexperienced people in charge of our sport at the moment and it needs to
change in order for athletics to grow. Our top athletes need more support, and
we need an improved budget for the development of the sport.”

 

Both describe athletics in their heyday
as “near perfect,” excluding the fact that they couldn’t compete on the world
stage. “Today our athletes can compete internationally, yet the circumstances
regarding the sport in this country are not ideal. In my senior athletics
career, we participated in many sponsored invitational events, which attracted
thousands of spectators due to excellent administration and organisational
skills. We need to try bring athletics back to that point in our country,” says
Sarina.

 

IN THE GENES

The couple have three sons, Johan,
Hendrik and Danie Jnr, and say they believe in bringing kids up in a sporty
environment: “It keeps their bodies healthy and helps them through the emotions
that a young person tends to deal with,” says Sarina, and Danie adds, “You can
create the environment for them, but not pressure them to take part if they
don’t want to.” Well, all three inherited their parents’ athletic genes, with
Johan going all the way to the Olympic 1500m in Athens, Greece in 2004. “When
Johan was selected, we were ecstatic,” says Danie. “The fact that I could go to
the Olympics with my child and support him was a bit of compensation for the
fact that I could never compete at that level. It was an amazing experience
which I am so grateful for.”

 

Danie and Sarina, both now 57, are
still involved in athletics today. She is the sports manager at the University
of the Free State and coaches athletics there, while Danie now farms full-time
with cattle, going out to their farm in Winburg two to three times a week, but also
assisting Sarina with coaching triathletes and duathletes in his spare time. They
are also both still active athletes. In 2011 Danie won the South African
Cross-country title in the 50-55 age category, and in both 2010 and 2011 he finished
third at the South African Duathlon Champs. Sarina says she tries to run twice
a week and also keep fit by cycling, even though sometimes her knees don’t want
to cooperate. “I will never stop training. It is similar to an addiction, a way
of life for me. By 4pm I start feeling restless… that’s when I know I need to
get out on the road.”

THEN AND NOW

Modern Athlete asked Sarina why she thinks female athletes achieved better times in
her era than they do today.

 

Today’s youth are less active at
school. We walked to school, we cycled and played outside. The situation in our
country today is so that kids can’t walk or cycle to school. Many kids also
spend most of each day in front of the television and on social networks. Therefore,
they spend less time outside and are less active. In ‘our time,’ the kids,
especially the girls, were just more active. Also, there is no longer a
physical education period in school, and another issue is that there isn’t, as
such, ‘summer sport’ and ‘winter sport’ at schools anymore. We used to have
athletics and cricket in the first term of the school year, the second and
third term was for rugby, netball and hockey, and then in the fourth term
athletics again. Because athletics is a very demanding and individual sport,
kids now rather stick to team sports where they can be more social with less
physical demands.

 

Girls at the age of 12 and 14
sometimes also get pressurised into achieving too much, too soon. When they hit
puberty, things tend to happen to their bodies that make running a lot more
uncomfortable, and that’s when they then become demotivated and lose interest.
This is how we lose many talented girls in the sport, whereas if the girls are
just motivated and supported through this time, they will be able to achieve
high standards again. Also, we only started competing a lot later back in my
day, so the fact that they start so early puts too much pressure on them.

Sarina’s PBs

800m          2:02.30       SA Record 1980-1983

1000m        2:42.30       SA
Record 1979-1983

1500m        4:08.60       SA
Record 1980-1984

Mile            4:28.40       SA Record 1980-1989

3000m        8:49.30       SA
Record 1981-1991

10km          34:18          Fastest
time in SA 1980

In 1997 she burst onto the Comrades scene, finishing
fifth woman (and second South African) in a time of 6:45:51 in her first
attempt at the race. Despite having finished in the top 20 at the Two Oceans
ultra five times from 1991 to 1995, and again in 1997, even she was surprised
by her performance. “I remember coming on to the field and seeing the time, and
then thinking the clock must be wrong!” says Charlotte.

 

That result saw her selected for the SA team for the
1997 World 100km Champs in Holland, where she finished an excellent fifth. The
1998 Comrades didn’t go quite as well, despite a creditable 21^st position,
but in 1999 Charlotte was 10^th and back amongst the gold medals, and
back in the SA World Champs team, finishing 14^th and first SA woman in
Japan. Then, after bailing the 2000 World Champs race due to illness, she
decided to withdraw from competitive running. “I had grown tired of competing
and training so hard, and decided to focus on climbing, surfing and body
boarding. I never stopped running, I just didn’t want to compete any more.
Also, I had gotten married in 1999 and we decided it was time to start a
family.”

 

Today Charlotte (47) lives in Scarborough on the Cape
Peninsula with husband Andy De Klerk and their four kids, Sebastian (11), Clea
(9) and the five-year-old twins, Anna and Francis. Having studied medicine, she
works for the City of Cape Town as a GP at the Ocean View Clinic, and to
relieve stress and maintain her health, she still runs seven days a week. “I do
most of my running on tar, and take my running shoes everywhere so I can build
running into my daily programme, but I’m also up on the mountain once or twice
a week with the dogs.”

 

LATE BLOOMER

Charlotte was born and raised in Pretoria. After
school she moved to Cape Town to study at the UCT Medical School, planning to
specialise in paediatrics, but she says running took her in another direction.
“I worked fantastically hard for Matric, and at the same time started running
to take time out from studying. My school didn’t offer athletics, though, so I
just ran for myself. Then when I came to UCT in 1984, I found they had a really
good running club, and I began to take it more seriously. I ran my first
marathon that year, clocking 3:40, and began competing in cross country, but I
didn’t think I was a good runner then.”

 

She was at UCT for six years, followed by a year-long
internship in East London, then took a year off to travel overseas. “I ran
everywhere I went, because it’s a great way to see and experience places. For a
while I worked in a vineyard in France, and I would run to work each day,” she
says. Upon returning to SA in 1992, she began practicing medicine, but it
wasn’t long before her wanderlust returned. “In 1994 I did a six-week trip to
Peru and was given a crash-course in Alpine mountain climbing. When I came
back, I saw an advertisement for the planned 1996 SA Everest expedition, and I
applied.”

 

Although short-listed alongside the country’s top
female climbers, Charlotte was not selected, but she was then asked to join the
expedition as team doctor, and went with the team to Base Camp. Unfortunately, a
much-publicised falling out with expedition leader Ian Woodall saw her and
three of the climbers leave the team, including her future husband. Instead,
she joined a climbing expedition to Antarctica later that year.

 

GOING PLACES

It was then that Charlotte saw her running begin to
flourish. “Early in 1996 I had run a fast time in the Constantia Village 15km
and was approached by Frans Pienaar, who offered to coach me. Later that year I
ran a 2:56 in the Peninsula Marathon and made the Western Province team. Then
in early 1997 I was doing a diploma in Bloemfontein, so I decided on the spur
of the moment to move to Pretoria to train for Comrades with Nick Bester’s
group. The training went well, but I didn’t realise just how good my form was. Perhaps
all that high altitude work and time in the mountains contributed to my running
success in the next few years. At least, my family believes that is the case.”

It all started as a ‘career
move’ in the investment field, but soon turned into a career move in a totally
different direction. “When I started at STANLIB in
2009, I was 24 and had never done a triathlon, but my boss was doing the
Ironman 70.3 and I thought it would be good to spend time with the big man,”
jokes Travis. Little did he know then he was about to launch a multisport
career that could see him get to the 2016 Rio Olympics!

 

“I did some more training and then came my big
breakthrough, making the Gauteng Duathlon team for the SA Champs, where I
finished third in the 20-24 age category and made the SA team for the World
Champs. There I came seventh in my category and 33^rd overall, out of
750 competitors, and when I got back, I decided this is what I want to do,
because since I was a kid I wanted
to represent my country, and if possible race at the Olympics. So I made the
decision to resign at the beginning of 2010, so that I could follow my dream.”

 

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

However, that was not the end of Travis’ stay at
STANLIB. Having accepted his resignation as a stock and investment broker, the
company then asked him to start up and manage the STANLIB Sports Club. The company’s thinking
was that sport has the ability to unite a company and break down inter-departmental
barriers, by building relationships and bonds amongst employees at all levels.
Also, healthy employees are more productive and driven.

 

“It was a great opportunity for me, as I wasn’t making that much money from
triathlon, and the new job allowed me to work flexi-time and train while still
earning a salary,” says Travis. “Now I go in to the office three times a
week for a few hours and work from home the rest of the time, which allows me
good balance between full-time training and still being able to work, stimulate
my mind and stay in the corporate world.”

 

Travis explains that the
Club has about 200 active members taking part in boot camps, Pilates, netball,
soccer, running, fitness competitions, corporate sporting events and cycling,
and he also interacts with many more of the 600-plus employees about their
personal fitness and nutrition goals. “I think being a ‘regular’ employee
initially, and knowing many people within the company, has allowed me to link
with all departments and employees, and have an understanding of life at
STANLIB and what is needed from a sport and wellness side to improve the health
of the employees and create a better environment to work,” says Travis.

 

PERSONAL GOALS

With time to focus on his training, Travis has posted some
terrific results since turning pro in 2010. That first year he won the All
Africa Triathlon Champs and was third at the All Africa Duathlon Champs, and
made the SA teams for both Triathlon and Duathlon World Champs. In 2011 he was
crowned SA Duathlon Champion, placed first in his category at Ironman 70.3 SA,
and won the 5150 Bela Bela Triathlon, thus becoming the first SA athlete to
qualify for the 5150 Hyvee Final in the USA in 2012. That year he also retained
his SA title, plus added second at African Duathlon Champs, third at SA Triathlon
Champs and fourth at African Triathlon Champs. Added to that, he qualified for
the top level World Triathlon Series event in Madrid.

 

Looking ahead, Travis has his sights firmly set on Rio
2016. “That Olympic dream is what it’s all about, and I resigned in the first
place to give myself that chance. The qualifying period starts in June 2014,
and I am feeling confident, although I need to improve my swim to compete with
the best in the world,” he says. “I do miss the vibe and excitement of the
financial world, but I don’t miss the pressure and stress, and I have no
regrets about making the change. Being able to do what I love most in sport,
while trying to build the company from a wellness perspective, is a much better
balance for me.”

Next time
you go on a long run or ride with your training partners, or participate in a
race, take note of the chatter around you and you’ll probably hear one or more
of the following things: “I just couldn’t keep up with the bunch… I just can’t
seem to hit my goal time… My mind wasn’t in the right place today.” This could
even be you talking – and if so, don’t feel bad, because many athletes struggle
to improve their speed and their times, or find it hard to maintain motivation
for training, or battle a fear of pain, or even a fear of something specific to
their sport, like open water swimming. Most of these issues are associated with
the mind – that little voice that says, “I can’t, I am tired, I need to walk,”
or worse, “I am going to bail.”

 

The good
news is that hypnotherapy has proven to have a therapeutic effect, creating a
breakthrough for many athletes to get past the barrier created in the mind,
says hypnotherapist Arthur Long, managing director of The International Academy
of Hypnosis. He has 47 years of hypnosis and hypnotherapy experience and runs
his own practice in Fourways, Johannesburg, called Hypnotherapy-SA. He first
saw the wonderful results of hypnosis in treating stroke victims and bypassing
damaged neural pathways in people who had suffered back damage. Later he met
the hypnotherapist working with the highly successful Australian Olympic team,
who introduced him to sports therapies, which Art has subsequently used when working
with numerous athletes, including numerous Olympians, and helped 11 athletes reach
world champion status.

 

WHY HYPNOTHERAPY?

Arthur claims
that an athlete’s motivation and drive can be destroyed by having the wrong
coach or getting the wrong training advice or feedback on performance, because
people relive words without realising it, and often they remember bad remarks
in particular. “This causes unrealistic restrictions in the brain and once an
athlete has branded themselves with the ‘I can’t’ label, they seldom overcome
that. Everything you think affects every atom of your brain, and the brain can
add to a problem and make things worse, but hypnotherapy helps athletes to
break the bad agreements they have formed in their minds, which are inevitably
holding them back, and to control competition nerves, deal with competition
conditions, and push themselves to a higher performance.”

 

Arthur also
says that an athlete could have an issue at home or at work that causes them to
under-perform, as their mind is not on the race. “Hypnotherapy can help the
athlete to divide situations and leave the work and home troubles aside while concentrating
on the race at hand.” He also says the mind power of a typical Comrades runner
is incredible, and it is because they deal with the moment at hand, many who
struggle are struggling due to previous programming in the mind.

 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Hypnotherapy
sessions for athletes usually last 90 minutes. The first 40 minutes are spent discussing
what you feel are your weak points or problems, followed by 40 minutes in which
the hypnotherapist will change your thought process to alter the way you have
been thinking, which can sometimes be deeply engrained in the mind, in order to
make a breakthrough. Arthur says he purely uses words in his practice, to
override the negativity in the subconscious, and it all depends on the athlete
as to how many sessions are needed.

 

Arthur
claims that many athletes who underachieve have experienced an unpleasant event
in their earlier years, but he doesn’t believe in rehashing the past. Instead, he
teaches the subconscious to let go and thus creates a strong confidence in the
athlete that cannot be created on the surface of the mind. “The effect this
process has on the athlete is incredible. A weight lifts from their shoulders
and they go into a state of utter relaxation, and that is when the performance
picks up dramatically. Words can either make or break an athlete,” he concludes.

If you
would like to have a session with Arthur, contact him on
[email protected] or 083 384 0907. If you are interested in joining the International
Academy of Hypnosis, contact Lindy-Lee Shepherd at [email protected] or
083 685 6263.