You may have heard coaches and other runners say, “to get faster, you need to run faster,” but we often misinterpret what this means, and end up running too fast, too often. – By Ray Orchison
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Magic on the Mountain!
My motto for 2024 is Make Magic Happen, and what better way to do that than by being in the mountains, where you get to make and find magic. I’m a mountain person, not so much a sea person, so this works best for me, as I once again realised when I tackled the 13 Peaks Challenge in early January. – By Juliana Ambrosi with Sean Falconer
49 and Counting
It takes a special type of athlete to line up year after year for the Comrades Marathon and finish this ultra-marathon challenge 40 times or more, and that’s why just 18 runners have done so in the 102 years since the Comrades was first run. Leading that list is Barry Holland, who will be aiming to become the first athlete to achieve 50 Comrades medals in June this year, and a chat with this South African ultra-running legend is guaranteed to inspire. – By Sulette Ferreira with Sean Falconer
The Running Mann: Rocking Mthatha’s Rolling Hills
Thanks to some clever planning and use of Vitality benefits, I was recently able to head to the Eastern Cape for the Cheetahs Marathon. While it may have been a small race, it proved a most enjoyable and educational trip, and I would happily go back to Mthatha to tackle this one again. – By Stuart Mann
Running When You’re Old (and Big)
I may not be the same shape and size as many of the other runners in the races that I enter, but I’m still there, putting one foot in front of the other… and in spite of sometimes forgetting my age, and picking up a few injures along the way, I’m still enjoying my running! – By Guillaume Smit
The Running Mann: Searching for Pots, Chefs, Strooms
Now that I am finally back to enjoying one of my favourite hobbies, travelling the country to try run every marathon or ultra in South Africa, I recently found myself in Potchefstroom for the LetsGo Potch Marathon, and besides enjoying a good run with various running friends, I also delved deep down into the darker side of my sense of humour. – By Stuart Mann
Beware the Mountain Shark!
I have recently been called the ‘Mountain Shark,’ partly because I am a marine (shark) biologist who trail runs, but also thanks to my strategy of starting towards the back of races and sneaking up to overtake other runners the further we run. That strategy paid off in the recent RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town 100km, where I also learnt a few things about myself along the way! – By Leigh De Necker
Racing on the Wine Route
I recently had the opportunity to race the Sportsmans Warehouse Winelands Half Marathon, and once again, I found myself blown away by the scenic route through the wine estates around Stellenbosch. – By Grant Johnson with Sean Falconer
Nothing Beats an Island Getaway
Those who were fortunate to be part of the inaugural Robben Island Museum Memorial Run 10km not only helped to both commemorate and make history, but also came back with a unique running experience that many are still talking about, weeks after the race. No wonder many are already asking about 2024 entries! – By Sean Falconer
Putting on My Big Girl Pants
When I blew out the 20 candles for my birthday at the start of 2023, I didn’t know what lay ahead of me in the year I had signed up for on the road, but I knew I would be finding out a lot about myself, including how my legs would handle going further than they’d ever run before. I also knew I may have to convince a few doubters along the way that I can do it. – By Ela Meiring