Category: Columns

Massage therapy dates back to 3000 BC in Chinese
literature, while soldiers in Ancient Greece were given massages during
training and famous Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (born 460 BC) claimed
that he could improve joint function and muscle tone with massage. Over the
years, massage therapy has taken on many forms, including Aromatherapy, Hot
Stone, Shiatsu, Reflexology and many more, and today sports massage has become
very popular among runners. It is a combination of deep massage, cross-fibre
friction, Swedish massage, trigger point therapy and stretching – depending on
the timing of the massage and the needs of the athlete.

 

There is no doubt that massage holds numerous direct
physical benefits:

?        
Increased blood
circulation to muscles and connective tissue, which improves oxygen and
nutrient supply, and possibly the removal of metabolic by-products. This can
reduce muscle tension and fatigue, and quicken recovery time.

?        
Helps to open tissue
membranes, allowing nutrient-flow into the muscles.

?        
Increased lymph
circulation, which can boost immune function.

?        
When a muscle is
injured, it heals with collagen, leaving a scar, and the resulting scar tissue
is weaker and less elastic. Massage and stretching can help the scar tissue
fibres to align and integrate with muscle fibres, allowing the muscle to regain
normal strength and flexibility.

?        
Massage reduces
stress by activating the para-sympathetic nervous system, which slows the heart
rate and prepares the body for a state of relaxation.

 

TIMING IS KEY

Although a once-off massage will have these beneficial
effects, most are relatively short-lived. The value of massage to prevent
injuries, shorten recovery time and remove adhesions really becomes evident when
having regular treatments. A runner will therefore benefit from weekly
massages, especially if you are following a high-intensity training programme,
but even a monthly massage will be beneficial.

 

The pre-event massage: Book your last massage three to five days before your event, since it
can lead to some soreness. Therefore, rather avoid going for a massage at the
expo of a big race, because the therapist does not know you or your body’s response
to massage, and it does not allow for sufficient recovery time before your
race. Also, while a massage directly before your event will help with blood
circulation, it will activate your “relaxing” nervous system and hormones,
preparing your body for a state of rest instead of competition. However, a very
nervous athlete may benefit from a relaxing pre-event massage, provided it is
followed by a dynamic warm-up.

 

The post-event massage: A post-event/training massage will not prevent DOMS (delayed onset of
muscle soreness) by “flushing out toxins like lactic acid”. Firstly, lactate is
not a toxin, it is an end-product of glucose metabolism, and does not cause
DOMS. Secondly, lactate is circulated out of the working muscles and blood
within an hour, and used by the brain and muscles for energy. DOMS is in fact caused
by microscopic muscle tears and a deep massage can increase this tissue damage.
Therefore, a light massage directly after a race can purely assist in the venous
blood-flow out of your legs. Rather wait three to five days – until muscle
soreness is gone – before your next deep massage.

 

CHECK IT OUT

A really good option for runners is Myofascial release,
a relatively new form of massage therapy. The fascia is the sheath that wraps
and separates individual muscles and also helps to absorb some of the physical
stress during exercise. The fascia can dehydrate and shrink with regular
physical activity, which will lead to compression of the muscle and resulting
reduced circulation, limited range of motion, and pain. This massage technique
helps to restore the fascia to its natural state, and also
stimulates neural receptors which decrease muscular tension.

 

It is important to make sure that your massage
therapist did an accredited massage course. If injured, first seek medical
advice from your doctor or sport physician and get treated by a physiotherapist.
You can also benefit from an exercise programme from a biokineticist. Once the
injury is sorted out, carry on with your training and regular massage treatments
to ensure happy, healthy muscles and prevent injuries.

BSG Triathlon Series #2, Island Estate,
Hartbeespoort, 21 October

I got to
the start with mixed emotions: I was excited to be doing my first triathlon and
to be taking part in the ever-popular BSG Triseries event, but my excitement
was dampened by the overcast weather and the chill in the air, added to the
fact that my ‘tri buddy’ had phoned in sick the night before. But as I got out
of my car, the vibe at the event lifted my spirits and I soon felt part of
something new and exciting.

 

PLUNGING IN

For a
newbie like me, I found the whole registration process well organised and
before I knew it I was lining up for the swim amongst the mass of colour-coded
swimming caps. I must admit though that I had made the mistake of thinking I
could just train in a swimming pool for an open water swim! So, as the gun went
off and I started swimming, the pitch-blackness of the water hit me. I battled
to swim with a proper technique, my breathing became difficult, and I ended up
swimming breaststroke. I was literally the last person out of the water… if you
don’t count the rescue team!

 

Being
primarily a cyclist, I got to my bike thinking I could make up lost time,
despite the bike leg having been extended from 20km to 27km. The ride was
exhilarating, with the course having just enough hills and flats to make it
enjoyable. The wind made some parts tough, but by the end I was feeling good,
and I only had 5km left to run. And what is 5km, right?

 

RUN FOREST RUN!

I
was ready to take off at a pace of 5min/km, but was completely shocked at how
my body could not react. So instead of racing to the finish, I plodded
breathlessly on a course that seemed to take forever. As I finished, I felt
like I deserved five medals, despite my terrible finishing time!

 

I
learnt that a 600m swim is short, a 27km bike ride is not much of a challenge, and
a 5km run is easy – but add them together… now that’s a different story! Still,
I will be back to take on the last leg of the BSG Series at Emerald Casino in
Vanderbijlpark on 2 December.

 

Results

Elite Women

Kate
Roberts           1:11:11

Andrea
Steyn          1:12:09

Lucie
Reed              1:13:18

Elite Men

Erhard
Wolfaardt     1:05:49

Rudolf
Naude          1:07:13

Michael
Davidson    1:07:33

Edenvale, Central Gauteng

 Mention
the Wright Brothers and most people will think of Orville and Wilbur Wright,
the American brothers who were the first to fly in an aircraft, way back in
1903… but when it comes to the Rand Road Warriors club, the Wright Brothers can
only mean Eric, Fred and Les Wright. These ultra-long distance specialists have
not only completed numerous Washie 100 Milers between them, but also excelled
at this gruelling event. Eric has completed 24 Washies, including winning one,
and he also has 31 Comrades finishes to his name. He was recently selected to
represent the SA team in the World Six-day Championships
to be held in Hungary next year. Meanwhile, Fred has run 13 Washies and 29
Comrades, while Les has run 12 Washies, placing second three times, and
completed Comrades 24 times. Another ultra star in the club is John Magagane,
who has completed 10 Washies and won three!

 

However,
while some of the members are totally focused on these ultra distances, there
are just as many Warriors who prefer shorter distances, including walkers and
juniors, and they are always encouraged to join in club events and races, while
a number of members now concentrate on trail running events. The perfect day for
all these groups to mix it up is at the club’s Thursday evening time trials,
with a route that is flat and fast, and known to be a true test of pace. And
then it’s time for a club get-together in the clubhouse, a multi-storey
building in the middle of a picturesque meadow in Beverley Road. “The roof
leaks like hell when it rains and the light in the men’s loo never works, not
to mention the door never closes, but we are always filled with a great spirit
concerning our sport,” says club chairman Bernard Andersen.

 

FAMILY FOCUS

The
Rand Road Warriors club dates back to January 1989, with Vernon Cloete appointed
as the club’s first chairman and a starting membership of 48 runners, of which
an impressive 23 entered for Comrades that year. The club’s focus on the Big C (and
other long distance races) has grown over the years, and this year the club brought
home three silver medals, eight Bill Rowans, 27 Bronze and 26 Vic Clapham
medals.

 

Today
the club has 210 members and puts a lot of emphasis on family participation.
“Ours is a family orientated club and most of our club functions and events are
focused on family participation,” says Bernard. “For example, every year we
hold the Barry Hadden Memorial Run where the club members and family gather at
our time trial venue and we run laps, as many as each person wants to or can. Afterwards
we have a braai with Barry’s family.”

 

Morning
group runs take place from Tuesday to Friday, starting from the Karaglen Virgin
Active. There is a notice board where members are notified of what the schedule
is for the following week, and runners can expect numerous routes mixed up with
hill and speed training to keep things interesting. “We also have a Saturday
morning run, which is very social and relaxed, and it is always named after the
person who organises the run,” says Bernard. And then once a month members
attend a ‘book club’ with a difference: “This is when we meet to discuss the
training programme for the following month and where runners can get hints and
tips from more experienced athletes.”

 

REACH FOR A DREAM

The
club has successfully hosted the Remax Marathon for the last 10 years, but a
route change last year coupled with a new race sponsor for 2013, the Sarens
group, has seen some changes to the race, which will take place on 10 March,
with the start and finish at Edenvale High School. If you’re in the Gauteng
area for this one, put on your racing shoes, because the course promises to be fast
and flat.

 

The
club has been closely involved with the Reach for a Dream Foundation, a charity
that gives children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness a
chance to achieve one of their dreams, normally something they would not be
able to do due to their illness. “We call on families to join us in making a
difference in the life of someone who needs it, and the proceeds of our Sarens
Edenvale Marathon will go to the Foundation, so please keep 10 March 2013
open,” says Bernard.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Club Chairman: Bernard Andersen, 082
788 2367

Let’s face it, when it comes to buying Christmas gifts
for runners, they are not easy to shop for. Not if you want to surprise them,
that is, because they need to actually try on shoes before you can buy them,
and the same goes for clothing. Even the choices of watches, heart rate
monitors or GPS units depends largely on the specific runner’s needs and taste…
In other words, before you buy one of these items, you invariably have to get
the direct input and participation in the buying process from your runner,
unless you already know the exact shoe brand, model and size that he or she
wants, or the specific item of clothing, or the specific watch or unit.

 

Therefore, this month we decided to focus on something
easier to pinpoint, some smaller, more general gifts for runners that would
make great stocking fillers, or a quirky extra gift to put on top of something
else and give your runner another present to open. (And if you’re the one who’s
the runner and you’re struggling with gift ideas to pass on to your family and
friends, these will do just as well for you!)

 

Always wear sunscreen!

TECHNIblock Ultra Sunblocker SPF40 (150ml)

Nobody likes rubbing in sunscreen, so a transparent,
non-greasy aerosol sunscreen really makes it quick, easy and mess-free! The
TECHNIblock range includes SPF15 and SPF40 sprays, in various sized tins from
125ml to 340ml. They also produce a handy SPF40 stick for sensitive areas, like
the face.

R100 at Dis-Chem Pharmacies, Clicks, Link Pharmacies and other outlets.

 

Put a sock in it…

Falke Hidden Cool

Most runners go through socks quickly, so there’s
nothing boring about giving a runner good socks at Christmas! The thick
padded cushioning of these babies means that every part of the foot is comfy,
and they are remarkably well ventilated for such a thick sock. Your feet will
thank you!

R39.95
at Sportsmans Warehouse, Runner Group, Cape Union Mart.

 

Race Planning 101

Nedbank Runner’s Guide 2013

While race calendars are available in several
magazines and on several websites, the handiest guide to everything you need to
know about every running event on the calendar throughout SA for the whole
year, both on road and trail, remains Tom Cottrell’s excellent guide book, now
in its 22^nd edition!

R150 at CNA, Exclusive Books, Sportsmans Warehouse and Sweat Shop, or
online at Mapstudio, Kalahari and Loot.

 

Never forget to lube!

BLUE STEEL
SPORTS Anti-Chafe cream

Runners do not
like getting rubbed up the wrong way, so get them a tube of this long-lasting,
non-sticky, non-greasy lube with a pleasant smell. It won’t irritate sensitive
skin or stain your clothing. Use it to protect from chafe, blisters, cracked
heels, saddle sores and windburn.

R54.95 at Sportsmans Warehouse for a
100ml tube.

 

And work on that Core

Body Sculpture Exercise ball

You can cross-train even while sitting at your desk if
you replace your chair with an exercise ball, because you’ll be using your core
stabilising muscles to sit upright, still and balanced – and these same muscles
will then help you run more efficiently. All you need is some lung power to set
it up.

R179 at Sportsmans Warehouse.

 

More Gift Ideas

?        
Is your runner always
complaining of sore muscles? A gift certificate for a sports massage will
soothe those muscles – and stop the complaints.

?        
Does your runner
struggle with motivation to keep a training programme going? A logbook or
running journal is great motivation to get out the front door!

?        
Has your runner
achieved something great this past year on the road or trails? Put those race
photos in a frame or album and really make your runner feel special.

?        
Does your runner have
black toenails from running? A gift certificate for a pedicure may tickle their
fancy.

?        
Has your runner
dropped any hints about a specific race or event on the calendar that is high
on that Bucket List? Then plan a weekend away around that event, with transport
and accommodation sorted, and give your runner a big surprise.

There’s an old saying about something being just a
hop, skip and a jump away, and that appropriately sums up the benefits of
plyometric training, because with simple hopping, skipping,
and jumping drills, you can improve running economy, lower-body flexibility and
stride length, in addition to strengthening all lower-body muscles, tendons,
and ligaments. Plyometrics teaches the proprioceptors of your muscles and
joints – the internal receptors that enable coordinated movement and balance – to
push off the ground with greater force, by recruiting fast-twitch muscle fibres
more efficiently. In other words, plyometric training puts more spring in every
step you take, which is the key to better running.

 

Perhaps
the best thing about plyometric training is that while it can help you run faster
times and improve your endurance, it doesn’t add much time to your training
routine. Just one or two quick sessions a week will do the trick, and those
sessions should only take a few minutes. For most plyometric drills, you only
need a few metres of space on a flat, stable surface that provides a bit of
give, like grass, an athletics track or a cushioned gym studio floor. And as another
old saying goes, jump in with both feet, because giving maximum effort will see
you become a stronger, faster runner.

 

WHEN I SAY JUMP…

John Cissik, co-author of Sport Speed and Agility, recommends
beginning your plyometric training with the following three drills, once or
twice a week.

 

1. Vertical Jump: Stand
with both feet hip-width apart and place your hands on your hips. Tilt your
hips back, bend your knees, and leap straight up as high as you can. Land with
both feet flat in the same spot. Make sure you bend your knees to absorb the
impact.

?        
Reps: Begin with one set of 10 jumps in rapid
succession. As you get stronger, build up to three sets, with each set
separated by a one-minute rest.

?        
Strengthens: All of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
from the waist down.

 

2. Split Jump: Place one foot a step ahead of your centre of
gravity and the other foot two to three steps behind your centre of gravity,
with your knees slightly bent and hands on your hips. The front foot should be
flat and your rear heel should be off the ground. Tilt your hips back and jump
as high as you can while maintaining your leg positioning. Land in the same
spot, allowing your bent knees to absorb the impact.

?        
Reps: One set of three to five jumps. Build up to three
sets with one-minute rests between.

?        
Strengthens: Entire lower body, but emphasises the
quadriceps and hip flexors, and also enhances balance.

 

3. Ankle Hops: With feet hip-width apart, balance on the
balls of your feet, with heels elevated. Bend your knees, place hands on hips,
and repeatedly hop forward, pushing off and landing only on the balls of both
feet. Stay on the ground as little time as possible between hops and never let
your heels touch the ground.

?        
Reps: Start by hopping 10 metres. Build up to 20
metres, then add a second and third series of hop sequences with one-minute
rests between them.

?        
Strengthens: Everything below the knee, but especially
Achilles tendons, shins, calves, and the flexors that support the ankles.

 

The
bottom line is that just running long slow mileage in training each week will
get you fit, but not do much for your speed, whereas adding plyometric drills
will improve muscle power, which will mean faster race times.

Chat to any swimmer,
especially triathletes, and often the refrain is mostly the same: “I get so
tired of swimming from one end of the pool to the other, with only the white line
as company… It all gets a bit monotonous.” Sure, we all know that when swimming,
one needs to be in the moment, concentrate on form, focus on breathing and all
those things that help to us become better swimmers – but there is definitely a
time and a place that some underwater tunes can brighten a swimming session,
especially when doing long aerobic sessions!

 

FINIS, a world leader in
technical swimming products, recently launched the new waterproof Neptune MP3
Player, and what a nifty little gadget this is! You can now listen to your favourite
music, or even audio books, while working out in the pool. Many runners will
tell you they just can’t train without their iPods, and very soon many swimmers
are bound to be saying the same about the new Neptune.

 

BONE WHAT?

My initial question was,
“How do I listen to this nifty little gadget without earphones?” Well, this
unique MP3 player uses revolutionary bone conduction technology to transmit
crystal clear audio through the cheekbone and directly into the inner ear. Humans are
able to detect sound vibrations through the air via our eardrums (air
conduction), or through our bones directly into our inner ear (bone
conduction). Because there is no air under the water, bone conduction is the
best way to hear audio while swimming.

 

The device has two side speakers that rest on your
cheekbones and attach to any goggle strap. The OLED screen sits comfortably on
the back of the head. You simply open the clips on
the side unit and slide up onto your goggle straps. It needs to fit flush
against your head and the speakers should be placed in front of the ear and not
over your ear, resting against your temple bone for ideal clarity.

 

The speakers vibrate the jaw bones and send vibrations
to the inner ear, or cochlea. The result is a great audio experience that makes
it feel as if the music is playing inside your head. Your ears are free and
clear, and there are no ear plus to mess with. And what a pleasure while
swimming: The device is extremely comfortable and after a couple of minutes,
one is not even aware of it. It feels as comfortable as your goggles or
swimming cap.

 

STORAGE

You don’t have to worry about runnig
out of new tunes when swimming, because the Neptune’s 4GB of
storage holds approximately 1000 songs, or 60 hours of playback. The device is
compatible with iTunes and plays all popular formats. The Neptune also comes
with a charging cable that allows for quick song uploading, and a drawstring
mesh bag for storage. It is waterproof up to three metres and has a rechargeable
eight-hour lithium-ion battery. The Neptune MP3
Player has already been awarded the
prestigious “Red Dot Award: Product Design
2013” for high quality design, and we’re sure you will love it, too.

 

The Neptune MP3 Player retails at
R1890 and can be ordered online at www.finis.co.za.

When you
get Wynand Du Preez, chairman of the Pretoria Marathon Club, talking about his
club, he immediately turns the conversation to history and tradition. For starters,
the club membership hails from all over the capital, but there is a notable
training group called ‘The Wilgers,’ which has been getting together for
morning runs Monday to Sunday in Wilgers suburb since 1978!

 

“It’s
definitely a great legacy to have George Claassen as our founder, and we have
some proud traditions,” says Wynand. “This includes the faster runners tracking
back after they finish a club run to fetch the guys at the back of the pack, so
that the group can finish together. We recognise the effort of all our runners,
and everyone here is treated the same.”

 

EXTENDED FAMILY

Wynand
joined the club in 2000 to get the licence number and club colours he needed to
run Comrades. “I thought I’d do my own thing, but started making great friends
along the way!” This club spirit helped him go on to finish the Comrades 13
times, when he initially he planned to only do two, and this year he completed
his 10^th Two Oceans as well. Unsurprisingly, he describes the club
as his extended family and says he has made lifelong friends that he can call
on for anything.

 

“The
amazing thing is we are a small nucleus of Pretoria runners who organise to run
together all over South Africa, and at events we make sure to bring out the
gazebo and join up for a drink and bite at the finish.” That sees the club
provide free food and drinks at 10 races for its members, including Comrades,
Loskop, Om Die Dam and the local Deloitte Marathon in Pretoria. The club partly sponsors the annual
weekend getaway for members, which this year was held at the Klein Kariba
Resort, and Comrades participants get free long-sleeve tops.

 

The club
also holds a year-end prize-giving and several social breakfasts, and will be holding
a 40^th anniversary celebration later this year, where all the Alumni
will relive their glory days with family and friends. Meanwhile, on the racing
front, the club hosts the PWC George Claassen Road Race (21.1km, 10km and 5km)
on the last Saturday in January, an event that has consistently grown in
popularity since its first running 35 years ago. Then in late September, the
club organises the Andrew Greyling Memorial Run in Brooklyn’s
suburbs.

 

IN IT TOGETHER

“What I
love about being in this club is that you will find people who will share their
advice, you will find friends, a community and branch of support. For the board
members and volunteers who make coffee and scones on race days and for club
runs, there is no gain – except the love of running and being in it together!”

For more information
contact Wynand du Preez on 082 371 8292. Annual club fee: R150 – walkers and
beginners also welcome!

For trail runners wanting a taste of travel and challenge, this event is
perfect – it’s a three-day, 120km mountain running journey through the
magnificent Ketane Ha Mothibi and Thaba Putsoa ranges in the remote mountain
kingdom of Lesotho. Only this year, the Lesotho Wild Run got wilder! A
cold front moved in which meant maximum temperatures of about 12 degrees, rain
and wind, making the course muddy and slippery, considerably slowing the pace,
and changing the dynamics of the race, making it far tougher, but also a whole
lot more dramatic, more beautiful, more real.

 

BEST LAID PLANS

My
plan for each day was to start steady, maintain a consistent pace, and finish
each stage strong. Most importantly, I needed to not get lost! The race is
self-navigational – GPS waypoints are provided and runners need to choose their
optimal routes between points.

 

Day
1 covered 43km with 2080m vertical gain, topping us at 2640m at the 32km mark.
The trails were incredible, passing remote villages reachable only by horse and
foot. Crossing the Ketane River, said to be “knee-deep at worst,” was an eye-opener
– the river was chest-deep and the force of the current was strong. I slipped
in a stream about three hours into the run and completely drenched my thermal.
Within minutes I was shivering. Fortunately I had a dry thermal in a ziplock
bag in my pack, so I literally stripped off my wet stuff, pulled on my dry
thermal and my waterproof, and felt like a million bucks again.

 

Day
2 – 28km with 2175m of climbing – was a stunner. The route circumnavigated the
Maletsunyane River Gorge with an eye-level view of the 192m Maletsunyane Falls,
the highest single-drop falls in southern Africa. Again, the single track was
breathtaking, a mountain traverse trail that often meandered just metres away
from 300m sheer drop-offs to the gorge below.

 

Day
3: 39km and snow! The air was cold, the ground crisp, and the beauty of the
surrounding mountains draped in soft white snow took the burn from our legs and
lungs as we pushed up the infamous Baboon’s Pass at around 2500m. The race
finished with a river crossing and a sharp climb to the lavish green lawns of
the Ramabanta Trading Post.

 

MEMORIES…

The
Lesotho Wildrun is an incredible journey filled with rich experiences and
intoxicating views into a world that time seems to have forgotten. For me, the
most lingering visual memory is a quintessential Lesotho image, of a tall,
statuesque Basotho shepherd high on a mountainside in the rain, wrapped in his
traditional blanket and leaning on a staff as he watches over his grazing sheep.

 

The
race was won by Jacques Mouton in 17:09. Linda finished first women and third
overall in 17:50.

The small,
elderly coloured gentleman sits quietly at the exit point of the Comrades
Marathon registration area, until a runner tries to enter registration from the
wrong side. Then up jumps this sprightly 90-year-old Comrades veteran to point
the runner in the right direction. You don’t want to mess with Sam Draai when
it comes to his beloved Comrades!

 

FASCINATION FACTOR

Born in
1922 in Durban,
Sam served in the SA Navy during the Second World War, then began working at Unilever.
Having watched the Comrades for many years and taken up running himself, he
decided he wanted to run it, even though no runners of colour (or women) were
then allowed to enter. “I was just fascinated with the Comrades Marathon, and
when I ran my first one in 1964, I wasn’t allowed to run officially and I think
I was the only person of colour on the road,” he recalls. “Right from the
beginning, we had some runners I can mention, like Manie Kuhn, who were so
sympathetic. There were a lot of people behind the scenes talking to the Comrades
Marathon Association about giving me recognition, but the medals were never an
issue for me, I just wanted to be part of the Comrades.”

 

Sam finished
the race nine times unofficially between 1964 and 1974, clocking a 7:27 best
for the Down Run and a 7:37 best for the Up Run. The only blip on his record
was 1973 when he bailed during the Down Run. “I was already 41 when I ran my
first Comrades and I trained very hard, so I got better and better, but Comrades
in those years was really hard. There were no water tables, and if you were
lucky your second would get to you. In 1973, I ran all the way from
Pietermaritzburg to almost in Bothas Hill without any seconds, and that was a
bit much for me.”

 

INTO THE OPEN ERA

In 1975 Sam
was finally allowed to run the race officially, and he went on to finish a
further seven times for a final tally of 16 finishes, the last coming in 1986.
“My last one was an uphill battle and I finished in just over 10 hours. Then I
was diagnosed with high blood pressure and that stopped me from running. I
would have carried on, otherwise, and been another Wally Hayward, still running
in my 80s!”

 

Many years
later, the Comrades Marathon Association took the decision to officially
recognise all the Comrades finishes by non-white and female runners prior to
1975, and that saw Sam awarded the Green Number 1258, as well as his nine
outstanding medals, which saw him finish with seven silvers and nine bronze. “At
the function at Comrades House where we runners of colour were awarded our
medals, they asked me to speak, but I didn’t say much, just that I had never
dreamt the day would dawn that I would be recognised for my running. Like I
said, the medal was not the criteria; it was all about the runners, a wonderful
family day out on the road.”

It all
started just over a year ago when Elana was heading up the JAG Foundation and
doing sterling work to get more and more youth involved in running. “However, I
saw that these kids are going to exit our sport unless we create a pathway for
them to get to the next level, and ultimately to the top levels,” She says.
“Then I looked which marathoners would be in contention for the Olympic team
and I was quite shocked where we are in distance running in SA. In the early
90s we had guys winning Big City Marathons, with over 40 guys breaking 2:15 in a year. Currently we only have six. You can’t expect runners to perform consistently
well at the highest level if you don’t have enough of them doing it, so I began
to think, other sports, like rugby, have academies, and I thought it can work to
get the runners working as a team to help each other run faster.”

 

And so
Elana signed off at JAG, joined forces with business strategist and former
training partner Janet Welham, and after a hectic period of planning and
meetings, Endurocad (short for SA Endurance Academy) was launched in June. It will be
dedicated to elite endurance athletes who wish to improve their times, make a
living from their talent and to build a brand and business for life after
sport. “There is so much running talent in South Africa. We want to identify
and develop these athletes and help prepare them for the 2016 Olympic Games in
Rio and to do well in the Big City Marathons,” says Elana. The academy
structure will ultimately be made up of an elite academy of 40 athletes based
in Stellenbosch and satellite squads based elsewhere. These athletes will then
have access to regular training camps, and the structure will have as a
foundation the community-based SA Can Run initiative.

 

BUSY TIMES

Now Elana
is juggling a busy schedule, heading up the new academy while also raising two
young kids with partner Jacques Jansen van Rensburg. She is also to be found
every Saturday morning on Audacia Wine Farm, just outside Stellenbosch,
overseeing the Root 44 parkrun which she says ties in with her SA Can Run initiative. And she still does a bit
of running herself.

 

“It’s part
of who I am. I don’t feel the need to go show how fast (or slow) I am any more, but running is
still important to me – for my health, and sanity! Obviously being a mom of two
kids and having a family is the most important thing in my life, but you have
to juggle your time. It is taking a huge time commitment to get Endurocad off
the ground, so it is hard to fit in a run, but you have to make it a priority
if you still want to squeeze it in.”

 

To learn
more about Elana’s new running academy, visit www.endurocad.co.za.