Category: Columns

Mobii Systems (Pty) Ltd was started in February 2008 in Cape Town by a group of friends who collectively brought electronic and mechanical engineering, software development and business science backgrounds to the party, as well as a shared passion for sport. “We set out to design and manufacture a high-end locally produced GPS sport unit, producing nearly everything ourselves, including the injection-moulded casings and screens, and the accessories such as straps and covers, and packaging,” says Roderick Barret. “It’s taken us a few years to perfect, including going through a few model designs that have seen the unit’s size and weight reduced considerably, and now we’re focused on constantly improving the software so that the unit can do even more.”

The rectangular unit is 45mm wide and 63mm long, with a 15mm thickness, and weighs 53 grams, and is made from impact-proof polycarbonate plastic with a self-healing coating on the screen to protect against scratches. Using the various mounting straps, you can wear it on your arm or wrist, on a belt or waistline, or mount it on a bicycle, canoe, surfski or boat (the Motion is completely waterproof). The heart rate strap is an optional extra, since the unit is compatible with any ANT+ strap from other manufacturers.

IT DOES IT ALL
The Motion can measure speed, pace, acceleration, strides, energy, heart rate, location and course, elevation, gradient, tilt and G-force, cadence, power, laps (as well as sectors of laps, and phases of sectors), splits, and 3D speed. And it’s the combining of different measures which makes this unit so adaptable to different sporting codes – even racing car drivers are using it to plot their exact laps on a race track, using the built-in accelerometer to provide information on g-force when cornering or braking, and plotting their different laps on a map of the race course to see exactly where they are losing time by choosing a different line into the turns. It’s that accurate!

The unit comes with downloadable Motion Control Centre software, which allows you to do the set-up of your unit on your PC, analyse workouts, plot routes, share profiles and workouts with other Mobii users, add music to your playlist on the unit (no need for a separate MP3 player!), synchronise workouts with video footage (if you have a compatible camera), and more.

SETTING UP
I found it a complicated unit to master at first, with the navigation of the menu system and initial set-up requiring a detailed user-guide. I also had to get used to the touch screen buttons, which require slightly different pressure to my touch screen phone, but I soon got the hang of it. (You can change the ‘strength’ of the buttons to suit your own touch.)

Initially, you had to do the set-up on the unit itself, but the Mobii team has worked hard on the Motion Control Centre so that it can be done on your PC, which is quicker and easier. You start by creating your user profile, then set up your activities (workouts) and the customisable data view displays for each one, which can contain up to four different items, which can in turn also include images, like a heart for heart rate or clock for time. You can change the size, colour, position, font size, rotation and alignment of each item, so you really can set it up just the way you want it. The basic running activity that comes standard with the software has the following variables on separate screens, which are easy to toggle through by using the left or right buttons: Heart rate, time, energy, stride rate and length, and total strides. You can download many other data view sets, or set up your own, as I did, with a single display containing time, average pace, distance and heart rate.

Next you can create up to 32 Action Triggers per activity, such as programming the unit to automatically pause when you stop at traffic lights, or setting it to play audio feedback when your heart rate reaches a specified level. You can even record an audio message about the route, such as “steep hill in one kilometre,” or programme it to play Chariots of Fire as you start the last kay of your route!

RUNNING WITH MOBII
I found running with the unit quite comfortable, and the quarter-second GPS recording intervals meant I had no problems getting reliable, accurate info. I could easily read the display and find exactly what I was looking for, having set it up just the way I wanted it. Admittedly, I did hit the wrong buttons a few times and had to stop in mid-run to navigate my way back, but I soon got the hang of it, and the more I ran with the Mobii, the easier it became to use it.

And once home again, I couldn’t wait to download my runs, plot my routes on the map, check where I went faster or slower, and more. I was like a kid with a new toy for Christmas! Which is really saying something, because I openly admit to being a bit of a technophobe… It’s just that the Mobii makes training so much fun!

IMPROVING ALL THE TIME
One of the real bonuses of this unit is that the Mobii team is constantly updating and improving the software, which can easily be updated with free downloads through the Motion Experience Centre. Many of these improvements are based on feedback from users. For example, Roderick says that they’ll be rolling out two big updates in October: “The one will be the ability to edit Action Triggers in the Motion Experience Centre. These can already be set up on the Motion itself, but now athletes will be able to easily programme them in the same way that they would set up their Data Views in the software. The battery life of the Motion is also in for a big boost as new power-saving features are being added.”

The Mobii Motion Package is currently selling for R2695, including all accessories except for the heart rate strap. Contact Mobii Systems to find your nearest stockist, on Tel. 021 914 6982 or e-mail [email protected].

The Alter G Anti Gravity Treadmill (AG treadmill) was originally designed by NASA to assist astronauts to train for anti-gravitational environments, but it has since been adapted for use in training and rehabilitation for the Average Joe. It can be used in the rehabilitation of any number of injuries in the lower regions of the body, as well as treatment of neurological conditions, weight reduction and general training.

The concept is actually quite simple. Your weight is adapted by using air in a pressure-controlled chamber to gently lift you above the treadmill. This is known as the Air Pressure Differential and the advanced technology allows you to accurately adapt your body weight to up to 20% of your total weight in one percent increments. Though you will need a helping hand to get you through your first session and show you the ropes, it is not a difficult or dangerous exercise. After putting on a pair of specially designed shorts with a zip around your waist, you climb onto the treadmill and into the pressure chamber, zip yourself in, calibrate and away you go! It feels a little like you’re being lifted in the air while in a harness, but much more comfortable and stable since you are basically inside a balloon that keeps you upright and stable.

Whilst on the treadmill you can adapt your speed and weightas you wish, whether you are a professional sportsman, a weekend warrior, or someone with a physical disability who hasn’t been able to walk for years.

BENEFITS
According to Dr Mark Ferguson, leading sports orthopaedic surgeon and founding director at the Centre for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics in Rosebank, Johannesburg, the one-of-a-kind machine allows patients to resume physical activity earlier in the recovery process thanks to its ability to deliver precise partial weight-bearing. “By reducing a large portion of your body weight, the Alter G strengthens and improves the coordination of muscles, promoting a full range of motion while minimising stress and enabling patients to maximise fitness on the often long road to recovery. When you have the opportunity to defy gravity, you give yourself the chance to recover better and train like you have never done before.”

The benefits of running with less gravity and therefore less impact on your joints are well documented and because of this, many athletes have ventured into the pool for aqua-jogging whilst recovering from an injury. However, swimming pools need space and are expensive to maintain. The AG treadmill might be expensive to buy, but after that it costs just about the same to maintain as a normal treadmill. The greatest difference between running in the pool and running on the treadmill is the mental confidence you gain when using the AG treadmill.

THE SA CONNECTION
The latest news is that this technology has made its arrival in South Africa and the first AG treadmill in the country has already assisted professional sport stars struggling with injuries, as well as enriched the lives of disabled people. The Centre for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics is the first institution in the country to purchase one of these treadmills and according to Barry Getz, physiotherapist at the centre it has contributed to their rehabilitation programme to a great extent. Bafana Bafana defender, Matthew Booth used it to recover in record time from a season-ending knee injury earlier this year, and several injured players in the Lions Currie Cup squad have returned to the rugby field sooner than expected thanks to the new equipment. Matthew started running at only 40% of his body weight, improving his fitness and gaining confidence until the injured knee could support his full body weight. He was most thankful for the quicker recovery and the mental confidence he gained from running on the treadmill before he returned to the field.

The AG treadmill is ideal for runners with injuries like stress fractures or shin splints, where running with their full bodyweight will not only be excruciating, but also worsen their injury and prolong recovery… a vicious circle. When training on the AG treadmill, these athletes will be able to give their injuries sufficient time to recover while also keeping their cardiovascular fitness up. Not to mention the lowered frustration levels because they were able to do some running, albeit on a treadmill.

It’s been a long road for Helen Zille to end up in Leeuwenhof, the official residence of the Premier of the Western Cape. She started out as a journalist at the Rand Daily Mail newspaper in the seventies and became a thorn in the side of the Apartheid government when she uncovered the truth behind the cause of Steve Biko’s death. Since then she hasn’t stopped fighting against injustices and she moved from journalism into politics to carry on this fight.

After a long political career she served as mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009 and received the World Mayor Award in 2008. She became leader of the DA when Tony Leon stepped down in 2007, and the party took over governance of the Western Cape when they claimed victory in the province in the 2009 general elections, with Helen elected as Premier of the Western Cape.

However, this position does not only come with the perk of staying in one of the most beautiful homes in Cape Town, but also with hard work, long hours, many meetings and bucket-loads of stress. She explains that no two days in her life look the same. “I don’t usually work less than 12 hours per day. Sometimes I get up very early, sometimes later; sometimes I go to bed early, sometimes late, it just depends on how pressing my deadlines are. I get home when I have finished my official engagements and this also varies.” So how does she keep up with her hectic lifestyle and stay on top of her game? The simple answer to this question is passion. According to Helen, the long hours and late nights aren’t a problem, because she is passionate about the prospect of South Africa becoming a stable democracy with a growing economy.

KEEPING UP WITH HELEN
“My mother always suspected that I was slightly hyperactive and I have managed to make it work for me. I also have very low blood pressure, which helps.” Exercise is not at the top of her list of priorities, but Helen says she tries to fit it in whenever she can. “When I hear the word exercise, I think of walking quickly to my car or running up two flights of stairs to my office in the morning. I love walking, and now that we’re at Leeuwenhof, I can go for a long walk around the premises. On holiday I enjoy taking long walks on the beach.” She has previously participated in the Discovery Cape Times Big Walk and says she will do something like this again, but a marathon or something like the Cape Argus Cycle Tour are out of the question.

The longest and most intense race she’ll ever run is an election race and she says she gets “pretty fit” during elections, mostly thanks to her incredible schedule and her love for toyi-toying at DA rallies. Though she doesn’t always have time to exercise, Helen says she knows how important it is to keep your life balanced. She says her greatest ambition at school was to get into a sports team, but she could never quite make it, something which probably helped her on her path to politics. “I tried every possible sport, especially tennis, but just failed to make the grade. I tried to get my dad to bring me to school 45 minutes early each morning, so that I could practise tennis, but I never made any team; ditto hockey and swimming. Eventually I managed to get colours for gymnastics, not because I was any good at it, but because I organised and coached the winning team.”

A LOVE FOR SPORT AND SA
Despite this, Helen still loves sport and she says she enjoys watching the Comrades and the Two Oceans Marathons and trying to figure out why others do it. She is also a big rugby supporter, and since last year’s Soccer World Cup, she has taken a keen interest in the beautiful game.

But her greatest drive, and the thing that keeps her going, is her love for South Africa and its people. “Freedom is a concept that inspires me. I would like South Africa to become a society in which everyone has the opportunity and the wherewithal to become the very best they can be.” One thing is for sure, Helen Zille will keep running her office until she has done everything in her ability to achieve this.

HELEN’S FAVOURITES:
Food: Spicy food.
Drink: Sauvignon Blanc.
City: Cape Town.
Movie: Short Cuts.
Music: Paul Maree.
Book: Anything by Malcolm Gladwell.
Sport to watch: Anything but underwater hockey.
Sport to participate: Toyi-toyi.
Sport star: Breyton Paulse, Bobby Skinstad and Lucas Radebe.
Politician: Helen Suzman and Angela Merkel.

The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA, will always be remembered for a particular landmark in South African sport: Hezekiel Sepeng’s silver medal in the men’s 800m. That’s because he not only became the first South African male to medal on the Olympic track since 1928, but also the first black athlete ever from this country to medal at the Olympics. It was a breakthrough moment for the fledgling New South Africa. That medal was just one of many that Hezekiel brought home to a proud nation, along with two Commonwealth Games silvers (1994 and 1998), silver at the 1999 World Champs and IAAF World Grand Prix Final, All Africa Games bronze in 1999 and African Champs silver in 2004, and a gold in 1995 and silver in 1997 at the World University Games. This record of so many silvers may seem an ultimately frustrating record to some, but anybody who understands the intense physical and tactical battle that is the 800m event will quickly tell you that Hezekiel remains one of the world’s all-time greats in the event.

EARLY DAYS
Born in 1974, Hezekiel grew up near Potchefstroom and started running cross-country at school, where he was spotted by legendary coach J.P. van der Merwe, then a schoolmaster at the prestigious Potchefstroom Boys High School. With Apartheid coming to an end, Hezekiel was one of a number of promising young black athletes offered a sport scholarship to the school, where he raced anything from 400m up to 3000m, but it was the 800m where he began to shine. “The 800m was the one where I was improving most, and in 1992 my times were close to the SA Junior record of 1:48.04 – I ran 1:48.80.”

That saw him selected for the 1992 World Junior Champs in Seoul, where he finished fifth, and then the 1993 World Indoor Champs in Toronto and the 1993 World Champs in Stuttgart, where he again finished fifth. However, Hezekiel says he had to overcome his own doubts to reach that final. “The night before my first heat, I saw that I was up against three guys who had run 1:42, while my best was only 1:45.” But he went out and won the heat, qualified for the semi-final round, where he finished third in a new SA junior record, and made his first big final. Then came his first major success on the world stage, a silver medal at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. “People started taking notice of me after that, because I was the first black athlete from South Africa to win a medal on such a big stage.”

UP AND DOWN
Having enrolled at the University of Johannesburg in 1995 to study sports management, Hezekiel went to the World University Games and came home with a gold, but then dropped out of his course before the end of his first year to focus on his training and the upcoming 1996 Olympics. “I only managed fifth in my semi-final at the 1995 World Champs in Gothenburg, so I said if things don’t go well at the Olympics, I will go back to university. But it did go well, I won the silver and set a new SA record, and so I turned pro.” However, that Olympic success brought with it huge pressure, both on and off the track, says Hezekiel. “Seb Coe said in an article that I was the next 800m world record holder, which put a lot of pressure on me to perform, while I put myself under even more pressure as well, and I remember I didn’t have a good season in 1997.”

Thus he enrolled with UNISA to study teaching, which once again qualified him for 1997 World University Games, where he picked up another silver, but he was really disappointed with seventh in the semi-final at the World Champs in Athens later that year. Fortunately, things then clicked for him as he claimed silver at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and he dropped his studies again to train full-time, which saw him selected for the 1999 World Champs in Seville, where he once again took silver. “I think 1999 was my best chance of gold, but I think I actually cost myself the gold medal in the end. I was still ahead with 60 metres to go, but I knew I had the Olympic champ and world record holder Wilson Kipketer right behind me, and he had never been beaten on the outdoor track. With 20m to go he passed me, but I came back at him, and as I dipped for the line, my arm accidentally bumped his shoulder and I basically pushed him over the line – and he won, 1:43.00 to my 1:43.20!”

SLOWING DOWN
For the next few years, Hezekiel continued to make numerous top level finals, including the 2000 Olympics in Sydney (finishing fourth), 2001 World Champs in Edmonton (eighth), 2003 World Champs in Paris (seventh), World Athletics Final (sixth) and All Africa Games (eighth), and the 2004 Olympics in Athens (sixth), but after regularly being on the podium so many times, this period of his career proved somewhat disappointing, especially Athens, since it ultimately proved to be the last time he represented his country – although he didn’t know it at the time.

Then came the bombshell. In January 2005, Hezekiel was tested out of competition for drug use, then was tested again that April. In May he ran a World Champs qualifier at the SA Champs, but then the IAAF called to say he had tested positive in January and was provisionally suspended. “I asked for my B sample to be tested, paid for a doctor from Holland to go to Barcelona to check the results, and the test came back negative, but the IAAF said it was inconclusive and that they were going to retest my A sample. This all took forever to get done, and by the time they finally told me my retest was positive, I had already been sidelined for nearly two years, and the suspension they gave me was just about finished already!”

“I was tested more than 50 times in my career and the results were always negative, and I still maintain that I was innocent and they made a mistake. I was advised by an ASA lawyer that I can take my case further, but I had already been knocked down financially, and things were falling apart in my life – I had two sons to look after and my marriage was failing. Just pursuing the B test had already cost me half a million rand, so I decided to drop it and just try to make a comeback, but at that age, on top of everything that had happened in my life, my best years were over.”

STILL KICKING
Hezekiel took bronze at the 2009 SA Champs, but realised he was now running only the smaller meets in Europe and not really making money, so he turned to middle distance coaching at the University of the North West in Potchefstroom. One of his athletes was his successor as SA’s top 800m runner, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who went on to win gold at the 2009 World Champs in Berlin. He also enrolled at the university to try to finish his sports management studies, but once again decided to drop out when ASA came calling with a job offer.

“I was originally called in to focus on grassroots development, but that fell through due to financial limitations, and instead I ended up becoming an athletes’ co-ordinator. I’m there especially to help new athletes who don’t have management yet, to organise races for them, or help them get commercial work and endorsements. After 15 years of running, and dropping out of university several times trying to be a professional athlete, I can’t just waste all that experience by not passing it on to the young athletes coming up today.”

HEZEKIEL’S HONOURS
SA Titles:
800m – 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2004
1500m – 2001
SA Records:
800m – 1:42.69, Brussels, 1999
U/23 800m – 1:42.74, Atlanta, 1996
Junior 800m – 1:45.46, Stuttgart, 1993
4x800m – 7:04.70, Stuttgart, 1996

HEZEKIEL’S PBs
400m  46.50
800m  1:42.69
1000m  2:16.47
1500m  3:38.24
1 mile  3:57.33
3000m  8:21.58

I’ve been a runner the past 13 years. Not one of the fastest and not last at races, but nevertheless someone whose way of life and personality incorporates being able to run. I started running by chance in 1997. A friend of mine asked me to join the local Run Walk for Life club with her in Kimberley. I told Elise Kruger, the club manager, that I can’t run. Elise’s answer was simple: I’ll teach you! When I ran my first 5km, it felt like completing my own Comrades. In 1999, I ran my first Two Oceans half marathon. I slept in my T-shirt and wore my medal for a week!

Then 8 years ago, I joined the Run Walk for Life club in Somerset West. There manager Marie Barnard taught me to dream BIG. I completed my first 30km, marathon, Two Oceans Ultra and last year my first Comrades, which I finished in just over 12 hours. It made me determined to go back and get my medal. Then this year, disaster struck. I was preparing for my 4th Two Oceans Ultra and my 2nd Comrades when I broke a toe. I had a splint on my foot and Two Oceans was off the cards. Then just as I was running comfortably again, I fell from our loft and shattered my heel bone! That meant 8 weeks in a cast! Suddenly I was completely dependant on my husband and son and friends for everything. To top it all, 4 weeks into my 8-week ordeal, I picked up a nasty bug and landed up in hospital.

When I was released, I was in a cast, on crutches, weak, pale and thin. I sat glued to the TV the day of Comrades, tracking my friends and saying to myself, I will never be able to run again. But I underestimated my running buddies. They would pop in and never talked about IF I’m going to run again, but always WHEN. I realised in these weeks how I took my ability to be able to run, to move without pain or discomfort, for granted.

Last night I ran 3.2km. Well okay, I ‘moved’ 3.2km, half running, half walking. I have no doubt in my mind that in a month’s time I will be running again and early next year I will be able to qualify for Oceans and Comrades. But even that is not so important anymore. The fact that I can run and move again is amazing and makes me extremely grateful. The encouragement of my running buddies from my club and from as far as Pietermaritzburg, my non-running friends and my family helped me to get through the last nearly 4 months. I will never take being able to run for granted again. – ZELDA GOODERHAM, RUN WALK FOR LIFE SOMERSET WEST

Comrades Substitution
If the CMA go ahead with Comrades substitution (which I think is a great idea), please can I pick up my substitute at the 65km mark? – BRUCE CLARK

Losing the Plot
I have been participating in Comrades since 1995 and have many wonderful memories, but these are starting to be clouded with the idea that someone is losing the plot! Let’s start with the Comrades expo, where thousands of people wondered around with money burning in their pockets, but the items available were very limited and the wrong sizes.

At the start, the toilets were positioned right outside the seeding batch entrance gates and people were climbing over the toilets. There were panicked moments when people were pushing from behind and I believe I now know what it is like to get caught in a stampede.

The TV coverage again lived up to what we have come to expect. Why should my family, who watch all day in the hope that they get a glimpse of me, have to look at the people in the studio instead of what is happening on the road? And then there was the finish. There was no hot water in the green number club, which meant no tea, no coffee and no soup. Good luck with next year’s race. I hope to write a letter again, with a much more positive spin! – BELINDA SKINNER

Aren’t Pack-runs Great?
Pack runs are usually the cornerstone of a running club. They provide about half of our weekly training mileage (if not all in some cases). They also provide about half of our weekly social interaction (if not all in some cases). It is a time where you can learn a lot about yourself and others, and I don’t just mean how fit you are, or what rugby team your clubmates support. It is a time when characters and personalities are really on show, for better or worse.

The Myers-Briggs personality type indicator (Google it!) states that there are 16 general personality types derived from where you fall on four different poles. For example, one pole is the Introvert / Extrovert pole. All of us will be somewhere between the two extremes, but generally more to one side. The fun starts if we apply this to our ‘lab rats’ on our early morning pack-run. For example, the runner who usually runs just behind your group but never contributes to the conversation, is likely to be on the introverted end of the I/E pole. At the other end of this pole are the extroverts, also easily identified, or let’s say heard, because they seem able to carry on a conversation all by themselves for the entire run! The other personality type of interest is the structured runner, who usually arrives ten minutes early with hair perfectly done. The unstructured ones arrive just on time, or late, and look like they just went ten rounds with an obnoxious pillow.

The gadgets we use are also good indicators for this personality pole. The runners wearing the GPS monitors that take up half of their forearms will tell you your current running pace and distance. On the opposite end are the runners with the R50 stop watches, or even no watch at all. If you ask them for the running time, and they will likely realise that they didn’t even start their watch.

One thing is clear, there is no right or wrong behaviour, but it can be great fun to see these traits in action. Understanding why some people are a certain way helps us to be more tolerant and inclusive. At the end of the day that is what a pack-run is all about. Heck, that is what life is all about, too. – DARREN DUKES

Confessions of an Addict
My name is Ray and I am a run-a-holic. It all started back in high school with a 10km here, a 15km there, the odd 21km, nothing serious. Then in standard 9 I ran a 32km, that’s when things changed. Now I’ve run five Comrades. I find myself sneaking in a run wherever I can, in the early mornings before my wife wakes up, during my lunch break or a quickie after work. I just can’t stop, I love running. I’m addicted. – RAY ORCHISON

LIBERTY MEDICAL SCHEME RHODES TRAIL RUN, RHODES, EASTERN CAPE, 16 JULY

My 2011 run was slightly different than my usual Rhodes runs. Standing at the start dancing in a polar bear outfit on top of a trailer with the race organiser is certainly a change from trying to get a fast start up the mountain and attempting to hang on to the leaders.

Running (slowly) out of Rhodes, we had huge support, lots of laughs and more than a few “Go polar bear” shouts of encouragement. Our first goal was to get the first 13km out of the way at a reasonable pace, so as to take the pressure off. This went without hitch, apart from when I had to break for a pit stop. There were several runners around who had been waiting to see how I accomplished this in my outfit, and many photos were taken and words of encouragement given (but quite a bit of time lost). Job done and we headed off into the Kloof.

The Kloof was a lot of fun, especially the Klippies in the Kloof, with plenty of laughs, photos, lots of polar bear jokes and promises of donations at the end (don’t forget, Rhodes Runners!). Running with a first timer, I had the normal ‘newbie’ question as we progressed around the Kloof: “Is this Mavis?”… “Is THIS Mavis?”… No, THAT is Mavis Bank… “Oh dear.”

Mavis went surprisingly smoothly, probably because it was a lot easier to walk in the suit than run! We ‘raced’ up to a tumultuous welcome from the girls and guys at the top, refuelled and headed out along Lesotho View. The next section proved beyond doubt that polar bears are not happy with the melting of the ice cap, and DON’T do mud well. The mud was a bit of a challenge, and I doubt the suit will ever be the same. It was a pleasure to get onto the off-road section at Hooggenoeg Ridge, and enjoy the grass (and snow) over the Peak.

GETTING WARM IN HERE
Coming off the mountain, I was worried about the heat, but we were greeted with a pleasant cool breeze for the last (normally warm and dry) section. Although the suit was starting to take its toll, we trotted back towards town at a reasonable pace, with the only hitches along the way being the local dogs seemingly quite keen to take on the bear and prove their bravery to their masters, much to the hilarity of the locals.

The last water point was a great stop, with the children fascinated by the suit, showing complete amazement and bewilderment and giving lots of encouragement. We trotted off with the kids in tow for a few metres. Finally, Rhodes village came into view and it was a great relief to turn into town and run the last short stretch to the finish, to be greeted by the organisers Darrell and Evie Raubenheimer, and lots of support.

Post-race I realised I was pretty dehydrated (I had sweated off 4kg in the suit), but other than that all good. Now to clean the bloody suit before I take it back to the costume hire shop!

THANK YOU!
Thanks to Evie and Darrell for allowing me to run – I know you had your reservations! Thanks to Amy for all the help with the outfit and patching up the old broken body, thanks to Lionel for the support, political arguments and laughter along the way, but mostly thanks to all who generously gave to the Rhodes Public School cause.

SECOND GENERAL REPORT
Rhodes is not for Sissies!
“Deceptively friendly, but brutal.” “Underestimated the harshness.” “Hits you hard when you drop your guard.” The 23rd Liberty Medical Scheme Rhodes Trail Run invoked numerous post-race comments, pain, nostalgic memories and a few nightmares as the hills around the village accumulated exhausted and broken runners.

The traditional friendly Rhodes welcome at registration concealed the toughness that was to follow on race day, although the pub at ‘Walkerbouts’ did give some caution with their boldly displayed ‘Rhodes is not for sissies’ sign. The complimentary glass of sherry at registration warmed the nervous glances as runners signed in.

RACE MORNING
Race morning arrived with the village startled into wakefulness thanks to Race Director Evie Raubenheimer’s 6am pealing of the church bell. This 23-year-old ear-bursting tradition serves to ensure no one oversleeps on race morning.

Clear skies and a temperature at the start line of minus-10.4?C heralded a crisp, windless and pleasant day for runners and helpers alike. With the run’s theme song thumping in the background, the start whistle was blown at 7am and the 290 runners who had registered set off in a kaleidoscope of Rhodes Trail Run Buff? headgear.

OFF THEY GO!
By the time the runners moved into the Kloppershoek Valley, the race at the sharp end had narrowed to a handful, with Barkly East’s Sydney Speelman and Gauteng’s Trevor Toerien leading to the Mavis Bank Farm Checkpoint. They were followed by Hylton Dunn, Paul Wolff and Lance Chapman. The first ladies were Belinda Hickman Mosdell and Linda Gray.

As the weak winter sun glimmered over the hills the early runners met up with the thawing children from St Dominic’s Priory Port Elizabeth, who had hiked into the kloof on the Friday to overnight and set up a feeding station. With temperatures dropping to minus-14?C in the kloof, the children were as pleased to see the runners as the runners were to receive their support after splashing their way through ice-fed streams.

KING AND QUEEN OF THE KLOOF
Trevor Toerien retained his King of the Kloof title, reaching the top of Mavis Bank in 2:08. Queen of the Kloof was Sarah Gray, who had stamped her authority in the kloof, cresting Mavis Bank in 2:45.

The border road was slippery with slushy thick mud in sections thanks to snow melt. The snow along the hillside made a pleasant distraction, with many runners taking a breather and capturing photo memories. The ankle-deep snow along Hooggenoeg Ridge created an almost festive feeling, although by then most legs were too weary to enjoy it.

The feeding station adjudged the best on the day by the runners was the ‘Walkerbouts’ checkpoint at the Hooggenoeg Hikers Hut, where Dave Walker put on a welcoming spread, including his traditional pot of Karoo oysters.

VICTORY
Trevor Toerien held onto his lead over Hooggenoeg Point and into Rhodes, and was the first to hear the welcoming church bell as he finished in 4:43:15. Hylton Dunn secured second place in 4:47:31, passing a tiring Sydney Speelman 2km from the finish. Sydney is clearly a potential future winner of this brutal event, after claiming third place in 4:51:00.

Sarah Gray was first lady over Hooggenoeg Point and cruised to her first Rhodes Trail Run title in 5:48:40, looking as fresh as when she started. She was followed home by Sue Chapman (6:11:13) and Belinda Hickman Mosdell (6:22:30).

Paul Wolff, Race Director of Ironman South Africa, finished fifth and received the first of the 49 Snowflake permanent numbers awarded this year. The blue and silver Rhodes Snowflake numbers are presented to runners who complete their third Rhodes Trail Run.

There were 248 runners who completed the course inside the nine-hour cut-off, coincidently the same number of finishers as in 2010. A significant number made it down the mountain courtesy of the Amarok support vehicles, the run yet again proving that it deserves respect, with the altitude, terrain and temperature demanding more training from the runners than some offered.

Becoming a Rhodes Runner
BY DANIEL WIJSBROEK

It all happened because of a phone call from Sonia Beard and Brian Key that I was fortunate enough to participate in this year’s incredible trail run at Rhodes.

The village of Rhodes, renowned for its cold climate, is situated very close to the southern border of Lesotho and lies at an altitude of 1821m above sea level in the southern Drakensberg. It was named after the famous Cecil John Rhodes, who donated a number of Stone-pine saplings instead of the much needed cash expected by the small community to boost the development in 1891. The village itself lies in a valley next to the Bell River, which has become a paradise for fly-fishermen. Just to the north, the great snow-covered peak of Ben Macdui at 3001m is visible, the highest in the north-eastern Cape. On the foothills of this peak, which the runners eventually run along, is the ski-resort of Tiffindel.

On the morning of the 52km run it was minus-10.4?C, so it was necessary to have appropriate clothing and good trail-running shoes, as it is pretty wet underfoot running through streams, mud and snow. The scenic route with its steep gradients and sharp bends is not for the faint-hearted, but it would be hard to imagine a more stunning location for such an adventure.

The cost of the event was only R440.00, which includes a goodie bag, a super First Ascent performance base layer top, wonderful medal and bottle of sherry! This is certainly an event not to be missed if you love the outdoors and a decent challenge.

I was happy to finish within cut-off, receive my finisher’s T-shirt, medal and customary bottle of sherry. That night there was no ‘Polar Bear Club’ for me, as the ‘action’ was to happen at midnight and this frozen Rhodes runner was fast asleep in bed by 8:30pm, wearing many layers of clothes, under duvets and many blankets. I certainly wasn’t planning to take off any blankets, never mind my clothes! (According to Rhodes tradition, to become a member of the Polar Bear Club, one has to crack the ice on the frozen Bell river with one’s naked toe and plunge into its icy water wearing nothing but a silly grin. Experiencing is believing!)

Now let us hope I can get an entry for next year, as I will have to go back and run it again, this time hopefully IN SNOW!

Nedcor Big5 Challenge 2011, Knysna, South Western Districts, 2-9 July

I did the Big 5 last year for the first time, but it was not nearly as well thought out in terms of organisation, which was much better this year, especially the new points system. The first Big 5 finisher in an event earned one point, the second finisher two points, etc, and the athlete with the least accumulated amount would be the winner. (Actually, only four events counted, but you had to just finish either the road bike or the paddle as your fifth event.) I think only about 50 people did it last year, but this year we had about 120 people participating, and I think next year there will be even more.

Facebook update: Big5 hunting about to start… with an oyster or two in the mix!

EVENT 1: PICK N PAY WEEKEND ARGUS ROTATY KNYSNA CYCLE TOUR 75KM MOUNTAIN BIKE
Time-wise, this was the longest event, and it was quite muddy and technical because it had been raining a lot the week before. I didn’t have the best ride, and it took me a while to find my legs, so I was lying about tenth at the King/Queen of the Mountain checkpoint 30 kays in, but then it got better. I finished fourth woman overall and first Big 5 woman. Mountain biking is my main thing, so I am competitive in these races, along with off-road multi-stuff like XTERRA. Still, I was fairly shattered after the race. I was thinking, oh shucks, this week is going to kill me.

EVENT 2: PICK N PAY WEEKEND ARGUS ROTATY KNYSNA CYCLE TOUR 100KM ROAD BIKE
Because I only had to finish and it didn’t count towards points, I just cruised with my friend and training partner Esther Lategan, who was also doing the Big 5. It’s quite an undulating route, but we were lucky that the rain had let up. Esther and I made sandwiches, stopped to buy Cokes and eat our sarmies in the sun, and we took about 3:45 to finish, while the leading women did about 3:10.

Facebook update: Two of the Big 5 shot! 4th lady in the 75km mtb (1st Big 5 lady) – died but happy enough. Took road race real easy, just had to finish, wasting as little energy as possible. R&R till Featherbed Trail Run. Loving Knysna!

EVENT 3: SALOMON FEATHERBED TRAIL RUN 15KM
It was crazy how much it rained the night before the race – about 60 millimetres and thunderstorms all night. I lay there thinking, oh my hat, this is going to be insane. This is an awesome race, starting with a ferry ride across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. The first 4km are an insane climb to the communication tower on top of the peninsula, but then it flattens out before gradually descending, followed by a steep downhill to the railway and crossing the lagoon on the railway bridge. The section in the reserve is all single track and twisting trails on loose sand, and last year it was really hard work, but thanks to the rain the sand was firmer this year. My run went surprisingly well. I was fourth woman home overall and second amongst the Big 5 women, with only Roelandi Visser ahead of me, and after this race we could see who was in Big 5 title contention.

Facebook update: Solid run yesterday. Got 2nd Big5 lady. Still in overall lead, but it’s going to be a race! Holding thumbs for a solid XTERRA tomorrow. A bit of mud won’t do harm.

EVENT 4: DUE SOUTH XTERRA TRIATHLON
This was the race I felt the most pressure to do well in, as I was defending champ. It was a great day weather-wise, but the bike course was super muddy because of all the rain. I was happy about that, though, because I needed it technical so I could make up more time on the runners. After the insanely fast 3km run, where I just tried to limit my losses, I was third overall going into the bike, with Alae Brand first and Roelandi second. I caught them on the single track and knew I had to make up as much time as I could, so I went hard, coming off the bike first with a five-minute lead on Roelandi. Luckily, the runners were also struggling now and I maintained the gap, finishing in 2:03, with Roelandi doing 2:08 and Alae 2:11.

Facebook Update: Baie dankbaar vir vandag se Xterra wen – I feel blessed. What an event, what a day… where’s my bed?

EVENT 5: PICK N PAY CAPE TIMES KNYSNA FOREST HALF MARATHON
I knew Roelandi was just 21 points behind me after the XTERRA and that she would do well in the half, so knew I would have to go as hard as I could to keep less than 20 Big 5 participants between us in the race. It therefore didn’t help that we had to stand around an extra hour because of delays with the taxi’s bringing runners to the start in the forest. It took a good 20 minutes of running before I started feeling my toes again – but by then everything was hurting, anyway! So imagine my surprise when I finished in a new PB time of 1:33, taking five minutes off my previous best, after that week! Roelandi ran a 1:29, so I knew there probably wouldn’t be many Big 5 athletes between us.

Facebook update: Laaste van die Big 5 vandag geskiet… Absoluut bes gegee en PB met meer as 5 minute gebreek. Nou in spanning wag vir die overall results!

They released the results Saturday night and out of the Big 5 participants, Roelandi had finished eighth and I was eleventh, so I only lost a few points to her and still won by about 20 points, with Esther finishing third. We have a tradition in my group of friends that if somebody wins prize money, dinner is on them, so I paid that night! (Antoine van Heerden took the men’s title, ahead of Tim Ellerbeck and Christiaan Greyling.)

It all started with one man’s dream of uniting the runners in his neighbourhood in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg… and his need for a running partner. From humble beginnings in 2005, Sunninghill Striders have grown from one small running bus to a 370-member club, thanks largely to the passion of club president, Robin Hide.

Robin explains that he wanted to get back into running in 2004 after a lengthy sabbatical from the road, during which he had also moved away from his previous club, so he was all on his own when he hit the pavement again. “While running, I noticed there were a number of runners and walkers on the roads of Sunninghill, and I thought to myself, why not unite them as a community-based club?” There were a few speed bumps initially, but once things took off, they really took off, and today the blue and gold Sunninghill Striders vests can be seen in great numbers at many races. For example, the club went from a mere 16 runners at the Comrades Marathon in 2006, to 138 this year, and having 94 finishers saw to the club ranked the fifth highest club in Gauteng and 10th nationally, something which they are all very proud of.

Robin says the club’s official birth date is 27 September 2005, since this was when their first official time trial took place. They were registered with Central Gauteng Athletics earlier that year and they adopted the St Stephen’s Anglican Church as their home base. The time trial still starts and finishes at the church, and the club has plans in the pipeline to build its own facility on the church grounds for club events and a place to keep club memorabilia.

CLUB LIFE
In its six-year existence, Striders has established several traditions and Robin believes one of the reasons why the club is so popular is because of its healthy social life. With a New Year’s morning run and breakfast, Two Oceans farewell, Comrades farewell, post-Comrades Aches and Pains party, formal President’s Dinner and Awards function, Spring Clean run, informal year-end function and a Christmas party, members usually do not have to wait any longer than two months before they can party up another storm. Most of these functions take place in the Sunninghill neighbourhood and make use of local sponsors, enforcing the idea of being community-based. Add to this the discount members get from local shops and restaurants, and you have a symbiotic relationship between the club and community, where both parties support each other.

The formal President’s Dinner in July is the highlight on the club’s social calendar. Robin says this is actually their year-end function, because he believes the running season runs from Comrades to Comrades and not from January to February. “If you want to have an event like this in November, you compete with work year-end functions, so we found having it in July works better. Also, at this stage of the year everyone’s Comrades and Two Oceans memories are still strong, so this is a good time to award prizes for the best runners and most improved, etc.”

If club members do not get enough of each other at these events, there will always be Camp Sunninghill as well. Robin explains that where most clubs erect a gazebo at races to provide some shade for their members, Sunninghill takes things a bit further. At most big races you will see four blue and gold gazebos, a change room tent and a kitchen tent where the Striders will be enjoying the race day atmosphere long after most people have left fo home. If the race isn’t that big, they stick to one gazebo, but the Sunninghill spirit will still be the same.

THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING
Despite this vibrant social life, the club’s main focus remains running, and its time trials and club runs are some of the best supported in Johannesburg. The time trial takes off on Tuesdays at 6pm and Robin says an average of 100 runners usually take on the challenging 4km course. He admits that only about 10% of these runners are club members, with the majority of participants being “weekend warriors,” but this doesn’t bother him in the least. “The roads are there for everyone and anyone is welcome!”

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings approximately 50 runners set off from the local Shell garage for their morning run, and anything between 60 and 70 runners will take part in the longer weekend runs that start at the same place on Saturdays and Sundays. These runs have also grown exponentially from a handful of runners in 2005 to the numbers they average today. Though Robin says there are no official training ‘schools,’ the group usually splits up into four smaller groups, with the front runners averaging 3:20 per kilometre and the last group about 6:30.

Some of the club’s best runners at the moment are Pam Hampton, who regularly features on the podium in the grandmasters category, and Margaret Boshoe, who is usually not far behind in the same category. Patrick Montso is a promising youngster while Renata Vosloo is also a talented runner. Most recently, Kim Laxton joined the club and Robin is excited about the performances that she will produce while wearing the Sunninghill vest.

PASSION AND PRIDE
So except for the fact that members get discount at their local shops, what makes Sunninghill Striders different? Why do they have so many members and keep on growing? Robin says the passion that goes into running a club is enormous and between himself, the committee and the members, there is plenty of passion and pride going around. With an attitude like this, it is no wonder that the club has enjoyed such success in such a short time – and it seems like this club is just getting started.

Many triathletes come from a strong running or cycling background. Very few come from a pure swimming background with little running or cycling experience. Therefore, it’s not surprising that many find swimming to be their weakest discipline. I come from a strong running background, added to an absolute passion for all things cycling, and my swimming is bound to be my weaker discipline.

When I started out in triathlons, my club mates showed me how to swim more efficiently, but as with all things, over time bad habits creep in and I realised that in the end I only learnt how to struggle efficiently. In saying that, I could manage the 1.9km swim at Ironman 70.3 and eventually the 3.8km swim at Ironman SA, but at both races I was never confident or as efficient as I should have been in the water. So when Georgie Thomas, owner of Total Immersion South Africa, invited me to a two-day swimming course in July, I jumped at the chance. I have heard so much about the Total Immersion way of swimming and was eager to see whether all the great testimonials on their website were true. Would I really be able to swim like a fish after the course?

THE TOTAL IMMERSION WAY
The workshops are spread over two days and done in a gym pool, with the first day usually covering about five hours in the afternoon and the second day another five hours in the morning. Be prepared to feel tired at the end of the weekend, but also know that you are setting yourself up for huge gains in years to come.

Before you attend the course, it is great to first familiarise yourself with the Total Immersion way of thinking. Total Immersion is famed for teaching a special relation with the water. Terry Laughlin, the founder of TI swimming, developed the ‘Rule of Two Percent’ after 17 years of coaching. It says that about one person in fifty has the natural ability to swim efficiently; the other 98% follow their instincts and struggle unnecessarily.

Total Immersion believes that the key to faster swimming is understanding that each time we enter the water, we bring with us all our human traits, habits and instincts. These serve us well on land, but in the water they lead to inefficient and exhausting movements. This is called Human Swimming. Fishlike Swimming, by contrast, is fast, effortless and smart. This is the kind of swimmer you want to be. But in order to swim like a fish, you need to shed your human instincts and learn to do some things that will feel counter-intuitive at first, but, with practice, will become quite natural and will make you as relaxed and at home in the water as a fish. And you’ll be swimming faster, too, with much less effort.

MY EXPERIENCE
Armed with a bit of research and a whole lot of heart, I packed my bag and was off to my first day of training, which started off with some theory behind the Total Immersion way of thinking. Groups are no bigger than eight students, which means great individual attention. Our group consisted of athletes of very different abilities and goals: Some wanted to tackle their first triathlon, two of us wanted to improve our Ironman swimming time, while others just wanted to become more efficient swimmers.

Before we knew it, we were sent to the pool and asked to each swim two lengths while we were videotaped. Then the drills started. At first they seemed strange and I wasn’t sure how they would eventually help us, but I quickly realised that all these drill sequences helped to build to full stroke. (Expect that by the end of the course, drills called Spiderman, Gliding and Spearing will be part of your vocabulary!)

During the drills, we learnt important technique such as how to master balance, how to pierce the water, how to reduce drag and how to use the effortless power of our body’s core rotation. And don’t worry that at any stage you are going to be left behind or won’t master certain drills. The drills are all basic and easily mastered, but what a difference they make!

I can honestly say that in a matter of two hours I already felt more relaxed, comfortable and balanced in the water. Suddenly my legs weren’t sinking as easily as in the past, and my head was lower in the water, which made me more balanced. I actually started feeling like a swimmer! In the past, I would try to swim faster but get nowhere; now, suddenly, my new swimming economy made me swim faster without even trying.

My biggest problem in swimming had always been my breathing. No matter how hard I tried, I used to breathe on every second stroke, which as we all know is not always the best, especially when swimming in an unpredictable sea! I was therefore curious to find out whether this course was going to help me with bilateral breathing. To my surprise, I managed this by the time we got to full stroke. It took some time getting used to it, but as with all things, one can’t expect miracles overnight.

IMPROVEMENT
The course ended with another video being taken of each student, and the results were remarkable! We all watched our ‘Before’ and ‘After’ videos together and it was amazing to see how every one of us improved in just two days. This is how I improved:
• Less noise and splash in my stroke, which saves energy.
• My head position improved enormously, which has lead to a significant improvement in balance and general position in the water.
• I am also now using rotation of my body as the main means of propulsion through the water, which saves energy.
• In my ‘Before’ video I took 33 strokes in one lap, while in my ‘After’ video I only took 20 strokes. My improvement is close to 34% which means great energy-saving that will significantly impact on my bike and run times.

EXPECTATIONS
After the course you are sent away with your ‘Before’ and ‘After’ video, a great Total Immersion manual and some training programmes. However, don’t expect to get into the water the day after the course and swim like Michael Phelps! It takes getting used to and you have to go back and put the work in. Most importantly, you have to be patient and practice your drills. I’ve been back in the pool since the course and apart from some funny looks I got when practising my Superman and Gliding, I have a renewed sense of joy and passion for swimming. I feel that I have been given the right set of tools to become an efficient swimmer and improve on my triathlon swimming times.

For more info, contact Georgie on 083 603 5308 or [email protected], or check out the website at www.totalimmersionsa.co.za.

Wearing the right pair of swimming goggles will make the difference between a good swim and a great swim, and most of us know the frustration of wearing goggles that are not watertight, or having to stop every so often to adjust them or clear them of fog. Choosing the right pair is also very important for the wellbeing of your eyes. You need to find the right pair for your face shape and size, and of course for the purpose of your swimming. You might only want to use them in the pool, only in open water, or perhaps both. You might be a racing snake who prefers the more competitive and streamlined type of goggles. Whatever the case, there are a myriad of things to take into consideration when buying a pair of goggles.

Frame Types
• Swedish Goggles: These are usually meant for the racing snakes. Most elite triathletes prefer these when racing competitively. Swedish goggles have no gasket, fit right on the eye socket and cause less water drag.
• Gasket Goggles: These are the most popular swim goggles and come in various forms such as silicone and foam, with silicone usually being the most popular. You can find gasket goggles in various sizes and colours.

Lens Colours
• Clear: This is the most popular and common for indoor swimming.
• Mirrored: They provide extra glare protection in bright conditions, and of course, look very cool!
• Tinted: These are the best if you do a lot of open water swimming in bright conditions where you need to protect your eyes from the sun and reflected light off the water.

Strap Types
• Solid Strap: This all comes down to preference, but remember that a solid strap does not always allow you to adjust the strap as easily as a split strap.
• Split Strap: This is especially popular amongst female swimmers as the strap holds better around a cap covering hair that is tied back.

Sizing
We all have different face shapes and some of us have much smaller frames than others. Many goggles come in women’s sizes or children’s sizes, and others can be bought in a small or standard size.

Anti-fog
Most goggles have an anti-fog coating which prevents the lenses from fogging up, but as we all know, at some stage while swimming, most still fog up a little.

PUTTING THEM TO THE TEST
You will find you might have to buy several pairs of goggles before you eventually end up with the one you love. We tested some of the best on the market to help make your selection a bit easier. We did this by swimming four lengths (100m) with each pair of goggles and then rated them on how comfortable they are, as well as how easily adjustable, whether they fogged up, and of course, how watertight they were. In general, all the goggles from the three different brands were of great quality and lived up to what they promised. In the end it comes down to preference and what you want to use them for.

FINIS Shockwave Smoke
Key features:
• Curved high definition lens offers maximum eye protection, filters out 100% blue light, and improves contrast and depth perception.
• Patented side clip for easy fitting.
• Silicone single strap.
• UV protection.

This polycarbonate lens with anti-fog provides excellent clarity and vision. The fit was extremely comfortable and watertight. This would be the ideal pair of goggles when swimming outside ,as the tinted lens offers great protection against the sun. Also great for indoors, but if the brown coloured lenses bother you, they are also available in clear. RRP: R199

MODERN ATHLETE CHOICE AWARD
FINIS Energy Clear/Smoke
Key features:
• Great for all face shapes.
• Curved lens for reduced distortion and optimal viewing.
• Silicone split strap.
• UV protection.
• Anti-fog for excellent clarity and vision.

The comfort factor of this pair of soft-frame goggles was great and as comfort is one of the most important considerations when buying goggles, we decided to award it the MODERN ATHLETE CHOICE AWARD. The goggles also provided a watertight fit and the double split strap could easily be adjusted within seconds. All in all, a great pair of swimming goggles that is ideal for indoor swimming or outdoor open water swims. RRP: R189

FINIS Lightning Blue/Mirror
Key Features:
• Frame and lens fused into one streamlined piece to reduce drag.
• Lower profile design with soft gasket which reduces drag.
• Quick-click strap adjustment.
• Comfortable no-leak fit.
• Four interchangeable nose bridges for a custom fit.

This low profile soft frame goggle is ideal for competitive swimming. It fits quite close to your eye socket and definitely takes time to get used to, but the fit is great. With a flexible nose piece and auto clip strap, this is probably one of the best racing goggles FINIS has in its range. The one we tried has mirrored lenses, which looks super cool, but it is also available in other lenses too. RRP: R199 (mirrored lens)

ZOGGS Predator Flex Polarized
Key Features:
• Curved lens technology offers up to 180-degree undistorted peripheral vision.
• Quick adjust strap system for adjustment while wearing.
• Super soft silicone seal for ultimate in comfort.
• 4 Flexpoint technology.

This is a great pair of goggles for open water swimming as the lenses contain a special filter that blocks the reflected light from the water, reducing glare and improving visibility. The goggles, which are also great indoors, utilise 4 Flexpoint Technology, enhancing frame flexibility and ensuring a contoured and comfortable fit. RRP: R299.95. Also available in Predator Flex Polarized. RRP: R359.95

ZOGGS Fusion Air
Key Features:
• Air Cushion for a super-soft fit with reduced marking.
• Curved lens technology for 180-degree vision.

The best thing about this pair is that it reduces markings, or so-called panda eyes, so often associated with wearing goggles. The goggles feature soft air cushion seals that reduce the pressure around the eyes, and with a choice of two nose bridges, it also ensures a good fit and maximum comfort. The split strap is easily adjustable and though the fit is quite close to the eye socket, it is still very comfortable. Also available in women’s version. RRP: R179.95

TYR Technoflex 4.0
Key Features:
• Comfortable and easily adjustable.
• Features gaskets that are injected with a softer durometer material to improve comfort and fit.
• Incorporates differing hardness densities of Thermo Plastic Rubber as well as a stiffer durometer material to provide frame rigidity, which prevents nose bridge stretching.

A superb all-round goggle which is watertight, comfortable and very easily adjustable. A great thing about TYR goggles is their unique packaging. It is a world first as it contains a ‘smart card’ customer informational guide on the suitability of the goggle for different uses. This tells you important stuff such as whether the goggles are suitable for a novice or expert swimmer, whether they are a size too small or large, as well as some helpful information on the softness of the goggles as well as the sight. An excellent product! RRP: R230 (metallised version), R165 (non-metallised version), R150 (Junior version)

TYR Velocity Metallised
Key Features:
• Dual head strap design offers low profile hydrodynamics with patented cushion gaskets for a comfortable, leak-proof, custom fit.
• Silicone cushion gaskets and a multi-sized nosepiece system for a customised fit.
• Optical grade polycarbonate lenses provide excellent peripheral vision.
• Anti-fog and UV protection.

These goggles are ideal for racing but can easily be used in training as well. The double silicone head strap features a patented, top slotted clip to prevent strap slippage and to allow easy adjustment. Though it is a racing goggle, the fit was not too close to the eye socket and it delivered all it promised. A great all-round goggle. RRP: R200

REMEMBER: To extend the life of your goggles, keep the lenses free of dirt and grease. Rinse the goggles in cold water after each swim and hang until dry – do not leave them in direct sunlight. And never wipe the inside of the lenses, as it might damage the anti-fog coating.

WHERE TO GET THEM
Available at independent sports retailers, multi-sport and speciality stores, and specialist swim outlets countrywide. For more information and your nearest stockists contact:

FINIS: [email protected]
ZOGGS: Colin Farrer at [email protected]
TYR: Peter Baker at [email protected]. Also available online through www.tyr.co.za.