Category: Columns

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.

Having taken on Ironman
and Comrades in the lead-up to the brutal 180km Diagonale des Fous this year,
Russell is no stranger to leading an active life. Weekends are spent running on
trails or cycling, and he is always determined to mix it up with rock climbing,
body boarding, surf-skiing and paddling. His mornings are dedicated to his bike,
while evenings are meant for runs. “I go out and do what I can. Every weekend I
need to do eight to 10 hours of running or hiking – this especially when I
decided to do the Diagonale,” he says.

 

And with a busy
schedule managing the Specsavers in Sunridge Park since 2004 and developing his
eyecare software company, Spectrum Eyecare, which has provided patients with
digital eye tests since 2002, Russell’s ability to fit in exercise is
inspiring. “It’s not easy for me to juggle everything, but I always say that if
you want it bad enough, you will find a way to balance work, family and
exercise.”

 

Russell remembers the moment that he decided to take
on one of the world’s toughest trail runs. “After going to a talk by extreme
adventurer David Grier, I asked him what made him snap and just leave everything
behind to take on his feats, and I knew I could do something extraordinary, too.
David told me about the Diagonale des Fous and I just researched from there!”
Having planned the trip for two years (he missed out in 2011 when the entries
closed), Russell received a special international entry this year in the race’s
exclusive 20^th anniversary. “I expected 160km at first, but because
it was their 20^th edition, they made it tougher and a little longer
for the legs.”

 

BETWEEN THE VOLCANOES

With fireworks to accompany a late 10pm start, Russell
and 2800 other adventurers set off from D?part St Philippe for the finish at
Saint-Denis. The participants would have to run non-stop to get in before the
66-hour cut-off – something that played on Russell’s mind during the run. “There
were obviously moments when I thought I’d never finish, especially after
getting cellulitis on my feet, and feeling dehydrated and exhausted. I felt
broken at some points.”

 

The start was particularly difficult, with a steady 2
500m climb to one of Reunion’s dormant volcanoes, where it started to rain and
didn’t let up for the next 24 hours. After suffering swollen and blistering
feet, Russell needed to make a stop at the doctor for treatment, having to deal
with dry noodles, deciphering French and waiting an hour in the cold for his
appointment before heading back out on the course. After that he had to race to
make several cut-off checkpoints – at times just making it in by 40 seconds.

 

Russell also struggled with carrying too light a backpack,
and would run out of water long before the checkpoints, but he says at least he
now knows what to pack for future events. And despite the pain and sleeplessness,
he says the views really were worth the effort. “I remember the one view at the
top of a 3000m mountain, where the sun was rising just above a volcano basin
that was filled with clouds. That sight brought me a little bit of energy.”

 

FINDING THE BALANCE

Russell credits his finishing to his determination to
carry on and his stubbornness. “I’m proud that I finished. You get into a space
where you are physically broken, drained and lonely. The only thing that you
have left is the goal to finish before cut-off.” And when he saw his wife at
the finish, having seen her three times en route so she could help with food,
the emotions left him speechless, and very relieved. “I wouldn’t have done it
without my wife – but there were a few times when I prepped my failure speech!
Afterwards, I kept thinking ‘well, the race didn’t kill me,’ and I know there are
quite a few that never manage to finish.”

 

For Russell, the balance of work and play is working
for him, and he plans to run the 160km South Pole Race and ride the Transalps
Mountain Bike route next. “If you value balance, you’ll sort your schedule out,”
he says. “The human spirit is limitless. I’m only happy to try and fail – and come
back and do it right the next time – than never try!”

In November 2011, Don had both his legs amputated due
to complications caused by the atherosclerosis condition he suffers from, which
is the hardening of the arteries. But when his good friend and former Rocky
Road Runners clubmate Dennis Tabakin, head of the Achilles SA
Foundation, heard about it, he immediately sent Don a message: “Sorry to hear about your legs, but I’ve got a wheelchair entry for you
for the 2012 New York Marathon, and I’ve got a hand-cycle you can borrow, so
start training!”

 

Thus Don, accompanied by his wife Olwyn, was part of
the Achilles SA team of 10 athletes with various disabilities due to fly to New
York on Sunday 28 October – just as all the flights to the ‘Big Apple’ were
cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. After a few anxious days, they duly got there,
but on the Friday night they heard the race was cancelled. “Next thing we knew,
the race had been dubbed the ‘Let’s Run Anyway Marathon’ and our team managers,
Dennis and Braam Mouton said we’d go do our own marathon in Central Park,” says
Don. “It turned out that between 4000 and 5000 other runners had the same idea!
Some people went clockwise, others anti-clockwise; Some did four loops for the
marathon distance, including me, while others just did one. The spirit was
amazing, and the people who live around the park looked after us with water and
snacks. It was one of the most heart-warming experiences of my running career.”

 

EARLY YEARS

Don was born in England and came out to South Africa
when he was 21. He initially worked as an analytical chemist in the mining
industry, then later moved into research and finished his career as a technical
director at Bovril. He retired in 2002 and moved to Cape Town to be closer to
his two sons. His first marriage to Charlotte lasted 29 years, and 10 years
after his divorce he married Olwyn, whom he had met through running at Rockies.

 

Don ran track at school and university, but focused on
soccer and hockey for many years thereafter. “Then one day in 1977 a friend who
was a Comrades runner asked if I wanted to try a road race, so I ran the
Florida 16km. At that time, you started Joburg races according to a handicap
system, so I set off with the first bunch. I did well and finished sixth, and the
next week I was only given a 15-minute handicap.” A year later Don lined up for
his first Comrades, and he says his two silvers in 1982 and 1984 were the
highlights of his Comrades career, both earned on the ‘Down Run.’ Having run
seven consecutive races, he was unable to start in 1985 due to a blocked artery
in his leg. “I had to have a bypass put in, but bounced back and went on to run
another 12.”

 

COACHING GURU

Don’s coaching career began early in his running
career. “Before my first Comrades, I struggled to find good training advice,
and Dennis and I realised people needed more help, so we decided to put
together the Comrades Panel Talks, with a famous runner as motivator, a medical
doctor and a physio, and then I did the training programme. Only people who had
run Comrades were allowed to talk, and the attendance soon grew from 50 people
to over 600!” Over the years, Don came to be recognised as the guru of Comrades
training and his programme was published in Runner’s
World magazine. That, in turn, led to him becoming the first official
Comrades Coach, and with Ian Laxton, he developed the Comrades Roadshows, based
on the same format as the Panel Talks. After years of service to the race, Don
was rewarded firstly with the Comrades Marathon Association’s Platinum Medal,
and then later with a Spirit of Comrades Award.

 

His Comrades running unfortunately came to an end in
1998, when he had to bail while going for his 20^th medal. “I had a
blockage in my heart, and really shouldn’t have run that year, but being a
typical runner, I still lined up. I had a heart bypass three months later, then
tried to start running again, but all I could manage was a few fun runs.” Now,
14 years later, in spite of losing both legs, Don has made a comeback – and he
isn’t done yet. “The organisers of the Outeniqua Wheelchair race in George in
February have invited me to participate, so now I’m busy training for that!”

DAY 1: Moore Stephens Jonkershoek Half Marathon,
Stellenbosch, 22 September

We arrived in Stellenbosch on
Saturday morning, just in time to freshen up and register for the race. It was
absolutely beautiful and cool, and then the heavens opened up for about 6km,
but we loved the weather! We ran past wine farms and entered a forest section
where the gravel road was muddy with water puddles and we enjoyed splashing
through it. After the race, Rashika and I decided we needed to enjoy a great
breakfast, and what better place to enjoy a champagne breakfast than in the
heart of the stunning Stellenbosch mountains.

 

DAY 2: Cape Town Marathon, 23 September

I woke up at 3am on Sunday morning,
feeling pumped up for my first Cape Town Marathon. It was another overcast day
with perfect running conditions. The organisation of the race was flawless – after
parking the car in Green Point, we hopped onto the MyCity Bus shuttle straight
to the starting line in the middle of the Mother City.

 

The course was flat and fast, and
Rashika was on top of her game, while I decided to take advantage of the fast
course and hit it hard, but we still enjoyed the views of Table Mountain, the
ocean and beachfront. Halfway through the race the clouds burst open and the
marathon became so much more exciting as we ploughed through the rain and Cape
winds, making our way towards the finish line at the Cape Town Stadium. I even crossed
the finish line with my cartwheels! This race will now hold a permanent place
on my annual race schedule.

 

DAY 3: Bainskloof Half Marathon, Welling ton, 24
September

On Monday we decide to take on the
Bainskloof 21km before shooting back to Jozi, and Mother Nature hit us with a ‘trifecta,’
as it began drizzling again. The first 10km were a steep uphill all the way to
the top of Bainskloof Pass, then we made a U-turn and ran down again. Rashika
ran like a legend, finishing in the top 10, while I ran the whole race with my
new KwaZulu-Natal friends Lesiba Mogotlane and Prenevin Govender, building a
great friendship along the way!

 

With three gorgeous medals around our
necks and tears of gratitude, we then faced the long road home. As you can see,
we believe that the adventure is out there – grab it!

Based
at Hamiltons Rugby Club, right next to Cape Town Stadium, the AAC club is ideally
situated for runners living in the City Bowl and on the Atlantic Seaboard, as
well as for runners who work in town and prefer an afternoon or evening run to
avoid peak traffic. And the club has plenty of regular club runs to choose from,
offering some of the best views you’ll find anywhere on the run! “We encourage
our members to explore Cape Town
and its stunning surrounds through the many varied club runs, both during the
week and on weekends. And anyone is welcome to join us,” says Club President
Chris Readman.

 

The
regular club runs include pleasant jaunts along the Green Point/Sea Point
Promenade, or mountain runs starting from the Lower Cable Car Station or from
the Rhodes Memorial and running through the Kirstenbosch Gardens.
On the weekends the club holds longer tar runs up to 30km starting from Camps Bay
as well as 20km trail options setting out from UCT. The club also presents two
time trials per week, with a 5km from the Sea Point Pavilion on Wednesday
mornings, and a 5km or 8km option on Wednesday evenings, starting opposite the
Newport Deli in Beach Road,
near Mouille Point Lighthouse. So you really are spoilt for choice with this
club…

 

STARTING OUT

AAC
was founded in December 1979 and currently has a membership of just under 400
runners. The Club’s objective back then was to encourage and promote running in
the Green Point, Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout
Bay area, and that pretty
much remains the same today. For that reason, beginners are made to feel
especially welcome in the club. “If you are completely new to running or just
coming back from a break or injury, then we offer a group for beginners called
The Penguins, managed by Radesh Moodley, who also accompanies the various
Penguin runs. We have different packs running at different paces so that
everyone can be accommodated,” says Chris.

 

Club
Administrator Sue Ullyett adds that “AAC doesn’t really have elite runners and we
prefer to focus on the members themselves, and also on getting people who were
on the couch to running a 5km. A lot of clubs have elites and we wanted to do
something different.” Sue is also responsible for the regular e-mail
newsletters to all members, filled with the latest club info, upcoming runs and
races, plus info on club socials and much more. Radesh also sends out a weekly
e-mail to all the Penguins, so AAC members are always up to speed on all things
running.

 

AT THE RACES

AAC
organises the Lighthouse 10km night race in March, followed by the hugely
popular OUTsurance 94.5 KFM Gun Run Half Marathon, 10km & 5km in October.
The club is also using the Gun Run as a platform to fund grassroots running
development, in conjunction with the JAG Foundation. “The event raises around
R50 000 for JAG, to go towards the community cross country league for school
children aged 7 to 18 that we have started,” says Sue. “The focus in on mass
participation, with points going to all participants, and it’s a great way to
get kids active.”

 

For
more on AAC, contact Sue Ullyett on [email protected] or visit
www.atlanticathletic.co.za.

According to ancient Greek mythology, the
great warrior Achilles was dipped in the sacred river Styx by his mother Thetis
so that he would be immortal, but she held him by his heel and it was not touched by the water, so his
heel remained mortal. During the Trojan War, Achilles was seemingly invincible,
killing many Trojan warriors, including Hector, Prince
of Troy, but Prince Paris of Troy shot
an arrow into Achilles’ heel and he died of the wound. As a result of this
legend, the expression ‘Achilles Heel’ came to mean a small but fatal
vulnerability, and the tendon connecting the heel to the calf became known as
the Achilles tendon.

 

Now
this is all rather ironic, since the Achilles is actually the thickest, strongest
tendon in our bodies, which it has to be in order to handle the strain of
connecting the heel to the powerful calf muscle. With each step we take, or hop
or jump, the calf contracts and pulls on the Achilles, which in turn provides
the elastic energy to push the foot downwards and allows us to move forwards or
upwards. Thus the Achilles carries our entire weight with each step, and
several times our weight when sprinting, pushing off or jumping.

 

TENDER TENDONS

It’s not surprising then that Achilles injuries are fairly common in
athletes, with the most common cause being overuse
due to a sudden, large increase in mileage. Overuse
also manifests itself in long-term strain on the tendon as well as a sudden
force being exerted on the tendon that results in a tear or rupture. Misalignment
is another common cause, with tight or weak leg muscles and misalignment of the
knee, hip or back placing undue strain on the Achilles, as can low arches and
uneven leg lengths, while women who wear high heels for long periods can end up
with shortened Achilles.

 

There are two common Achilles injuries:

?        
Achilles
tendinosis (formerly called Achilles tendonitis) is a soreness that comes on
gradually and continues to worsen until treated. It often starts with stiffness
and ‘creaking’ when first getting out of bed, and lightly pinching the Achilles
with the forefinger and thumb will be sore. This is a common injury among middle
and long distance runners.

?        
Achilles
tendon rupture is a partial or complete tear of the Achilles that comes on
suddenly, sometimes with a popping sound, and is debilitating. Partial and full
ruptures are most likely to occur in sports requiring sudden eccentric
stretching, such as sprinting, but can also occur in middle and long distance
runners.

 

ACHILLES FIX

Treatment for Achilles tendinosis includes
rest, icing and physio, followed by strengthening exercises. Treatment for an
Achilles rupture includes complete immobilisation, or surgery in the most
severe cases. Avoid anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs, because Achilles
tendinosis is a degenerative injury rather than an inflammation and the drugs
will mask the problem, which will then likely get worse as you continue putting
force on the tendon.

 

To prevent an Achilles
injury, warm up properly with dynamic stretching (gentle calf raises, jogging,
jumps, hops or skipping) before working the tendon too hard. Do daily
strengthening with calf raises, starting slowly with just your body weight and
doing three sets of 10 to 15. When this can be done without pain, gradually
increase the number of repetitions and sets, and weight. Concentrate on a slow,
measured lowering, and be sure to go all the way down for a full stretch of the
Achilles.

The
present-day PAC is actually an amalgamation of two clubs, the original club and
the Paarl Athletes Club, which joined forces in 1992 as old racial demarcation
lines were left behind in the post-apartheid era. “Boland Athletics said we
should only have one club in Paarl, so we joined forces, and we decided to keep
the name and clothes of the PAC,” says present club chairman Brandon Du
Plessis. “In recent years we’ve grown from 120 to
240-plus athletes, and we’re now the second-biggest club in the province, with
the focus on road running, because we unfortunately usually lose most of our
young track athletes to the universities.”

 

“So we don’t have any big name athletes at the
moment, but Dumisani Dosi, Angelo Booysen, Steyntjie Prins, Caley Bredenkamp,
Yvonne Niewoudt, Huguegge van der Merwe and Jacqueline Bakkes all do well in
their respective categories on the road. We also have some promising youngsters
in track and field, including Helene Swanepoel, who should be going to the
World Youth Champs later this year to compete in the 400m hurdles, and her
sister Marina is also doing well in the same event, while Janey van der Merwe
and Jana de Jongh are promising middle distances and cross-country runners.”

 

ON THE
RUN

Brandon says that the club holds weekly club runs
on Tuesday evenings, starting from the Paarl Rugby Clubhouse at 6pm in summer and
5:30pm in winter, plus there are regular Saturday morning pack runs. They also
put on three races each year, with the highlight being the Macdonalds Paarlberg
Half Marathon& 10km in October. Then there is the Taalmonument 10km in
December, and this year will see the first running of the club’s 10km race
combined with the Boland Cross-country Champs in August.

 

“We also put on a lot of track and field events at
the beginning of the year, or help out at others, including the big school
meets, the 4M and the Paarl Girls High meet. We even have one meeting in
October just for three specific events, the pole vault, hammer and discus.”

 

More info: www.facebook.com/Paarl Athletics Club, or
contact Brandon Du Plessis on [email protected] or 076 187 7260.

A few months ago, completing one of the
world’s most prestigious international marathons was nothing but a pipe dream
for Khubulani, whose job as a security guard in the West Rand has not afforded
him such an opportunity. But thanks to a charitable initiative undertaken by Virgin
Money South Africa, Khubulani, along with two other runners from
underprivileged communities, was given a unique opportunity to shine on an
international stage.

 

“It’s always been a dream to run in the
world’s biggest marathons, but I never thought I’d get the chance,” says
Khubulani, who had previously achieved four silver medal finishes in the
Comrades Marathon. “I have watched the London Marathon on TV, and when I found
out about this opportunity, I knew I had to go for it.”

 

This was a first trip abroad for
Khubulani, who was selected along with fellow athletes, John Persents and
Meshack Ndhlovu, based on the strength of their written motivations. According
to Khubulani, he will remember the four days spent in London for the rest of
his life. “It was amazing and we had enough time to take in all the famous
sights and the culture of the place. The support throughout the marathon was
incredible. It really helped to push me to achieve my best. I’ll look back at
this experience every day and smile. I did a really good job and it’s something
I’ll never forget.”

 

VIP
TREATMENT

Since returning to South Africa, Khubulani
has revelled in the support shown by his community. “Honestly, it feels like I
won the whole thing. The support has been amazing, and I couldn’t be happier. Virgin
Money also treated us well and made us feel at home
in a foreign place. I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and happy that I got a
chance to show my talent to the world.”

 

However, for Khubulani there’s little
time to bask in the spotlight. Over and above his work commitments, he is
currently training to better his finishing time at this year’s Comrades
Marathon. He has set his sights on returning to London one day, and also lists the
New York Marathon as one of his future goals.

Better known these days as nice guy Daniel on the
soapie Isidingo, Stephen has
established himself as one of the country’s most recognised actors. Other
notable roles in recent years include playing the controversial abusive drug
addict (also Daniel) in Home Affairs
and Laurence in Snitch, on top of
past appearance in Egoli, Backstage and 7de Laan, and he was a featured extra in the Hollywood movie Femme Fatal starring Antonio Banderas.
He’s also displayed his singing skills in a stage production of Hair, and done Shakespeare, as well as other
shows, programmes, films and adverts. However, he says his path to acting was
not exactly normal. “I wanted to get into alternative medicine but failed my
interview – at that stage I wasn’t confident, so I decided to study drama to
boost my people skills.” That worked so well that Stephen became an actor
instead, even going on to perform the role of Victoria Beckham in a theatre
production called We Will Rock You
that toured South East Asia!

 

Apart from preparing for his diverse roles and
learning lines, Johannesburg-based Stephen (34) also manages the marketing side
of Anita Unique Body Wear, a women’s clothing range run by his father for the
past 14 years that covers everything from sport lingerie to swimwear. “I was
always interested in medicine and turned to medicated clothing, so it’s a
plus,” explains Stephen. “Our Anita stand was very popular at this year’s
Comrades Expo and I believe in the product – beauty starts with the right bra!”
(And you can just imagine the stir it causes when a well-known hunky soapie
star is on hand to help the ladies find the right fit for a sports bra…)

 

KEEPING ACTIVE

As a youngster, Stephen was an avid rugby player at
school and also participated in athletics and swimming. Today, he uses his free
time to keep fit by going running and mountain biking, but says he prefers
staying away from busy gyms. “Running is a way to catch up with a running
friend, a time to break away from work. It’s something I set time for and feel
I have to do,” says Stephen. “And when I ride, I usually go for two to three
hours about twice a week, and sometimes my wife Claire and daughter Hayley join
in.”

 

As a father, Stephen also uses play time with Hayley
to keep fit. “We go for walks together with the dogs and we had one of those
runner prams when she was younger.” He also says that he does crunches and
push-ups when she sits on his tummy. “She is my 10 to 15kg bench press or bicep
curl!” He also integrates a lot of his hobbies in his healthy lifestyle, like
bird-watching on walks, running and cycling on family getaways in the bush, and
getting active on holiday and on tour. “I never sit still. On tour, I go rock
climbing, scuba diving and river rafting and experience everything!” says
Stephen, who adds that movement on stage is another plus to keeping his fitness
levels up.

 

EAT YOUR VEGGIES!

With all the exercise Stephen does, nutrition plays an
important role in his busy schedule, and he always aims to maintain a healthy
routine, especially when away from South Africa. He says he likes to embrace
traditional food when on tour – for example, in Hong Kong he ate fresh cod that
was gutted and skinned in front of him at a food market. “When you’re busy it’s
easy to eat ‘road food,’ but I stay away and don’t do fast food at all. I always
try and take in a lot of veggies and eat healthy small portions. On tour with We Will Rock You, I managed to eat right
while others looked to takeaways. I took in cabbage and shaved beef, and took
in good nutrients.” Stephen and Claire also prioritise healthy family meals at
home like meat, fish and salads which they also give to Hayley. “You can’t tell
Hayley to eat her veggies without you doing it!”

 

While trying to balance an acting career, marketing a
clothing range, making public appearances and MCing events, on top of being a
husband and father, Stephen says that some days are hectically busy, so he
keeps a diary to schedule exercise in between business, performing and family
duties. “You can’t rely on ‘No Time’ as an excuse and substitute guilt for no
exercise. Everyone should make time to clear your head.”

It comes as no surprise that the people of Harrismith dubbed
Michael McDermott ‘The Mountain Goat’ and used to write supportive messages for
him along the route of the Harrismith Mountain Race, much like supporters do in
the Tour De France. Or that the race organisers would set him up in the hotel
room with the number that corresponded with the win he was going for. That’s
because Michael became a hugely popular and inspirational figure in the town
thanks to his 16-year winning streak in their annual race.

 

Michael’s love affair with Harrismith’s imposing
Platberg began in 1978, when he was just 13. “I was alone at home and ran 5km
to the Harrismith Harriers clubhouse because I wanted to run that day, but
no-one was there, so I ran back home. Then they called me up to ask where I was
and came to fetch me. So before the race, I already ran 10km,” says Michael,
who ran the race and finished 32^nd. “Nobody
believed I had completed the race, though, because I was so small!” he laughs.

 

In 1980, he finished eighth and qualified for a gold
medal, but had to receive it unofficially, behind the tent, as he was still
below the minimum 16-year age limit for the race. A year later and now ‘legal,’
he finished fifth, and then in 1982 he posted the first of his 16 wins, a world
record that has only been equalled by Michael McLeod of England, and which only
came to an end due to a freak injury suffered when he was on his way to a 17^th
straight win. Having built up a strong lead, Michael looked back to see if
anyone was chasing, stepped skew and tore ligaments in his ankle. “I managed to
finish the race in fifth, which was really disappointing, but on the other hand
it was a relief because there wasn’t that pressure to win after that.”

 

EARLY INSPIRATION

The running bug bit Michael at the age of 12 when he participated
in a 1 500m event at school and came stone last. “I remember telling my mom that
I would never come last again, and she said if I wanted to do that I would have
to train harder.” A month later he won the school’s next cross-country meet. “We
lived on the fringe of the town where I could step out and run on the
mountain,” says Michael, “there were ten hills, 100m long, and I used to scale
them in 15 minutes.”

 

Just a year down the road and Michael won several North
Natal cross-country events, grabbed fourth position in the Natal Champs, and then
did well in his age category at the SA Championships. In later years, he earned
Springbok colours in 1988 for cross-country, and was invited to run a number of international mountain running events in the
early 1990s. He shattered the course record of the Swiss Alpine Marathon in
1993 and won the race three times, along with second and fourth place finishes
in subsequent years. He also represented SA seven times in the World Mountain
Trophy, from 1993 to 1999, with a best placing of fifth in 1993 in France.

 

CALL OF THE MOUNTAINS

After Michael’s ankle injury in 1999 ended his streak,
he subsequently picked up knee problems and felt he had to tone the running
down, so he took up mountain biking and found a new outlet for his competitive
nature. “I enjoy mountain biking and am leading the veteran
category in the Nissan Trailseeker Mountain Bike Challenge and I am also
currently second on the USN Mountain Bike Cup for veterans. The change to cycling has been great and I’ve become hooked. I feel like
I’ve always had a competitive edge, in running, cycling, running my business –
I try and do my best.” He adds that one of his great pleasures in
life is to share mountain rides with his wife Marietjie and his kids Marilyn
(16) and Leonard (7).

 

Today, Michael lives with his family in Pretoria and
owns and manages two Wimpy franchises in Balfour Park and Killarney. Looking
back on his Harrismith streak, Michael says that “Every year had its
own challenges, from blistering heat to rain and mud, gale force winds, icy
cold, thunder storms, even snow. Many top athletes tried to take first place
from me, and the pressure was always there – I even ran the race when I was
sick as a dog with flu, not a good start for such a tough race! It’s a race
that will stay in my heart forever.”