Category: Columns

What is the biggest challenge in your role as President of SASCOC?

Ensuring that the structures in sport are well understood by all and that the right funding goes 
to the development of sport. We have many role players but we seem to be talking past each other and poor coordination impacts negatively on the development of sport in our country.

 

What is the most exciting thing about your work in sports administration?

Working hard towards achieving set goals 
and serving a great variety of people in sport.

 

Proudest moment in your career?

Being the manager of the aquatics team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games following years 
of isolation.

 

How did you get into running?

I have been running since primary school back in the late 1950s, and I still run to keep fit and 
to de-stress. I grew up in the Strand where there was a strong sports culture in the community, 
and our teachers were active in sport and encouraged us a lot. I went to high school in Somerset 
West and started running the 800m and 1500m, and I was quite happy with my performances, 
but I never really wanted to run. Keeping fit to play decent rugby was the objective. Also, a friend of mine, Solomon Briesies, represented Western Province schools and I think they flew to Durban and he could not stop talking about his amazing flight. He was an excellent runner and I thought, well, we stay in the same street, so why can’t I run and get onto an aeroplane one day?

 

How do you fit running into your busy schedule?

Easy, at least four times a week 
I find time to jog/walk about 7km 
on weekdays and spend time at the gym on a regular basis. I also build in a long walk or trot of 
10-15km on Saturdays. When travelling I make it a point to get to a gym, and if safety is not 
a problem, I venture onto the road or find a park to jog in.

 

What do you love most about running?

Feeling free to think and enjoy my surroundings. I can plan and visualise what I want to do in the coming weeks whilst running early in the mornings. The air is fresh and your brain functions well 
at that time, but I gave up running with training partners a long time ago because I need to think, and somebody talking while we are running tends to distract me.

 

Has running influenced your career and work ethic?

It has indeed. If I think back to the friends I have made in the sport, then I can only thank my love for running for having built up such a huge network of friends. Running has also disciplined me tremendously over the years to work when I must work and not postpone things that can be 
done immediately.

 

Proudest moment in running?

Completing my first half marathon in the colours 
of Oxford Striders in East London. Personally, 
half marathons are my favourite, although I have always thought of tackling the Two Oceans or 
the Comrades.

 

What is the best advice you have been given with regards 
to running?

Your body is not a machine, so

listen to it all the time.

 

What would you say to

someone who says they don’t have the time to start running?

They probably also don’t have time to live. You make time for running and even jogging around the block is a start.

 

What are your future running goals?

To keep going, because I have reached the age of 60 and I’m still enjoying it.

 

What is your greatest ambition?

To pull myself together and take on the 
Two Oceans or the Comrades.

 

What inspires you?

Enjoying life to the fullest and 
serving humanity.

At a recent race in Pretoria about 30 members of Overkruin Athletic Club lined up at the start – and no, not scattered all over the field like most club’s members. Overkruin members stuck together in the right front corner of the field, leaving the impression that they were part of a huge club! And this is exactly how the club has been functioning since its inception in 1999, that is, as a big happy family with a huge focus on fun and participation!

Founding members, Rudi Rossouw, Rian Geyer and Johan Gnade, all originally members of Akasia Athletic Club, felt they needed a club closer to their doorsteps in Pretoria North. And so Overkruin Athletic Club was created and they found a home at the Overkruin High School.

In 2000, when Chairman Kobus van Wyk joined the club it only had eight members. “Over the years our membership grew steadily, mostly through word of mouth. We have never advertised our club because our main focus was, and still is, to keep a personal touch and family feeling in our club. Today we have 108 members, making us one of the smaller clubs  on the road,” says Kobus.

MAKING THE GRADE
Initially many junior cross-country and track athletes from the school joined Overkruin Athletic Club as it was convenient with the club situated within their school grounds. Unfortunately, over the years the number of junior athletes has dwindled, but the club still has very strong ties to the school.

Leon Marais, Deputy Chairman of the club, joined in 2003 when he was still a scholar. Today Leon also acts as the club’s statistician! “I have such a great passion for the club and for running, probably because I already joined when I was only a teenager,” says Leon.

At one stage the club had only 17 senior members, with the rest being over 40 years old. This has changed in the last few years and membership is now roughly equally divided between seniors and other age categories.

The club’s colours are the same as those of Overkruin High School, simply because the club was initially small, making it easier to utilise the same clothing manufacturers that supplied the school’s sporting clothes, Leon explains. Today the club and the school’s colours are still the same, though the design of the club’s running vests has recently changed slightly.

GREAT SOCIAL AND FAMILY ENVIRONMENT
Time trials are held every Thursday at 17:30. Members can choose between a 4km and 8km run on a route that is described by most members as tough! Make no mistake; the club has its fair share of good runners who are competitive within themselves and have their own goals. But more often than not these experienced runners make time for novices and run time trials with them, advising them on aspects such as hill running and training programmes. “To us it is about the people; it is about making new members feel welcome and part of a bigger family,” says Leon.

Every first Wednesday of the month the time trial is followed by a monthly braai. Saturdays are reserved for a club run, which is usually followed by breakfast at a nearby restaurant. Come November members let their hair down and see who can party the hardest at the annual prize-giving and year-end function. Prizes are handed out for achievements in different categories as well as to those who excelled at Comrades. This year saw 36 of the club’s members enter Comrades with 27 (of which 12 were novices) finishers. “Last year our membership grew tremendously, from 82 members to 108! I assume this was probably due to the big hype around Comrades 2010,” says Leon.

At the yearly prize-giving the club also hands out awards as part of their very own Club-500 Challenge, a similar challenge to the well-known 1 000km Challenge. Members have to clock up 500km in races over a year, something that is a bit more achievable than clocking up a 1 000km, says Leon.

WINNERS IN OUR OWN RIGHTS!
Though Overkruin members don’t regularly finish on the podium at races, they are leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to participation prizes. Most Pretoria clubs participate in an annual AGN-league where runners are awarded points according to certain times run over specific distances. Points are also earned for simply participating. The scoring system is based on a handicap system which allows clubs of all sizes to compete.

Overkruin is currently proudly ahead, an excellent example of their members’ willingness to participate! “It’s all about participation; at some races more than half of our members pitch up, which makes us very proud. You will often hear us cheer very loudly when our members finish a race and cross the line. We are a small club but we make the biggest noise,” laughs Kobus.

Club members also proudly boast about winning a prize for the biggest bus at the annual Tom Jenkins race in November. Different clubs run in big groups and prizes are awarded to the biggest bus and the bus with the best vibe. The scoring is also based on a handicap system. “Our small club has won the prize for the biggest bus a couple of years in a row now and we are very proud of that,” says Leon.

RACES
Overkruin hosts the Montana Crossing 10/21.1km race in conjunction with Fit 2000. When they are asked to help other clubs with the organisation of their races, Overkruin usually jumps at the chance to assist. Recently their members helped marshal at the Om Die Dam race in Hartbeespoort. “We made enough money that day to buy our own club gazebo,” says Leon.

MIXING IT UP
Though the club mainly focuses on road running, some of its members have completed the gruelling Ironman. A friendly rivalry between the ‘Iron Men’ and the road runners often leads to fun challenges such as a duathlon hosted annually by the club in August. “The Iron Men challenged us, so we decided to host our own mini-duathlon. It consists of a 4km run (on our time trial route), a 20km cycle followed by another 4km run. Sadly, the Iron Men usually win, but only because most of us compete on mountain bikes and they have expensive road bikes… and of course a serious frown that only the cyclists manage to have,” chuckle Leon and Kobus.

The club’s walking section has steadily grown. Initially only one walker joined the club. When she brought her mom and dad to join, the trio became known amongst club members as the ‘Walker Family’,” says Leon. With the closure of a Run/Walk for Life branch in the area, more walkers have now joined the club.

Overkruin has something that not many clubs can offer their members: a detailed running log that is kept especially for each and every runner! Members don’t have to lift a finger. Leon, the club’s statistician, takes great pride in keeping a detailed log of all the races run by each member. The club’s log, as at May 2010, currently consists of a total of 6 337 races and 129 369.4km run by members.

“I record each member’s race results in the log, which dates from 1999. It took me a while to put it together, but I love doing it,” says Leon. The log consists of each member’s race results, total kilometres accumulated, top race times in each distance and enough other stats to make your head spin!

Next time you are at a race in Pretoria and you hear a bunch of runners cheering very loudly, chances are good it is the lively bunch from Overkruin Athletic Club! Walk over and introduce yourself, because they love to mingle!

CLUB CONTACT DETAILS
Phone:   Kobus van Wyk – 072 73 77 525
E-mail:   [email protected]
Web:   www.overkruinatletiekklub.co.za
Clubhouse:  Overkruin High School, Cnr Braam Pretorius and Aldo Street, Sinoville

 

You’ll never go thirsty again on a long run if you take one of these great hydration packs with you. – BY SEAN FALCONER

In trail running and adventure racing, athletes often head into areas where there will be no water available – or no clean, safe water – and they often need to carry not only water, but also gear, food and emergency supplies. This is where hydration packs come into their own: worn on the back like a backpack, they contain a water bladder and a hose that allows you to drink hands-free from the bladder, and most offer additional storage space for those essential extras. Here is a selection of some of the best lightweight hydration packs in South African stores.

 New Balance Hydration Pack
Holding a 1.5L bladder, this pack offers two extra zippered storage pockets, one of which is a prominent external music-friendly pocket with opening for the earphone cord. The NVent back panel configuration enhances airflow and ventilation, and reflective detailing on front and back promote visibility and safety.
R540 @ New Balance outlets

 Ultimate Direction Wasp Hydration Pack
Carrying a 1.8L bladder, its SportVest shoulder straps promote comfort and 3D Airmesh back panel and straps promote ventilation. Two front mesh pockets on the lower straps offer quick access to stores, with two more zippered pockets on the sides of the pack and a stretch mesh pocket on the front, secured by bungee cord. Also has two tie-loops to hold trek poles, and both the bungee cord and logo are reflective (The Wink is the women-specific version).
R980 @ www.hammernutrition.co.za

Adidas Running Backpack Bladder
A small, compact pack with a 2L bladder that is easy to access for filling thanks to a Velcro fastener. It also has zippered storage pockets on the front and side, with the front pocket forming a flap over the top of the pack. The pack features ClimaCool technology in its straps and back padding to help you stay dry and comfortable. The adidas logo is reflective for better visibility in darker conditions.
R749 @ adidas Concept Stores

Salomon XT Wings S Lab Set
An ultra light pack that can be made even lighter by removing the waist belt and its removable pocket. Holds a 2L bladder and has a second zippered pocket, while the shoulder straps offer more storage for small items, and stretch loops on the belt, and quick release cords can accommodate further items. The shoulder straps have Airvent mesh for ventilation, and Airvent Agility back panel pads further promote comfort.
R1 199 @ Cape Storm

K-Way Hydro Velocity 6
This pack has two prominent zips on the front for access to the bladder and storage pockets, and mesh straps and back panelling to promote ventilation. There are openings on both sides, so you can feed the hose left or right, or change it during a run if you choose to. It also has reflective detailing for added visibility.
R250 @ Cape Union Mart

Deuter Hydro Lite 3.0
An ergonomically slim pack with a 2L bladder, zippered storage pocket, mesh straps for ventilation, hip strap for stability, and reflective detailing for improved visibility. The back padding includes Deuter’s Airstripes system: two contoured foam strips with air channels (grooves), covered with highly breathable mesh, and with a ‘chimney’ space between them to enhance air circulation.
R499 @ Cape Union Mart

Hi-Tec Satish 12L
Still relatively new on the market, this pack holds a 1.5L bladder and features a waist belt for added stability, cushioned back panel, a hidden mesh foldover that clips into the top of the pack for wet clothes, and a cellphone pouch pocket.
R279 @ Somerset Sport and other Hi-Tec stockists

  Camelbak Classic II
A lightweight minimalist pack from Camelbak, holding a 2L bladder and extra storage thanks to a second zippered pocket and bungee securing on the back of the pack. Diamond mesh on the back panel and lightweight mesh straps promote ventilation, and reflective detailing on the front and back promotes visibility.
R599 @ Cape Storm, Due South & Sportsmans Warehouse

ALSO AVAILABLE
  Camelbak Charm (1.5L, women-specific) – R549.00 @ Due South
  Camelbak Hydrobak (1.5L) – R569 @ Sportsmans Warehouse
  Camelbak Aurora (2.1L, women-specific) – R749 @ Due South
  Camelbak Rogue (2L) – R799 @ Cape Storm & Due South
  Due South Swordtail (1.5L) – R399 @ Due South 
  Maxed Hydration Bag (1L) – R139 @ Mr Price Sports Stores
  Nathan HPL #020 (2L) – R1 100 @ The Tri Shop
  Salomon XT Wings 5 (Add bladder) – R795 @ Cape Storm
  Sportsmans Warehouse Hydration Pack (2L) – R349 @ Sportsmans Warehouse

I was very active while at school, however after school there was no more time for the same amount of exercise. About three years ago I attempted a structured exercise and weight loss programme which worked wonders! The only problem is I got sick within a week of starting this programme. Eventually, I gave up as my cold was just not getting better. I have a friend who has started a similar programme recently, after five years of inactivity. I was surprised to hear he also picked up a cold as soon as he started. I am reconsidering starting a structured programme again, but I don’t want to get sick within a week and set myself up for failure again. What is the reason for getting a cold just as I get going? Should I continue and push through my exercise programme while I am sick? And what precautions can I take to avoid getting a cold? –
 RONEL BASSON, JOHANNESBURG

ANSWER
There is a solid body of research evidence that shows moderate intensity exercise actually boosts your immune system while only very intense or endurance exercise might impair it. Moderate exercise has been associated with approximately a 29% decreased incidence of upper respiratory tract infections – therefore I think it was just a coincidence that you got a cold (as did your friend).

The benefits of exercise are so profound and far-reaching that it would be an absolute shame for you not to exercise for fear of getting a cold. Here are a few precautions nonetheless to keep your immune system in top-notch shape.

  Try to manage the stresses of life and ideally keep them to a minimum.
  
Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet with a minimum of five portions of fruits and vegetables per day so as to get all your vitamins and minerals.
  Do regular, moderate-intensity, consistent exercise.
  
Consume carbohydrate beverages before, during and in the two-hour period immediately after your training (especially if training hard and long). Research shows that this helps maintain blood sugar levels, which keeps stress hormones lower. Both result in improved immune function.
  Avoid overtraining and rest if you are feeling a bit worn out.
  Get adequate sleep (requirements vary for different individuals).
  Avoid rapid weight loss (lose no more than 0.5kg to 1kg per week).
  
Avoid putting hands to the eyes and nose (the most common way to introduce viruses into the body).
  Consider a flu-jab in winter.

Modern Athlete Expert
KATHLEEN MCQUAIDE-LITTLE
Sports scientist and Health Promotions and Media Manager
at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town, and a member of Celtic Harriers with many years running experience, including five Comrades and eight Two Oceans Ultra medals.

I am a racewalker. Which adidas (or other) shoes would you recommend that are extremely lightweight?
– CELESTE SCHEEPERS, PRETORIA MILITARY WALKING CLUB

ANSWER
Within the adidas range the best shoe for
race-walking would be the adiZERO Adios racing flat model, which is super-lightweight and flexible and thus perfect for racewalking. Interestingly, this is the same shoe that Haile Gebrselassie wore when he broke the marathon world record, running 2:03:58 in Berlin, so if it’s good enough for Haile, I’m sure you’ll love them too!

Most reputable shoe or sports stores stock adidas products, so should be able to contact adidas in Cape Town to order you a pair of Adios.

Modern Athlete Expert
SEAN FALCONER
Running journalist with ten years’ experience of writing gear columns and reviews, from clothing and shoe buyers’ guides to watches, heart rate monitors, GPS units and sunglasses.

I have just finished my third Comrades and have taken a full two-week break from running. How long is the recovery period after Comrades and how do I slowly start getting back into training again?
– DONALD, KZN

ANSWER
Firstly, congratulations on your third Comrades!
I recommend you rest one day for every kilometre raced, i.e. 89 days. This does not mean you should not run for 89 days. It implies that no real racing should commence in
this time.

Training is a different matter and should be started after your initial rest period of two weeks, but make it pleasant; add variations and be creative in keeping yourself fit. Look at increasing your strength during this time. Crosstraining like gym, cycling, spinning and light running will suffice, especially in the cold days ahead.

Crosstrain for one month then move to more serious training (not racing) starting with the shorter and faster distances. A couple of 10km and similar runs should help your physical and mental attitude, enabling you to prepare better for the season ahead and Comrades 2011.

Remember that the hype and vibe of
Comrades is still fresh in your mind but great improvement and performance comes from consistent training based around improving
your weaknesses and ensuring your strengths remain intact.

The next bunch of races like City to City and other standard marathons could be your new aim, but it will be smart to plan further ahead and work backwards from Comrades 2011 making these initial races more fun than intense racing. Remember that your mind needs just as much rest as your body.

In closing, listen to your body but remain in control of it!

Modern Athlete Expert
JOHN HAMLETT
John is one of the country’s top running coaches and has been involved in running for more than 33 years. He has trained many top athletes including Andrew Kelehe, the 2001 Comrades winner and Fusi Ntlapo, the 2003 Comrades winner. John was recently appointed by Toyota as coach of its new elite team.

MEET THE ELITE
BY DONALD MATHIPA

Ludwick Mamabolo

Club:    Mr Price Running Club Central Gauteng
Age:    33
Achievements:  Runner-up at Comrades 2010
PBs: 
  42.2km    2:18 (2003)
  50km     2:49 (2003)
  56km (Two Oceans)   3:14 (2009, 7th position)
  Comrades    5:35 (2010, 2nd position)
Runner-up at Comrades 2010
Ludwick Mamabolo made sure that the world took notice of him
at this year’s Comrades Marathon. On his very first run he finished second overall, just behind the Zimbabwean winner Stephen Muzhingi. Ludwick was the first South African home and crossed the line in 5:29, earning him R120 000 for his efforts!

His running career started in 1999 when he ran in the colours of Esselen Park Athletic Club. Little did he know back then that one day he would be one of the most talked about novice athletes at Comrades 2010. Running must be in Ludwick’s genes; he is the grandson of Titus Mamabolo, well-known runner of the 70s and 80s.

Ludwick, a former soccer player, grew up looking after his parent’s livestock in Limpopo. He has come a long way since then and currently works as a bank teller
at Absa, and is studying towards his chartered accountant degree.

He has competed in several road races over the years; prior to Comrades 2010 one of his biggest successes came in 2009 when he placed ninth at the Two Oceans Marathon, crossing the line in a blistering time of 3:14. This brilliant performance was a deciding factor in him tackling Comrades for the first time.
 
TRAINING
His training leading up to Comrades included speed work, either on track or on gravel road, an hour of tempo running, hill repetitions and a weekend long run. He did all his track sessions at Midrand High School and Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. Titus believes part of his strength comes from doing his long runs of three to four hours on gravel roads. These runs were done at a relaxed 4min/km.

LOOKING AHEAD
Ludwick’s short-term focus is competing at the cross-country league meetings in Central Gauteng before he starts preparing for the City to City Marathon in September this year. He is grateful to Mr Price Athletic Club for their sponsorship, which allows him to train
as a professional athlete and make his dreams of achieving podium positions at big races come true.
 
His recipe for success in training and in life is to always find a balance. He believes in spending just as much time with his family and friends as he does studying and running.

His biggest dream is winning Comrades and he plans to give it his all at next year’s up run!

There are very few athletes who can boast of competing at four consecutive Olympic Games, and not many people know that South African-born Colleen De Reuck has done just that! What makes her achievement even more special is the fact she was already 28 at her debut Olympics. She competed in the Olympics from 1992 to 2004 and today, at the age of 46, she is still competing at the highest level, clearly defying age. Last year she came second in the USA Marathon Champs and in May, the blonde mother of two won the Copenhagen Marathon! She has her eyes set on making the Olympic Trials in January 2012 in Houston and potentially, a fifth Olympics. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS and MIKE BRAY

The one question Colleen De Reuck gets asked more often than the questions about her glorious sporting career, is how she has managed to stay competitive for so long. After all, this is a woman whose world-class running career has spanned over more than 20 years.

What makes Colleen’s Olympic achievement even more amazing is the fact that she accomplished this representing two different countries. She was on three Olympic teams for South Africa between 1992 and 2000, and in 2004, was part of the all powerful United States Olympic team after getting her USA citizenship. She qualified for Team USA after winning the 2004 United States Olympic Trials Marathon a week before her 40th birthday!

Over the years she has achieved world-record times in the 10 mile (16km) (51:16) and 20km (65:11), and has competed for Team USA in the World Cross-Country Championships in Ireland, winning a bronze medal.

One can’t blame anyone who is desperate to know the secret to her longevity. There are not many female athletes who can win a big city marathon in a time of 2:30:51, especially at the age of 46. Colleen’s answer to this question is always very simple and modest: Enough rest, recovery and taking time out from running a few times a year keeps her fresh. But most importantly she always puts her family first. She believes running is part of enjoying life, and not her whole life.

EARLY BEGINNINGS
Born in April 1964 in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, Colleen grew up loving sport. She started running in Grade 8 and got her genes from her Dad, also a runner. Father and daughter were often seen out running together in these early years.

Colleen’s lifelong love for cross-country started at school where she ran cross-country in the winter and track in the spring. Today cross-country running is still her passion and she enjoys tough courses that allow her to test her strength and switch pace continuously. At the tender age of 16, Colleen tackled her first half marathon and beat the top local runners in the race!

IT ALMOST NEVER WAS…
As was the case for many South African athletes in her era, Colleen ran pretty much in isolation. In 1983, at the age of 19, she received Springbok colours in cross-country, the first of many to follow. One of her earliest career successes came in 1990 when 26-year-old Colleen broke the SA record in the half marathon in a brilliant time of 68:38, one of the top five fastest times for the women’s half marathon in the world.

Colleen was almost ready to retire, until South Africa was again included in the international arena. It was the inspiration she needed to continue and she made her first Olympic appearance at the 1992 Barcelona Games, finishing ninth in the marathon. One of the fondest memories of her prime years is by far travelling to races around the country and the world, says Colleen.

She met Darren, her husband, coach and agent in 1983 in college. They were married in 1988 and in 1993, moved to the USA. Colleen made her second Olympic appearance in the 10 000m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, taking 13th place, and represented South Africa for a third time at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

These weren’t always happy times for Colleen. At the time of her second and third Olympics, she was already living in the US and South African athletics bosses disapproved of their athletes living overseas. She had to fight her way into the Olympic team, one of the biggest disappointments of her career. “The way the athletic federation treated me when I was living in the States was disappointing. That is why I eventually decided not to compete for them. The South African federation told me that they would never pick me for another SA team, so I decided to just do my own running events that I loved, and later became a citizen of the States as we were now living here and had kids here.” On 11 December 2000, Colleen De Reuck officially became an American citizen.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Her Olympic appearances are by far the most memorable moments of her running career, says Colleen. “It was just magical. When we were allowed back into international competition, it was like a dream come true. The 1992 Olympics will always be special as it was the first time we as South Africans were back.”

She was not over the moon about her performances though. In 1992 in Barcelona she had runner’s knee and in Atlanta, her racing had not gone as planned. In Sydney it was going to be her year and Colleen was hoping for a top five finish, but only two weeks before the event she got injured. She ran the marathon with a local anaesthetic in her foot, and sadly, finished 30th.

There were some lighter moments too. “In the 2004 Olympics we finished the marathon in the original stadium in Athens. It was a track that had long straights and very sharp bends. It was the first time my daughter, Tasmin, came to the Games, and I was looking for her in the stadium. Before I knew it I was in the outer lane as I was not used to the tight turns!”

TRAINING
In her prime years (31-35) Colleen ran 120-160km a week, depending on the season. She did three hard workouts a week, a mid-week longish run and a Sunday long run. “Mostly my workouts were on the trails or road, very few on the track. I love fartlek of varying distances and did lots of tempo runs. I lifted weights twice a week and started Pilates once my daughter went to school, as I had more time then.”

Today her training is not is not as scheduled as before. “Now I am smarter. I listen to my body and will quit a workout if I am not feeling well, instead of pushing through it. The training fits around my other schedules now. I still try and put in the hard workouts, but it is now only two a week as I find I need more recovery days.”

She still tries to put in three double runs. “I also try and clock up a few weeks of 150-160km a week leading up to a marathon. I try and lift weights twice a week, but somehow that always does not work out due to time issues,” says Colleen whose favourite distance is the half marathon, despite her success in the marathon.

LIFE IN BOULDER
Colleen, her husband, and their two daughters, Tasmin (15) and Tara (3), live in Boulder, with their dog Shaka and two cats, Snuggles and Lucy. Unlike her mom, Tasmin does not enjoy running and prefers volleyball.

“Boulder is a small enough city which is great. Here are so many Olympians and world record holders in plenty of sports. There are also plenty of trails to run on which are totally safe, bike paths to get around town and most of ‘Boulderites’ are outdoor people who lead fit and healthy lifestyles.”

When she’s not running, her two kids keep her so busy that there is very little time for herself. “I actually did a course in personal training at the end of last year, so now I’m qualified. When I’m done with running, there’s nothing better than to help others who’d like to get into shape.” Colleen and her husband are also involved in the coaching of runners and triathletes, as Darren has his own business coaching the average runner.

And yes, she certainly misses South Africa and tries to visit every three to four years but Boulder is where her life is now. She simply loves the free lifestyle it brings.

THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
She believes the biggest change in running is the amount of female runners who have come into the sport, both serious athletes and casual joggers alike.

Are there any words of wisdom that she would have appreciated back then? “Listen to the more experienced runners!” The biggest mistake most runners make is that they don’t take their easy days easy enough, says Colleen.

Her advice to anyone who is thinking about starting running is to start slowly with the correct shoes and cross train to remain injury free.

Her goals are to keep fit, in shape and run for many more years. In January 2012 she is set to try and make it to the Olympic Trials in Jan 2012 in Houston. We might just see her at a fifth Olympic Games!

ACHIEVEMENTS
  Four-time Olympian.
  2004 United States Olympic Trials Marathon Champion (2:28:25).
  2004-2005 United States cross-country 8km champion.
  Former world-record holder in 10 mile (51:16) and 20km (1:05:11).
  Winner of 1995 Honolulu Marathon, 2006 Berlin Marathon and 2010 Copenhagen Marathon.
  Second in the New York City Marathon, third in the 1997 Boston Marathon and eighth in 2009 Boston Marathon.
  2009 US National 20km Champion.
  Second in the USA Marathon Champs 2009.

PERSONAL BESTS
  10km 31.16
 15km 48.06
  21km 68.38
  Marathon 2.26.35

More and more runners are moving into the multisport arena and giving duathlons and triathlons a go. Unsurprisingly, some running clubs are now establishing multisport sections to cater for this new market, but the New Balance Multisport Club has taken things to a whole new level – and their rapid growth from 40 members to 600 in just two years is proof that they’re doing things right! – BY SEAN FALCONER

In 2007, when Harmony Gold Mines pulled out of road running, there was much uncertainty amongst the former Harmony Running Club members. Many joined the Nedbank running clubs that replaced the Harmony clubs, but some athletes decided to look at other options, including a group in the northern suburbs of Cape Town led by Jasper Coetzee.

At the 2008 Totalsports Challenge multisport event, Jasper approached New Balance CEO Gary van Rooyen about the possibility of starting a new club that would cater for more than just runners. “Two weeks later I presented a concept to Gary and he said yes right away,” recounts Jasper. “We started developing things from there. Clive Idas helped me put the groundwork together, Ri?l Hauman wrote our constitution, Chris Theunisen joined as treasurer, and along with the people at New Balance, that was the core group that got things going. That August we held our first AGM and the club was officially formed, covering five disciplines: running, cycling, triathlon, canoeing and swimming.”

The club now has about 600 members, ranging in age from eight to 66. This number consists of roughly 300 runners, 50 triathletes, 150 cyclists and 50 canoeists, all in the greater Cape Town area. “The Eden AC club in Wilderness also changed its name and joined us, bringing another 50 multisport athletes to the club, and we’ve got 30 cyclists in Kimberley,” says Jasper. “We don’t look for branches elsewhere, but welcome people to join us.”

STILL GROWING
“The biggest group in the club is the runners, and by the end of the year I suspect we’ll hit 350. When we started in 2008, we only just had the minimum of 40 to start a new club in the Western Province, but in two years we have grown remarkably. We thought after this year’s Two Oceans it would slow down, yet we’ve still got a steady stream of new members coming in, many of them beginners.”

The cycling section includes many top riders. Most ride for sponsored teams and thus you won’t see them in club colours. “We have the three Daikin-Gu teams, the Cape Town Market and Capestorm teams, the Durbell Pharmacy vets’ team, the Orbis masters’ team, and the Flandria team that won the male team prize at the Argus,” says Jasper. In mountain biking, the club also has top names on its books, including Brian Strauss and his children Mariska and Stefan, who were all SA champs at the same time a few years back. “I’m really chuffed that we have so many top riders who support the club,” adds Jasper.

He says the triathlon section is growing at a phenomenal rate, but the swimming section is dormant at the moment, mostly
due to a lack of facilities, especially heated pools for training during winter.

The canoeing section is based at the Tygerberg Waterfront, where the club has sole rights to use the dam for its training, Tuesday time trials and competitions. There are storage facilities for the boats, and the coffee shop at the jetty is a good place to meet before and after a paddle, says Jasper. “We have an established core group and a steady influx of beginners. We recently held our first Night Dam Dice under a full moon, which was an exciting development.”

CROSS-POLLINATION
“I think we’re very different to other clubs – we’re more a virtual club, because of the different sporting codes and the wide area we cover, so e-mail communication is important,” says Jasper. “These days I send out a weekly e-mail newsletter to more than 630 people.”

“We believe that over the past two years we’ve made a major contribution to the growth of sport in the Western Cape by bringing in so many beginners. We also have an amazing cross-pollination of sports – many of our cyclists have started to run, and we’ve got a lot of hardcore runners doing cycling, duathlons and triathlons. Some of the paddlers are now trying their hand at running and riding as well. But at the heart of it, we’ve helped grow running by providing a home for athletes of all levels.”

Of course, with many athletes in the club trying out new sports, it inevitably leads to some funny moments. Like when Riaan Taylor did his first triathlon last year and found that he was getting really hot during the cycle leg. He stopped to try and cool down a bit, and took off his helmet – and then realised he still had his swimming cap on!

The club’s home is at the PP Smit grounds, where they share a clubhouse with the Bellville Cricket Club, including bar and braai facilities. Club functions are regularly held there, and the club has also invested in a trailer to take its bright red gazebo to races, so members can meet up for a post-race chat.

With so many diverse disciplines covered by the club, the official club kit has to be equally diverse. They started with generic red New Balance vests, but today can offer the members cool running, cycling and triathlon-specific gear, all available at the
Tri Shop in Durban Road. “Many people say they join us just
for the kit,” says Jasper, “And we think that is quite a feather
in our cap.”

DIFFERENT APPROACH
An important aspect of the club set-up is that no money incentives are paid to members. As Jasper puts it, they don’t buy members. “We do give rewards and recognition to our top athletes, but in the form of medals or t-shirts, or a New Balance voucher. Still, our athletes have done well, with juniors Lianda De Bruyn and Sume Matthysen both earning provincial colours in cross-country, and senior Ulrica Stander being selected for the WP Half Marathon team for SA Champs.”

The club also counts SA Duathlon Champ Richard Murray, a former double World Junior Champ, amongst its members, and Colleen de Oliveira tried her first off-road Xterra Triathlon this year and promptly qualified for the World Champs in Hawaii. “We also got eight podium positions at the recent Western Province Cycling Champs,” says Jasper.

“The development side is also important to us. We have an association with Durbanville Children’s Home, with the kids joining us for training runs, and we sometimes take them to short races, including the cross-country meets. We were so excited when one of the kids’ teams won their category at the Paarl meet.”

TRAINING TIMES
The club offers two weekly running training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the PP Smit Sports Grounds, varying between speedwork, fartleks, hills and pyramids. The sessions are done mostly on grass and all levels are catered for, with slow, medium and fast groups led by experienced team leaders to set the pace and show the route, which is determined by club coach Dudley Hulbert. “I think we’re the only club in the Cape with a proper coach,” says Jasper. A second training group has recently been started in the Blouberg area, focusing on beginners, and the club wants to start a similar group in the southern suburbs area, but still needs somebody to drive it.

The monthly 5km time trial is run on the last Tuesday of the month, also from the sports grounds. On Wednesdays the club’s trail running group meets at Magic Forest, and Sundays are reserved for long pack runs of up to 30km, with a route that allows runners to branch
off at 10km or other intermediate points if they want to go a
bit shorter.

The club’s triathlon training group is driven by experienced triathlete Douw Steyn, who sends out great technical and training mailers, says Jasper. In the cycling section, many of the semi-professional teams train on their own, but there are still plenty of training groups for social riders, and club member Leonardo van Onselen is available for coaching.

CLUB RACES
Given its multisport approach, it’s no surprise that the club puts on a quite diverse selection of events. In running, there is the Takkie 10km in September, which is organised as a fundraiser for Jan Kriel School in Kuilsriver. In cycling there is the Contego Critereum circuit race, although it has had to be postponed this year due to the Soccer World Cup.

The club also presents the Applethwaite Duathlon in June,
an on-road event starting and finishing at the Applethwaite farm near Grabouw, which also plays host to the Applethwaite Off-Road Triathlon in November. “The farm has a stunning 1.2km long lake for the 600m swim leg, then the athletes do a 18km MTB ride through the apple and pear orchards, followed by a 5km run in the orchards,” says Jasper.

CLUB CONTACT DETAILS
Phone: 
Maresa Maree (Secretary),
021 982 8600 (h) / 083 798 9815
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.newbalance.co.za
Clubhouse: 
PP Smit Sports Grounds, Durban Road, Tygerberg