Category: Features

You’ll find Madumetja Donald Mathipa behind the microphone at many races in the Gauteng area, greeting you the minute he sees you, whether you are a supporter or a runner, with something unique to say about each person, but while he loves doing race commentary, his real passion lies in his hometown race in Tembisa. – BY MANFRED SEIDLER

Donald is no slouch when it comes to running. He boasts a 10km PB of 30:38, has clocked 1:05:11 for the half marathon, and ran a 2:21:23 marathon. He has also earned silver medals in both his Old Mutual Two Oceans runs, with a best of 3:30:08 for 44th place in 2011, and earned a Comrades silver in 2015 for his 6:46:08 finish for 89th position. But it is as an announcer that many Gauteng runners know him.

He started his announcing ‘career’ in 2008 when he ran for the Powerade team managed by the late George Koertzen, who at the time was the foremost race announcer in Gauteng. “I was doing a course in communication science at UNISA and approached him, because I wanted to add to my skills. He asked when I was available and that was it,” recalls Donald. “I did my first stint at the start of the Vodacom Country Challenge and then he used me at more races. He also sent me to Swaziland so I can say I am an international race commentator!”

However, while Donald can be seen on the mic most weekends, this is not what he considers a career. “I love talking at races and have fun with the runners, but for me this is a sideline. I really want to see races in the townships grow and uplift the communities, in particular in Tembisa, where I have lived since 2009.”

The Dream
Donald originally hails from Limpopo, where he honed his early running career. “I was good over the shorter distances, up to the half marathon, but I did the longer stuff because that was the only way I could run full time. But my heart and my body are in the shorter distances.” He moved to the Kempton Park area to be able train at Esselen Park with the Nedbank Soweto team, including future Comrades winner Modibe Ludwick Mamabolo, but like so many promising athletes, Donald had to work to live and thus could not focus solely on running.

He also found that the mileage required to run Comrades as a contender did not agree with his body, and since he couldn’t earn a living just racing the shorter distances, he had to shelve his dream of being a professional athlete. Instead he ploughed all his energy into what was to eventually become the Tembisa Mile. “We do not have many well organised and supported races in the townships, but it is important that we do have events here, for a number of reasons. It brings the community together and they take ownership and take pride in it. It also opens up opportunities to the community either to run, or to get into organising events.”

The Mission
So Donald embarked on a journey in 2010 that changed his life, when he and a few others in Tembisa decided to put on a road race. “We started with an 8km and 3km race. We wanted a competitive race with medals and prize money in a township, but it wasn’t easy, we really struggled in the beginning, and so decided to change the 8km to a 5km in 2011. We had some leftover T-shirts from other races and used them as incentives, and some of the better runners came, but the masses didn’t get T-shirts, because we just did not have enough. So we thought, let’s do something unique, and in 2012 we introduced the mile, taking place after the 5km, because we want the runners to see our best athletes competing in the streets of Soweto.”

Over the years Donald has attracted the who’s who of South African middle distance running to his event. The first winner of the mile in 2012 was Dumisane Hlaselo, who has represented South Africa on numerous occasions, and a big breakthrough came in 2013. “Johan Cronje had just won the bronze medal in the 1500m at the World Championships in Moscow that year, and we got him to come and run in Tembisa. All of a sudden the media were interested and the other top runners wanted to race in our mile. Since then the mile has become a big event for us, and gives us good coverage.”

The mile was initially just run as a mass event; now there are categories for both senior and junior men and women, and a big coup was having Caster Semenya win in 2016. Meanwhile, the original 8km is now a 10km race and has seen the likes of multiple SA Champions Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant race through the streets of Tembisa. It has been suggested to Donald that he add a half marathon, to further grow numbers, but he is loath to do this. “Since anyone can do the 10km race, that’s where we believe we can attract numbers. Also, we simply do not have the logistics for a 21km, and a 10km means we do not need to use the Metro for a longer period of time, nor inconvenience the Tembisa residents’ daily routine.”

He explains that the 10km starts at 7am and the first mile starting straight after the 8:45 cut-off, so they are finished by 10am. “The mile doesn’t impede traffic, so we are in no way disrupting the day to day ‘running’ of Tembisa. We do not want to be a nuisance to them, we want their support. The taxi associations also help us and do not interfere. Yes, there is always that one driver, but that happens everywhere. Local business helps with small things and the community love the race, so it has been good for us.”

The Challenge
However, it is not all plain sailing. Race organising costs big money. Metro services alone set the club back a whopping R45,000, and of course there is prize money, too. Then there are those who volunteer their time and need to be looked after. “Our volunteers are part of the community and we need to put something back into the community, so we need to find a way to show our appreciation. That can be money, T-shirts, food, or all of the above.” The race has come with other challenges too… Donald laughingly recollects how a resident forgot to close his gate on race day in 2013. “His dog came out and chased the runners. Maybe that is why Johan Cronje set a course record!”

Overall though, Donald says it is more than just about having a top notch event in the township. Currently, the Tembisa Athletics Club members do their track work on the clay track of the Tembisa High School. “One day we want to host an athletics meeting there, but we need to upgrade a few things, like toilets, parking, seating. We try set aside some of the money we raise from the race, but we also need money to help our runners get to races, so if we can turn this race into something bigger, then maybe we can achieve those objectives.”

True to his humble nature, Donald does not like the term Race Director. “No, no, I am the team leader, not a race director.” But he deserves huge credit for growing the race from a 400-entry fun run to a 2000-entry 10km race in seven years. Entries are now open for the 2018 race on 28 October, and it is sure to be another classic.

IMAGES: Jetline Action Photo, Manfred Seidler & courtesy Tembisa Mile

They come running into the finish line, chanting, dancing, big smiles on faces, obviously having a whale of a time even though they’re tired, sweaty and sore. On the one hand, they’re relieved to be finishing, and ecstatic to have hit their target time, but on the other hand they don’t want the race to end, because they’re having so much fun! These are the passengers of Madoko’s Bus, driven by legendary pacesetter and coach Madoko Ndhlovu. – BY SEAN FALCONER

With his distinctive singing, chanting and even some dancing, well known pacesetter Madoko Ndhlovu has his bus passengers hanging on his every word as they follow him home in races. “At the beginning I tell them, I am Coach Madoko, I am your driver today, and I am going to change the way you run, talk and smile. I want them to know what to expect from their driver, right from the first kilometre, and then it’s tuck in your stomach and heel to toe!” says Madoko. He also teaches his passengers a few songs and chants, including what has become known as Madoko’s Anthem, Morena re hauhele (a Sotho hymn, which translates to Lord have mercy on me). “When it is tough out there on the road, I start humming the song, and the people just hum along. But when it’s going good, we sing and chant, and people like the vibey atmosphere.”

Unsurprisingly, Madoko’s buses attract a lot of passengers, but he says, “I’m not worried about the size of the bus, I’m worried about how people will finish the race, so I make sure that even the person right at the back of the bus gets the info. That’s also why I ask everybody to pick a partner and work together – they must know each other’s names, and motivate each other to keep going, like brothers in arms. I’ve seen people exchange telephone numbers after the race because they want to stay in touch after the incredible brotherhood of the bus. I also get people who have run Comrades for 20 years saying they have never enjoyed it more than when running with my bus, and that makes it all worthwhile.”

Leading the Way
Madoko (50) runs his own building construction company in Pretoria, having previously worked for Telkom for 20 years, and he is married, with two sons aged 26 and 19, both very talented soccer players. As a youngster, Madoko played volleyball, softball and soccer, but he started running in 2000 with his brother, who was working and running for Transnet, and that’s where he heard the guys talking about Comrades and decided to run it in 2001. “That was fun, something out of this world. I ran one of my best times that year, 8:40, but I also saw people were suffering due to inexperience, so the following year, by which time I had become chairman of the Telkom running club, I started training the members. That’s where my coaching and mentoring started,” he says.

Soon he was pacing clubmates in races to achieve target times or qualifiers, and in 2004 he unveiled his now famous Madoko Bus flag, so that any runners who wanted to stick with him could find him at races, and his buses became hugely popular. “I ran sub-4:00 buses at most of the marathons I was doing and delivered them all on time, but I realised the faster runners can often do it by themselves, whereas the slower runners need more help, so I moved to sub-5:00 to help others qualify for the big ultras.”

After he brought a huge unofficial sub-10:00 bus home at the 2005 Comrades, he was invited to become an official Comrades Pacesetter for the first time in 2006, and for the next few years he was a regular sub-10:00 Pacer. In 2011, however, he ran his 11th Comrades and it would be his last for five years, partly due to injury, but mostly due to the tragic death of his sister Abigail in a motorbike accident that December, which Madoko says hit him very hard. “She always supported me in my running, and she and my wife were my number one supporters. Coping with her loss, that took me three to four years. Fortunately, I was eventually motivated to come back to running by my wife and kids, and all my running friends who wanted me back on the road, so in 2015 I started running seriously again. People kept asking me when I will be back at Comrades, and in 2016 I ran it again.”

Back on Pace
Madoko went straight back to pacing at Comrades 2016 and brought his unofficial sub-11:00 bus home in 10:54:21, and that saw him brought back into the official Modern Athlete Comrades Pacesetter Programme in 2017. Now specialising in a sub-11:00 finish, he led his passengers over the line in 10:58:29, and this year repeated the feat with a 10:57:21 finish. He says that 2017 run really stands out as a highlight, not just for the incredible spirit in the group, but also thanks to one specific passenger in the bus.

“I was standing at the start of the 2017 race when a runner called Johan came up to me and said, ‘Madoko, you helped me run my first sub-nine in the 2008 Up Run, and now you are doing the sub-11:00 bus. Well, this is my wife Martie, and I want you to please assist her now, because she is doing her fifth Comrades and couldn’t finish either of her two previous Up Runs. I told her she must run with you and she will make it.’ Well, Martie then stuck right next to me the whole way!” says Madoko.

“We reached halfway in 5:30 and she turned to me and said, ‘Are you for real? I’ve never made the halfway cut-off before!’ Then as we reached the bottom of Polly Shortts, she asked me if I was going to keep my promise to get her up that hill. Well, when we reached the top, Martie was so overjoyed she stopped at the SABC TV camera for a quick interview. Then her phone rang, and it was her husband, telling her that he had just watched her on the big screen at the finish. She put the phone on speaker mode and we all heard her husband cheering her on while she just cried with joy and emotion.”

“I lost her in the crowd at the finish, but two months later I received a call from her. She said that she had been trying to track me down, so that she could thank me. She was so incredibly happy about finishing, and now every time I am asked for a motivational story about Comrades, I tell the Martie story. It proves that everybody can finish it! She had been unable to finish the Up Run, and then she ran a sub-11. It’s a mind game, that’s why I work with the runners’ minds right from the start.”

Coach and Mentor
Pacing is just one way Madoko is helping his fellow runners. Over the last few years he has also developed training camps to help novices get to the Comrades, and thus far he has a 98% finish rate amongst his trainees. “I just love to help others by sharing a winning formula, and it is all done from the heart, because I don’t ask people to pay me. I now have people coming from all over the country for my training camps, and I focus on the core, not only on running, because running is easier if you have a strong core. I was very pleased when a lady from Gugulethu in the Cape ran in my bus this year at Comrades and told me she got my training programme from my Coach Madoko Training Camp Facebook page –and that it really works! Again, that makes it all worthwhile.”

With his customary “Hello, Hello,” followed by whistling, click sounds and shaking knees as he ‘calls the route’ for the day, Dean Wight begins the briefing for another Beloved Long Run. It’s just part of the popular weekly training runs taking place all over the KwaZulu-Natal province. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Our Beloved Chairman… that’s what the members of Queensburgh Harriers nicknamed Dean Wight when he served as Club Chair from 2006 to 2017, and when it came to choosing a name for the long training runs he has been organising each weekend since 2008, it just seemed right to go for Beloved Long Runs. “I would get up at 2am or 3am and go hide drinks and sweets in the bushes along the route, then go meet up for the run,” recalls Dean. Now, 11 years later, those Queensburgh club runs have grown into multi-club runs that attract from 60 to 250 runners each Saturday morning, who turn out to run up to 32km together, with water tables every three to four kays serving water, cold drinks and snacks. Oh, and lots of crème soda… because Dean really loves his crème soda!

Dean (50) works as a rep for Asics in the KZN and Eastern Cape areas. He was introduced to running at the tender of age of 11, when he did a 5km fun run in La Lucia in December 1979. “I was initially reluctant to participate, but instantly fell head over heels in love with the sport. After that I continued running every fun run I could find until I was finally old enough to join Queensburgh Harriers in 1984. I ran my first marathon in 1986, and my first Comrades in 1988, and I’ve now done 27. My target is 40.”

Going the DIstance
In 2014, Dean and wife Des – “My biggest long run supporter and go-to girl,” says Dean – moved to Gillits, but as a life member he stayed with Queensburgh and carried on organising the training runs. He started charging R10 per run to cover the costs of the drinks and snacks, and says he had a contact list of 20 to 30 guys in a database that he would mail the weekend’s plans to, and they would then send-on to their friends. By the time Dean organised a big Hillcrest to Beachfront training run in January 2016, he was being asked to organise more runs, “So I decided to start organising runs all over the province, find volunteers for seconding tables, and create a webpage and Facebook page to promote the runs, while also upping the fee to R20 to cover the additional costs.”

When he was approached later in 2016 by several running clubs that wanted to be part of the runs, he grabbed the opportunity. “We were taking up too much parking at shopping centres and garages, so in 2017 we started partnering with various clubs and running from their clubhouses. The clubs could then make their showers, clubhouse and bar available, which could bring in some money while also offering runners a safer running environment. A large percentage of our runners are women, who are attracted by the increased safety of our group runs.”

The Beloved Long Runs are mostly on out-and-back routes, so runners can turn wherever they want to, and all take place on Saturday mornings. “I never clash with races on Sundays, because these runs rely on the clubs for support, and even on those weekends with really big races, I still still get a good turn-out.” Added to the weekly runs, Dean organises the ‘Comrades in Three Days’ on Easter Weekend, and helps organise the 56km Comrades Route Tester in early May, in conjunction with the long-standing Collegians and Hillcrest route tester runs. “We’ve brought 14 more clubs on board to help with the water tables, and it has really grown in popularity.”

Running for a Cause
One of the most commendable aspects of Dean’s runs is that once he has covered his costs for catering and logistics from the ‘entry fee,’ the rest goes to charity. He also puts out a donations box for any runners that may want to give more, and in 2016-2017 they raised R70,000 for various charities. However, much more was to follow this year. “The Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust was nominated as an official Comrades charity and early in 2018 they approached me to become a running ambassador for the Centre, but I said I wanted to do more by partnering the Beloved Long Runs to their charity.”

“I set an initial target of raising R10,000 for them, but then said, hold on, we’ve got over 3000 Facebook members and can aim higher, so I increased that to R100,000. An old school friend of mine then said that he would double the money if we reached that target, which we did in the first week of May. With R200,000 raised, I upped the target to R250,000, then R300,000, and eventually a few weeks after this year’s Comrades we finished on R327,000! It really is terrific to see how much the runners are willing to give back.”

To find the next Beloved Long Run, go to www.belovedlongruns.co.za or www.facebook.com/groups/belovedlongruns.

IMAGES: Jetline Action Photo & courtesy Dean Wight

Ultra-distance triathlete Jade Nicole is not just making a name for herself in the sport, she is ready to take on the world’s best in the hopes of pursuing a pro career in triathlon. – BY SEAN FALCONER

The right mindset. That’s what Jade Nicole (28) says was missing when she went to Europe aged 18 to become a pro cyclist. “Cycling started out as a hobby during school in Cape Town, but soon I was racing the top girls and signed by the Konica-Minolta team, riding the big races like the Cycle Tour and 947. Then I went to Europe, and honestly, I really missed my family and friends, and the comforts of home. I was living in a team house with 10 other riders and it was a lot more difficult to get into the pro team, and after three years I realised I wouldn’t make it.”

Fast-forward a few years and Jade is once again making a name for herself on the sporting front. Now living in Johannesburg, she won the recent MiWayLife Sun City Ultra triathlon (1.9km/90km/21km), having finished first in her age group and eighth overall at the Standard Bank Ironman SA 70.3 in East London earlier this year, as well as well as first in her age group and second overall at the MiWayLife Durban Ultra. Those great results followed overall wins in 2017 at the Durban 70.3 and Indian Ocean Triathlon in Mauritius, and a first in age group and seventh overall in the 2017 Ironman SA 70.3. And she says it is largely thanks to her coach, Lucie Zelenkova.

“Sun City was not my best race, but I pulled a rabbit out of the hat after being two minutes down on Magda Nieuwoudt at T2. Somehow I passed her on the second lap of the run and ended up beating her by nearly seven minutes. I had been sick the week before the race and still wasn’t feeling great, but I had one of my best runs that day – and I must give credit to Lucie for helping me develop the mindset that now allows me to race so successfully. I wish I had this mindset eight years ago in Europe – I could have achieved so much more, but I didn’t believe in myself as much.”

A Second Chance
Jade had actually done a few triathlons while in school, but says she struggled with the swimming. With her cycling days behind her, and having initially trained as a chef upon her return to SA and worked in that field for four years before training to become a personal trainer, she decided to give triathlon a go again in 2015 when a client invited her to a tri event. Her initial results were competitive but not top level, so in 2016 she decided to take things more seriously and signed up with Lucie’s Trifactri squad. “I’ve always been inspired by her, having watched her race and win in East London when I was young,” says Jade.

“I now have a coach who has raced all around the world, who’s been there and done it, and I love that she is very hands-on and supportive. We have regular meetings to ensure I am focused, while avoiding over-training, and I trust the process, and that Lucie will get me there. She is always open and honest with me, and she has said a lot of things that make me confident about the future, including possibly turning pro. Still, we’re both being realistic, and I first need to see how I do against the world’s best before I can even start thinking about trying to make a living from triathlon.”

Bring on the Best
Of course, the chance to test herself against the world’s best triathletes is just around the corner. Having won her age group in East London earlier this year, Jade qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Champs, which will take place in Port Elizabeth on 1 September. “My goal is to win my age group at World Champs, and then, if things go well, to turn professional and represent my country at an international level. The World’s best are coming to SA and it will be my first international race, so a good indication to see where I stand on the world stage. I need to be able to make money if I turn pro, so I’ll be comparing times when they are here.”

Happily for Jade, her motivation to succeed is strong enough to overcome any doubts, especially when she thinks bout her decision to cut back on her work hours in the Virgin Active Classic Collection gymnasium at Alice Lane in Sandton, in order to train for World Champs. “I am currently only working half-day, and have sacrificed my morning working hours – and pay – to fit in training from 4:30am to 12, before I see clients in the afternoon and evening. But I am motivated and looking forward to the challenge.”

STOP PRESS: Since this article was written, Jade went on to win her age category at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs in PE… which means chances are good she will be turning pro in the near future!

IMAGES: Jethro Snyders and courtesy Asics & Jade Nicole

Young track talent Ryan Mphahlela enjoyed a breakthrough 2017-2018 season on the track, and now looks set to take on the world. – BY MANFRED SEIDLER

Tembisa is a large township in the north of Kempton Park on the East Rand with a population of just under 500,000. It is also home to the Tembisa Athletics Club, which hosts the annual Tembisa Street Mile and 10km road race. the club also hosts a 5km time trial every Wednesday at the Living Waters Bible Study Centre, and on 10 January this year, 19-year-old Ryan Mphahlela made a massive statement as he flew to a time 14:39 to set a course record for the Time Trial. He had already represented SA at the 2016 African Cross Country Champs and 2017 World Cross Country Champs in his age category, but that time trial made the older runners sit up and take notice!

To prove this was no flash in the pan, Ryan then went on to destroy the field in the 1500m at the Central Gauteng Championships, in a race that included former SA Champion Folavio Sehole and Dumisane Hlaselo, who have been considered part of the big three in the event in SA for a number of years. Ryan was uncatchable, running from the front to win in 3:44.03, and it was that result more than his 5km time trial that prompted the organisers of the first Liquid Telecom Grand Prix event in Ruimsig on 1 March to allocate a starting berth to Ryan. He literally grabbed the opportunity with both hands, finishing fourth in a field that included the then U18 World Champion, George Manangoi of Kenya, who recently added the U20 World Title to his name, and Ronald Musagala of Uganda, who boasts a best of 3:33.65 for 1500m. A mere seven tenths of a second separated second from fourth.

More to Come
The pundits were even more impressed when Ryan once again showed his trademark never-say-day attitude a week later in the 3000m at the second Grand Prix meeting in Pretoria. He was the only athlete able to stay with World Championship 10,000m silver medallist, Joshua Cheptegei, who many believe will be the next force in world 5000/10,000m racing with the retirement of Britain’s Mo Farah, and the crowd were on their feet as Ryan tracked the Ugandan lap after lap.

Joshua eventually shook the youngster off with a final surge at the bell to win in 7:49.48, but Ryan was warmly applauded as he continued to chase the Ugandan down the home straight and finished second in 7:59.96. Having watched the young South African post a marvellous sub-eight in his debut at the distance, the Ugandan said, “He is a big talent. He shows no fear, and that is good. He will give some people a big scare in the years to come.” High praise indeed, but Ryan calmly took in all in stride. “I love to challenge myself, and racing Josh showed me I do not need to fear anyone. Respect yes, fear no.”

International Exposure
On the back of those two performances, Ryan was then invited to Europe to race in a series of middle distance events in Belgium and Holland, after he had represented SA again at the African Cross Country Champs. He won his first 1500m at the Nivelles Meeting International on 23 June, clocking 3:41.44, just a second off his lifetime best of 3:40.44. A week later he had to settle for fourth in his next 1500m with a time of 3:42.55. “I ran a tactically poor race there and paid the price. One thing I have learnt is that racing in Europe is different to racing in South Africa. Here I can play a big role in dictating the race, but in Europe there is so much more depth and I cannot lead from the front. It also shows I need to get stronger and faster.”

His final race in Europe was over 3000m on 7 July at the Hilversum Arena Games. This time he did lead from the front, clocking 7:53.96 for a huge, satisfying personal best. “That is my season for 2018. Now I will prepare for the 4km at the SA Cross Country Championships in September, which will be first attempt at a senior national title, and my focus will be on qualifying for the World Cross Country Championships. Then in 2019 I want the SA 5000m title. I think that will be my best event in the future, but I still want to qualify for the 1500m at the World Championships in Doha next year.”

Ironically, Ryan was a keen footballer and had no idea of his running talent until he was entered in a cross country race in Grade Four. “I was so shocked, but I won, and it was then that coach Elvis started coaching me and I’ve been with him ever since,” says Ryan. (That’s Elvis Innocent, the coach at Tembisa Athletics Club). It is here, in Tembisa, that this remarkable young talent is staying level-headed as he prepares himself to continue taking on the world’s ‘big guns,’ and after this season, they have been warned!

Ryan’s PB’s
1500m – 3:40.44
1 mile – 3:59.44
3000m – 7:53.96
5km – 14:39

IMAGES: Courtesy Ryan Mphahlela

Whether it is triathlons, trail running or life-saving competitions, Linda Detering has the talent and potential to become a major force in every sport she tries. – BY PJ MOSES

With her red hair blowing in the wind and a steely look in her eyes, Linda Detering has in a still short sporting career proven that she is a force to be reckoned with. Winning has become a bit of a habit, and she has collected a number of podiums over the course of the last two years, including taking first place over the short distances at the Old Mutual Two Oceans and Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) trail races in 2017. This year she maintained that form by placing second at the Two Oceans race, and once again taking victory at VWS.

Now most people would be happy with talent in one sport, but this 18-year-old ‘wunderkind’ decided to give multisport a go as well, after watching some of her friends participating in a triathlon. With the help of Mike Reddington of the Embark Triathlon Club, she was able to win the Freshpak Fitness Festival sprint triathlon last September, and followed that success by entering the IRONMAN 70.3 race in East London in January. Surprising even herself, she finished second in her age group, and earned herself a slot at the 70.3 World Championships to be held this coming September in PE. “I never expected to do that well. It was just a bucket list item that I wanted to tick off, but naturally I am happy and excited with how it all worked out in the end,” says Linda.

With that success still fresh, Linda took on a new challenge at the Walker Bay Extreme Big 6 Challenge earlier this year, where competitors had to do six events over four days. “It is a whole weekend of adventure and you have to do a mountain bike race, a swimming leg, a triathlon, a street mile run, a run/swim/run, and a trail run. It was tough and very tiring, but I managed to finish in second spot overall in the women’s division. It is not always about chasing podiums for me, but when it is there to take, I won’t let it slip by. It just adds to the fun I am having out there.”

GAME FOR ANYTHING
Born close to Munich in Germany, Linda and her family moved to Cape Town in 2011. The eldest of three kids, she’s always been active, with her main sport being horse-riding when still living in Germany. However, the warmer SA climate and the beautiful mountains around her Hout Bay home inspired her to try new sports, including running, cycling, swimming, surfing, lifesaving, water-skiing, paragliding and skydiving! “In South Africa there is just so much more to do, and I love being outdoors. I’ve also made so many friends doing all of these things, and nothing beats the vibe around an active lifestyle. But I still find time to relax as well: I love movie nights with my family, or socialising with my friends, also reading good books and taking my dogs for long walks.”

Unsurprisingly, trail running and triathlon are not the only sports that Linda excels at. She is also part of the Llandudno Lifesaving Club, and at this year’s SA Lifesaving Champs, she won both the junior and senior women’s 2km beach runs, on the same day. “It was 500m loops on the beach and the crowd really helped me, because the atmosphere was so fantastic. I knew this was my last opportunity to compete in both events, so even with little turn-around time between races, I just gave it my all.”

INSPIRATION AT HAND
In spite of all the success Linda has enjoyed in a short period, there have also been a few low points and disappointments, but she stays motivated, and gets herself race-ready, by watching one of her favourite videos on YouTube, called Rise and Shine. “It puts me in the right frame of mind, and if things get really tough, I just take a deep breath and look around me. The beauty of nature reminds me why I am doing this. I do it because I love it, and that there’s nowhere else I would rather be.”

With her focus currently on training for the 70.3 World Champs, she says she knows that finding balance is of the utmost importance, too, if you want to be at your best. “I think there is a time and a place for everything, and you have to get your priorities straight. You can’t be out the whole night before a race and expect to do well the next day. People just need to choose what is important to them, but never forget to have fun. Do the things you love and don’t force yourself to do anything that you don’t want to.”

IMAGES: Kara Bruins-Robertson, Michael Theunissen, Oakpics, Threshold Photography & courtesy Linda Detering

In South African athletics history, only high jumper Jacques Freitag has ever won a clean-sweep of World Titles at Youth, Junior and Senior levels, but now that hurdler Sokwakhana Zazini has added the 2018 World Junior title to his 2017 World Youth title, he may just be on his way to emulating that feat. – BY WILHELM DE SWARDT WITH SEAN FALCONER

In the lead-up to the IAAF Junior World Championships in Tampere, Finland in July, Sokwakhana Zazini went on record stating that he absolutely hates losing on the track. Not that he loses all that often in the 400m hurdles, take note… the last time he didn’t win a youth (under-18) or junior (under-20) age group race was in 2016, and that impressive streak includes winning the 2017 Youth World Champs title in Nairobi, Kenya, and setting a Youth World Record of 48.84 during the 2017 Gauteng North Championships.

In Finland, it was clear that he had no intention of seeing that streak end, but he had to work hard for the win in the 400m hurdles final. The man they call ‘Socks’ appeared to run fairly relaxed for the first 200m, but that saw him caught up in a fierce four-man tussle with just 60 metres remaining. However, the Tuks High School matric pupil was able to shift up another gear for the last two hurdles and final dash for the line to narrowly take the gold medal in 49.42 seconds. Bassem Hemeida (Qatar) was second in 49.59 and Alison Santos (Brazil) third in 49.78. In an interview straight after his win, the ecstatic double World Champion just had this to say: “The competition was really tough, but I'm thrilled with my support team. This is an exceptional and proud moment for me and my country.”

This latest title is yet another highlight in a great 2018 season that has also seen Socks taking on the seniors for the first time. In March he finished second at the SA Senior Champs, running 49.32 to beat the likes of three former Olympians, LJ van Zyl, Cornel Fredericks and Le Roux Hamman. Then in June he, he competed for the first time in an international race in Prague, and placed fourth in 49.56. He attributes this success against the seniors to the mind shift he made at the beginning of this year: “I told myself that I don’t consider myself to be a junior athlete anymore. I will race anyone, anytime, no matter how old they are or what they have achieved. If I get whipped, so be it, I will take it like a man. The only thing that matters to me is that afterwards, I should know that I raced to the best of my ability.”

Still Learning
In spite of this success, Socks feels that his hurdling technique is not yet what it should be. “I am getting better, but my technique going over the hurdles is not yet as efficient as it can be. There are a few other small things we are also working on. Once I have mastered it all, I think there will be no limits as to what I might be able to achieve. I just have to be prepared to put in the hard work. I don’t ever focus on what others are doing, I do my own thing, but most important is to enjoy what I am doing.”

Meanwhile, he is no slouch over the 400m flat sprint. At the 2017 SA Junior and Youth Championships, he won the youth 400m in 47.23 and the 400m hurdles final in 50.85. Then in March this year he repeated the feat by winning both junior titles, clocking 45.86 and 49.98 respectively. That also meant that he became only the second SA junior ever to break 46 seconds over 400m, the first being Riaan Dempers, whose SA Junior Record of 45.15 has stood since 1994. “It had been my goal for a while to break the 46-seconds barrier,” says Socks. “The secret is to be focused, so when I settled in the starting blocks that day, I told my mind to switch into racing mode. It is always special when you get to achieve the goal you set yourself.”

When asked about his future plans, especially if he will continue racing both events, Socks says, “The reason I love competing in the 400m is that it helps to improve my speed, but I am first and foremost a hurdler.” And that speed is going to come in handy, because his coach, Hennie Kriel, believes that Socks has a realistic chance of being good enough in 2019 to compete for the first time in the hurdles at the Senior World Champs. “I do not doubt that Socks has the makings to become one of the greats of international athletics. He has the hunger and is a quick learner. To top it all, he has ‘big match temperament.’ For him, it is a case of when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

IMAGES: Reg Caldecott

With a streak of race wins in trail running events, Cana Peek is making a name for herself in the sport, on top of already being a Dusi Canoe Marathon winner. As she explains, the two sports really do go together well. – BY SEAN FALCONER

The FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon covers just over 120km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal each February, and some people joke that it is actually a running event with a bit of paddling thrown in. That’s because some rapids or weirs are too risky to shoot in the boats, or long loops can be cut out with an over-hill portage, so paddlers do at least 20km of running during the three-day event, with their boats on their shoulders.

It goes without saying that being a strong runner really helps, and that’s why 20-year-old Cana Peek has excelled in the Dusi. “I think running is a huge aspect of the race, especially for me. I don’t think I have a natural build for canoeing, because you need a lot of power and strength to push through the water, especially on the flat water and sprint sections. But being so light does benefit me in rocky waters, and more importantly, it means less muscle mass to carry when out of boat,” she says.

Paddling Prowess
Cana began paddling while attending Epworth High School in Pietermaritzburg, just a few kays from the Dusi starting point, and says it all started thanks to the annual Adventure the school offers. “One was to paddle around Mauritius, so I had to be fit enough to be chosen to go. I soon found that I was getting better at paddling, so I started doing races, and I also enjoyed the outdoor element far more than being on a hockey field or the squash court.”

That led to her doing her first Dusi in 2014, at the age of just 15. That year it was the K2 two-seater race, so she paddled with a schoolmate and they finished first in the under-18 girls’ category and seventh female team overall. The following year was a K1 race and Cana surprised everybody, herself included, by finishing second overall. In 2016 she partnered with Kyeta Purchase and they once again won the under-18 category as they finished third overall.

After skipping the 2017 race while taking a break from paddling, to begin her B.A. Sports Science degree at Stellenbosch University, Cana returned this year to partner her older sister Jordan (24), who was also studying at Maties, and they dominated the race from start to finish. “This was the first time we paddled the Dusi together, and just to go through all that experience, the training and the race, with my best friend and my role model was awesome. With a sister you can be absolutely blunt and honest, you shout at each other and you have to be tough, but the whole time there is banter and we keep each other entertained on the water.”

Running Talent
At the same time as getting into paddling, Cana also discovered a talent and love for running. “I did athletics from grade eight to grade 10, running the 1500m and 3000m and earning provincial colours, but I found the training on the track got a bit boring. I preferred running cross country, and in high school I ran every single race for Epworth in the inter-school league from grade eight to grade 12, and won every race. I was awarded school colours and became the school cross country captain.”

Now Cana has taken to trail running in a big way. At the time of writing, she had competed in nine trail races in 2018, and won them all, including the 24km event at the Jonkershoek Mountain Challenge in Stellenbosch and the first race of the Cape Winter Trail Series. “At both races, I was behind at the start, but passed the leading women on the technical downhills. I seem to be able to go faster there,” she says. “Everywhere I travel, I try to do trail runs, because it’s a great way to get out and see places, but I am trying to be smart with races. I would race every weekend if I could, but I know that’s not healthy – and I want to see how far I can go in the sport.”

Looking ahead, Cana says her preference now definitely lies in running rather than paddling. “During school I couldn’t choose a favourite, but now I really do prefer my running. Canoeing in the Western Cape is not as supported as back home in KZN, whereas trail running here is much bigger, with a great vibe and social aspect. Also, it’s a lot easier to pick up your shoes and hop out on to the mountain, versus taking your boat and equipment to a dam!”

Images: Mark Sampson, Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media

Three years ago well known back-of-pack runner Keith Solomon lost his great running friend Malcolm Marks, and every step he runs these days is in memory of their incredible friendship. – BY PJ MOSES

Every runner soon finds people who share their passion for running when they get into this sport, but the really fortunate ones make actual friends who become more than just ‘sole mates’ on the roads or trails. That is why from the moment Keith Solomon met his late friend Malcolm Marks at a race, they were inseparable. “We used to call each other ‘Munchie’ and always had a lot of fun during races,” says Keith. “Malcolm would do silly things like try and hide behind a lamp pole or come up with funny definitions for road signs along the route.”

There was no distance that the duo would not take on, and their encouragement of one another helped during the tougher sections of ultra or multi-day races. “We always supported each other in our running. Sometimes Malcolm would do more mileage than me and at other times I would do more than him, but there was never any envy or competition or anything like that.”

Taken Too Soon
Sadly, their long running partnership was broken when Malcolm suddenly passed away in 2015, a week after what would be their final run together. “I couldn’t believe it. We were still planning what adventures we were going to try after his retirement, which wasn’t far off. He was looking forward to travelling overseas for running, especially to run on the Great Wall of China.”

At first Keith found it hard to return to running following Malcolm’s passing, but eventually he decided to continue, because that is what his friend would have wanted. And every step would be in memory of their friendship. At the multi-day circuit races that both loved so much, Keith stuck to their agreed total of 50km per day, even though he could do more. “I didn’t want to do any more than what we used to do together, and I would usually finish my total distance with a day to spare.”

“I finally broke this mourning period of the past three years at a recent six-day race in Germiston, when I did an extra 50km to finish with a total of 350km. After that last lap, I looked up and said, ‘Munchie, this one was for you!’ Now I want to organise a multi-day race in Cape Town, as a way of remembering Malcolm. I know that he would look down on us with a smile and shake his head saying: ‘Look at these moegoes!’ That will be a really special race for me.”

Mind Over Matter
Keith has always been active, playing soccer and hockey, and venturing into cycling – he is a nine-time Cape Town Cycle Tour finisher – before the running bug bit in 1998. He originally joined Atlantic AC, then ran for Hewat AC, Pinelands AC and Central AC before ultimately returning to Pinelands. In that time, he has attempted Two Oceans and Comrades many times, successfully finishing Oceans once and Comrades twice, but he prefers the challenges of the circuit races. “There is so much opportunity to test yourself and the mental side of the races are very tough. To get up every day and do a marathon or more is not easy on your body or your mind.”

He averages about two races a week and will do anything from 10km up to whatever distance is on offer, but he has had to be a bit more careful in recent times after developing a condition known as Athletic Heart Syndrome (AHS), or ‘Athlete’s Heart.’ This means the heart is enlarged, and the resting heart rate is lower than normal. “I only discovered this after fainting during a run at Rondebosch Common. The doctors struggled to find what caused me to faint, but after many inconclusive tests, they asked me what I do to keep busy and I said I’m a runner. Then they smiled and said, ‘Ah, you have Athlete’s Heart!’ At first, I thought they were taking the Mickey out of me, until I Googled it and found that it is a real thing.”

Keith says he prefers simplicity to complications in his life and in his running. “I don’t have a special diet and I don’t use supplements. My shoes are neutral, with a minimal sole. When I run now, I don’t overexert, I just run at an even and slow pace from start to finish. I only have two speeds: Slow and stop! Yes, I run a lot, but I don’t believe in punishing myself, because running is about the joy, not the pain. That’s why I always tell people to check the fine print on the entry form, because I am sure it states that the bailer’s bus is included in the entry fee. I make use of the bus when I feel like it, to relax and get full value for my money! And when people ask me what training programme I follow, I just say I run every weekend and rest in between. Simplicity.”

Images: Ashraf Mallick, Gerhard Fourie, Kanakana Mushanganyisi, Keith Linderoth & Moegsien Ebrahim

The old saying “Dynamite comes in small packages” could have been written for Shafeeqah Gordon, a Cape Town trail runner with the heart of a warrior and the motivation to prove that you are not policed by your circumstances, but freed from it by your self-belief. – BY PJ MOSES

Petite 24-year-old trail runner and Salomon brand ambassador Shafeeqah Gordon from Westridge in Mitchell’s Plain is understandably proud of her achievements in trail running thus far, given where she comes from. “There is a perception that girls from the Cape Flats are only here to fall pregnant or use drugs, but I am proof that there is a lot more to us as people than just doing that. Knowing where I am from drives me to where I want to be.”

A late starter to the sport of running, this former netball player fell head over heels in love with the amazing highs that trail running brings her when she is out in nature, and she also likes the discipline it takes to become good at it. The University of the Western Cape graduate, with a BA in Sport Science, says that going out there to explore her favourite rock, Table Mountain, is something that she never gets tired of. “The view of the city from the top of the mountain is just so spectacular and it blows my mind every time I see it.”

Overcoming Obstacles
Shafeeqah admits she didn’t have a clue as to what she was doing when she took up trail running. “My big mistake when I started was that I didn’t train properly. I would just run as many events as I could, with no training in between, and this led to me suffering from runner’s knee and having a frustrating time. So, I decided to change this and get a proper training programme, after which my form and my times improved in leaps and bounds.”

An even bigger obstacle was overcoming the pressure of having a fulltime job while also studying and training, as well as the fact that running is not a norm in her community, but she says the love and support from her family and friends, especially the ones in the Cape Town trail community, help her to keep pushing forward. “My parents don’t always understand this trail life, but they support me, and I think they are just happy that I am keeping myself busy with the right things, and not off being irresponsible. There were no guidelines to becoming a trail runner for a young Muslim woman from Mitchell’s Plain. But just like there was no one else in my immediate family in whose footsteps to follow on getting my degree, I don’t mind finding my own way. I am always a Muslim first and a trail runner second.”

Highs and Lows
This trail journey has not been without its low points, though. There have been recent races, like the UTCT 35km and the UTD 30km, where the doubts overcame Shafeeqah, and she says the tears flowed freely. “You question yourself in those moments, and ask whether all the effort and sacrifices are worth it, but what helps me is that I look back to where I started, from scratch, with nobody seeing the dream but me. That helps me get over all the fears, and to finish these races, knowing that I am stronger than I was before, and that I will get where I want to be.”

Her commitment coupled with the guidance she got from top trail runner Meg Mackenzie throughout last year saw her take fifth place at the Helderberg Mountain Challenge last May. “I am inspired by the women in trail who have gone before me, and I want to learn as much as I can from them. This year, my focus has shifted to running longer distances and more technical terrain, and I have Linda Doke to coach me. My goal is to work hard in reaching my potential as a trail runner, and I’m doing my first international race this October, the Salomon Cappadocia Ultra Trail in Turkey, where I’ll run the 38km.” Her family and best friend Jadè are going along to give her moral support, and she says, “I’ve always wanted to run overseas, and it’s going to be extra special having my loved ones there and sharing it with them.”

Apart from the strong women in trail she looks up to, Shafeeqah also takes inspiration from books, like the Ryan Sandes book, Trail Blazer. “I love to learn, and this is just another way of learning to overcome the obstacles that life throws at you. There are always doubts when you set out into uncharted territory, but I back myself to get to that higher level. I have learnt not to stress about things that make you unhappy, but to change them. For any of us to succeed in life, we need to take responsibility to make ourselves happy first. And my trail life makes me happy.”