Category: Features

The SA team headed to Russia with several athletes considered
medal contenders, such as Lehann Fourie in the men’s 110m hurdles, Khotso
Mokoena in the men’s long jump and Sunette Viljoen in the women’s javelin,
amongst others. While Lehann unfortunately had to withdraw due to injury, the
SA team still had six athletes qualifying for their finals after preliminary
qualifying rounds, with another seven athletes automatically appearing in final
rounds. That saw Victor Hogan end fifth in the men’s discus, Sunette claim sixth
in the javelin, and Khotso finish seventh in the long jump, while Willem
Coertzen set a new SA and African record in the men’s decathlon as he took
ninth position, and Elroy Gelant was 12^th in the men’s 5000m. But it
was Johan Cronje and sprinter Anaso Jobodwana that stole the show.

TOP PERFORMERS

In the men’s 1500m final, Johan looked to have gotten
his race tactics wrong, as he was tightly boxed in for much of the race. With
just 250m to go and the pack winding up the pace, the SA record holder was
still down in eighth position and looking out of contention, but then things
opened up for him at just the right time and he surged up the inside lane to
claim a podium position in 3:36.83, the first ever by a South African in the
1500m at the World Champs. “I believed in myself, but I wouldn’t have
put money on myself,” says Johan. “I had a terrible tactical race – I couldn’t
go fast as everyone was on my right, and it was only the last 60 metres I had
to go past, as that’s when it opened up on the inside.”

In the sprints, Jamaican Usain Bolt further cemented
his status as the greatest of all time, but all of SA’s eyes were on Anaso
Jobodwana in the 200m final. In July he won the 100/200 ‘double’ at the World
Student Games in Russia, and after making the semi-final round in the World
Champs 100m, he then clocked 20.14 in the 200m final to finish sixth, improving
on his eighth position the 2012 London Olympics. “I was happy about how I ran in Moscow – I didn’t
lag this time, like I did in London – but when I got to the straight I tried to
kick and I started to tire up,” says Anaso. “The up is that I ran three
consistent races of a high standard and I made it to the final, but I didn’t
run a personal best and I didn’t medal. That disappointment will help me going
into next season, and I’m going to be ready for next season!”

HUNTING MEDALS

Over the past five years, South Africa’s performance
at World Champs and Olympics has fluctuated somewhat. With the team having
returned from the 2007 World Champs in Osaka, Japan with no medals, an
immediate improvement came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics thanks to a silver
medal won by Khotso Mokoena in the long jump. Then at the 2009 World Champs in
Berlin, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and Caster Semenya both won gold in the 800m races, while
Khotso claimed another long jump silver. In 2011 the twin highlights of the
World Champs in Daegu, South Korea were the silver medals won by Caster in the
800m and the men’s 4x400m relay team, while LJ Van Zyl took
bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles and Sunette Viljoen also won bronze in the
women’s javelin.

Then
at the 2012 London Games, Caster’s silver in the women’s 800m was undoubtedly
the highlight of the Games, while Sunette narrowly missed a medal with fourth
in the javelin and Khotso once again made the long jump final, but a big
talking point was youngsters Anaso Jobodwana making the final of the 200m, Lehann
Fourie running in the final of the 110m hurdles, and Marc Mundell setting an
African Record in the men’s 50km walk. Meanwhile, Willem Coertzen finished a
solid ninth in the decathlon. Thus South Africa went to Moscow hoping to build
on the success of London, and while a single bronze medal may look like a poor
return, the number of athletes in finals is still something to brag about!

WALKING
WONDER

Race
walker Marc Mundell was in action in the 50km walk in Moscow, hoping to build
on his terrific SA record performance in the London Olympics, and he was
ecstatic about finishing 31^st in 3:57:55. “This was my first 50km race since London, my second-best ever time, and
one position better than London, so I am delighted. The conditions in Moscow
were challenging – the weather was all over the place, with rain, sunshine and
humidity – so I think I paced myself really well and I was on PB pace until
35km.”

“I made a tactical call at 36km to chase my PB, but
I think I underestimated the conditions and overestimated my conditioning. I
made it to 40km and then the wheels fell off. I struggled through until 45km
and gradually picked myself up for the final 5km, where I caught several
positions. I think that my recovery from surgery has gone well, but the five months
of training that I lost affected my conditioning and the base just wasn’t there
in the final 10km, which was my strength in London.”

Running
an ultra-marathon is already a big undertaking for the average athlete, but
running an ultra twice in a row, back-to-back without stopping, is a whole
different ballgame. And yet, it has been done at the Old Mutual Two Oceans
Marathon (56km), at Comrades (89km) and even as the 160km Tuffer Puffer in the
Puffer 80km trail run on the Cape
Peninsula. But up until
this year nobody had ever tried it at the Washie 100 Miler between Port Alfred
and East London, one of the toughest events on
the SA race calendar.

Incredibly,
three runners took on the Double Washie 320km challenge, and while Eric Wright
and Tobie Reyneke didn’t quite make it all the way through their ‘second lap,’
Hazel Moller did make it home to rewrite the history books. While Eric was forced
to bail 44km into the second leg, Tobie made it all the way to 293km – just
27km short of his goal – when he decided to call it a day. Although
disappointed, he was still pleased to have raised R36 000 in sponsorship for
Stop Rhino Poaching, a charitable organisation that sponsors tracker dogs for
anti-poaching units in game reserves.

“I
have always been concerned with the issue of rhino poaching, and so far they
have deployed 22 rhino dogs across SA,” explains Tobie. “Some people say ‘Oh,
but the dinosaurs died out eventually, so why do you care about the rhinos?’ I
say we should protect all the beauty around us. Today it’s rhinos; next year we
could do something different. Starting with charity, however small, can make a
difference.”

WASHIE GOAL

Tobie
got into running five years ago when he entered the Lantern Race 5km in Pretoria with his wife
Elaine. The running bug had bitten and he progressed up through the distances, until
later, flipping through Tom Cottrell’s Nedbank
Runner’s Guide to Races in South Africa, the Washie caught his eye.
However, his first attempt in 2011 didn’t quite go to plan: Tobie got lost in
the opening 14km loop around Port Alfred and eventually came home last to be
awarded the infamous Washie Tortoise Trophy.

Feeling
a bit disillusioned, he was convinced to come back and try run Washie ‘the
right way’ by Eric Wright, a seasoned Washie specialist with 24 consecutive
Washie finishes, but in 2012 Tobie’s plans once again went off course. “I had
an operation on my eye about six weeks before Comrades and I walked Comrades
still recovering from my op.” With his vision limited to a “mostly yellow
blur,” Tobie only just finished Comrades in 11:58:29 and didn’t even consider
doing Washie, which was just eight weeks later. However, in the months that
followed, his biggest wish was to go back to Washie, and this time he wanted to
do it with a double challenge.

TEAM DYNAMICS

With
Elaine and his fairly newbie seconding team of Morne Nel, Jacques Vlaming,
Jacques Burger and Gerhard and Hettie Fourie in tow, Tobie says the first 160km
went smoothly enough, but the second lap proved much more challenging as the
team struggled with the heat and running out of patience. “My seconds were exhausted
after the first leg, so here and there we had 15-minute naps – but I slept with
the car keys in case my wife had any idea of leaving!” Then with about 45km to
go, Tobie says his wife put her foot down. “I got my first ultimatum from Elaine,
who needed to catch a plane back to work on Monday morning. I was to be on that
plane or face her wrath!”

And
so, with the pace getting ever slower, Tobie decided to call it a day with 27km
to go. “I could’ve gone on for my ego, but I didn’t want to risk it. I was
grumpy, but figured there’s always next year,” he explains. “More training will
be in order, as well as more sleep in the weeks before, but for now the fundraising
will continue and we’ll see what we’re capable of in 2014. Washie is all about
going beyond your limits. Plus, Eric and I will have to kick Hazel’s butt this
time!”

To
support Tobie’s running, contact him on 083 968 5088, or go to www.stoprhinopoaching.com
to find out more about the anti-poaching organisation and what you can do to
get involved.

Welsh Wonders

4^th IAU
World Trail Running Championships (77km), Llanrwst, Wales, 6 July

More than 150
runners from 20 countries took on a course of five 15km laps set in the Gwydyr
Forest. Soaring UK temperatures and extreme conditions saw a high drop-out rate
amongst runners, but the SA team was one of the few with a full complement to
complete the race. The team did South Africa proud by claiming an overall seventh
position out of 18 countries.

“It was a great day for us, and we all fought our
battles in one way or another. We had amazing support along the route – our
team manager Altus Schreuder with Marcus Nienaber stationed at the 9km table; my
brother Graham and sister-in-law Marie, along with Marinda Cloete, manning the
table at the start/end of each lap; and Tracy’s mum Pauline and friend Christa
on the course, cheering us on. The vibe was fantastic and the energy amongst
the team extremely positive. South African trail running was represented in
full force, and on every count we held our heads high and did our country
proud.” – Linda Doke

“What an experience
to compete against such phenomenal athletes, and I can honestly say I gave it
all I had. Very proud of team SA, we were one of the few who had a 100% finish
rate, even though we had our share of injuries or stomachs running faster than
the athlete, and I even took a hard tumble at 60km. Many people simply gave up.
Not the Saffas! We were gonna finish and we all did. Absolutely great support
team of Altus Schreuder, Markus (Chantel’s husband), Marinda Cloete and Linda
Doke’s family.” – Dirk Cloete

“The course was quite
demanding, with two big climbs right at the beginning of each lap as well as
some technical muddy sections and log jumps which became quite unwanted
obstacles on the fourth and fifth laps!

In a pre-race interview, I
said that I wanted to be in the top 10, so it felt amazing not only to be the
top SA woman, but to also achieve that goal. Now to get onto that podium next
time! And it was such a unique, blessed experience and privilege to share my dream
of representing my country with my life partner!” – Landie Greyling

“I am 32^nd
in the world and Landie 9^th. Well done to my wife! Thanks for the
support SA… We raced our hearts out for Sunny SA!” – Christiaan Greyling

“I think that
most SA athletes aspire to being able to step up to the starter’s line in the
green and gold to represent their country. I felt honoured to be able to do
just that. As Altus said, ‘It comes down to National pride.’ At the seconding
station, my husband saw grown men cry, with athletes withdrawing due to various
ailments and injuries. I am thrilled that all of our team managed to ‘vasbyt,’
no matter what was thrown at them. We went out as true ambassadors for our
country; bringing back invaluable experience of racing on International soil.” – Chantel Nienaber

Polish Pride

10^th World
Long Distance Mountain Running Championships (41km), Szklarska Poreba, Poland,
3 August

A really tough course,
with a start reached by ski-lifts, was made more difficult by temperatures of
up to 35?C, but once again the SA contingent pushed through to the finish
regardless – Kane Reilly and Katya Soggot in particular had a proverbial bad
day at the office, but were able to help each other home in the end. On the up
side, our women’s team came 7th and the men 10^th, a
great result for SA.

Thank you, Altus
Schreuder, all team members, and all our supporters there on the day. I am so
delighted all our team members managed to hit the finish line, which is the
most important thing. Being 20th at my first Long Distance World Champs is really a big
achievement to me, and I’ve learnt a lot today, so now my coach and I will go
back to our drawing board and prepare for next year’s race. Viva, Team SA,
Viva! – Thabang Madiba

World champs done! Amazing
race, really happy with how it went. But gee, these Europeans can run, and they
have MOUNTAINS! Not like the little mole hills back home. The whole team did
really well and made SA proud. Thanks for all the support from everyone at
home. We really appreciate it! – Ronel
Nattrass

Terrible day for me
in the mountains. Really struggled to get to the finish line, heartbroken at
how things didn’t work for me, but the Saffa’s definitely made waves up here!
Thanks everyone for all the kind words – really helped me rise above a very
disappointing day. Still learnt a lot and made some new friends. Experience,
experience, experience! – Kane Reilly

Tough day in the
mountains of Poland. My first ride on a ski-lift, then 22km of running on the
route in over 30-degree heat to get water bottles to athletes and help
everybody get home. What an unbelievable privilege and brilliant experience. – Altus Schreuder, Team Manager

I was 10th at 13km, but the heat and altitude started
taking its toll and I had to really dig deep. The water at the water tables was
quite warm, but we crossed two small streams and the water there was ice, ice
cold. It was like an oasis – unbelievably refreshing! Eventually getting to the
last waterpoint, Altus was standing there encouraging us on. It was so awesome
to hear a familiar voice! Stoked with my result and
overall team effort today, considering the conditions! Hope to make it to World
Champs next year in the USA. –
Michael Bailey

It all started at the beginning of 2011, when I
relocated from Richards Bay to start a new and challenging career in Johannesburg. I soon found
it very lonely, despite being in such a big city, and after months of pouring
myself into my work, I realised that the city had become too much for me and
that my work had become my closest friend. So I moved to the outskirts of
Delmas, close enough to commute to Johannesburg
but far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was here where I
could get on a bicycle and ride for hours through the mealie fields and dirt
roads, reminding me of my childhood and just how much I missed being so free.

COMRADES RUNNER IN THE MAKING

A friend of mine from Pietermaritzburg needed help
with the handing out of medals at the finish line of Comrades 2012, and it was
the first time ever that I attended such a huge running event. After the last competitor finished, I set my
sights on running Comrades 2013. I also wanted to be an athlete, a competitor, and
a part of something good and beautiful, though I weighed 127kg at that stage!

But as the winter of 2012 arrived my excitement for
Comrades had disappeared. That which I desired so much had disappeared along
with the summer sun. Luckily for me, Juan Van Dyk, a friend I met on Facebook,
and his wonderful wife, Pierretta, invited me to participate in numerous winter
trail events and it was in the freezing cold bushveld where I rediscovered my
love for running.

Juan and Pierretta became more like family and I let
my good friends know that my biggest dream was to run Comrades. Shortly
afterwards, I received an e-mail from Juan with a training programme attached and
I suddenly realised that true friendship was the belief in the abilities of our
friends. I started losing weight and getting fit. It was not always easy, but I
was focused on the end result.

Kilometre after kilometre of travelling to races,
early mornings and late nights kept me on track. My running partner truly stood
by me, advised me, taught me and believed in me, and made me the runner I am
today. There were good days and there were bad days, but it was only one more
piece of the puzzle in gaining the experience I desperately needed to complete The
Ultimate Human Race. And so, on 2 June this year, I achieved my dream and
completed Comrades in a time of 10:33.

GIVING BACK

I want to give back that which I had received in the
past 11 months, and therefore today I run for Sudan
for Jesus (S4J), an organisation that helps to collect money for Sudan. Our
entire club also runs for ex-Springbok Joost Van der Westhuizen, and his J9
Foundation. We are trying to raise funds for the foundation and make athletes
aware of the illness Joost is battling with.

I have learnt many lessons along the way:

?        
Never say never again.

?        
Cherish and love the
people in your life who are there to help you.

?        
If you are not
capable of doing something, assist those who are.

?        
Give back as much as
possible.

?        
Remember: People are
in your life for a reason, or a season – or for always.

Don’t worry! Peanut butter offers a nutrient-rich
addition to all snacks, meals and desserts. In this day and age of energy bars,
protein powders and other quick fixes, many athletes forget about real foods
such as peanut butter. It’s tasty, inexpensive, satisfying and nourishing!

The rule is to consume an average of two tablespoons
of peanut butter if you want to stay on the healthy end of the peanut butter
consumption scale. That will supply you with an average of 9g of protein. This
is why peanut butter on wholegrain toast, for example, makes for a great
breakfast or pre-workout snack. You can also incorporate two tablespoons in a
smoothie with ice, low-fat milk, a banana and a dollop of honey.

HEALTHY FATS

Peanut butter contains both good unsaturated fats and
bad saturated fats. Fortunately, the majority of fat in peanut butter is
unsaturated. The recommended two tablespoons of peanut butter provides about
190 calories in total, of which 140 is considered to be fat calories, or about
16g of total fat. Of these 16g of fat, about 13g are from unsaturated fats and
3g are from saturated fats. This means that it is actually a great source of
healthy fats. A healthy body needs a good supply of healthy fats consumed in
moderation, and like olive oil and avocado, peanut butter is a good source.

A two-tablespoon serving of peanut butter will also
supply you with 3g of fibre. The fibre in food contributes to a feeling of
fullness that can help with maintaining a healthy body weight, and also
promotes regular bowel movements by maintaining a healthy gut environment. By
enjoying peanut butter on one slice of wholegrain bread, you can contribute 6g
to 8g of fibre towards the recommended target of 20g to 35g per day.

CHOOSING RIGHT

?        
All natural (organic)
peanut butter is a good choice if you want to minimise your intake of unhealthy
fats and preservatives. Organic peanut butter usually has peanuts as the main
ingredient, while others (non-organic) can sometimes contain other artificial
ingredients to enhance the taste.

?        
The sugar content on
the peanut butter should be one of the decisive factors. Commercial peanut
butter brands can sometimes contain a lot of added sugar to enhance flavour.

?        
Look out for the
sodium content on the ingredients list. Again, natural brands usually have less
sodium, and too much sodium can also mask the nutty flavour.

So, don’t be shy to use the power of peanut butter! It’s
one of the easiest ingredients you can use and it can definitely give you a
little push just before a run. Just make sure you stick to the two tablespoon ‘rule’
and your body will benefit.

On the 12^th
of October, Nicole Driver of Pretoria will line up for her biggest triathlon
event yet, the Ironman World Champs in Kona, Hawaii. Only a select few athletes
from all around the world qualify for this event through their local Ironman,
and Nicole secured her entry earlier this year when she finished second in the
women’s age category 25-29 at Ironman SA in Nelson Mandela Bay, clocking a time
of 10:58:11.

Unsurprisingly,
she describes this podium finish as the highlight of her triathlon career thus
far, and now she is aiming for a top 10 finish in her age category in Kona, but
regardless of results, she says she will just be thankful to be participating. “My
best friend was involved in a terrible accident last year in October and broke
her neck, which unfortunately resulted in her being left a quadriplegic. The
accident really made me realise how blessed I am, and that you should live
every day to its fullest. I think of her during each and every training session
and race,” says Nicole.

TRI TIME MANAGEMENT

Nicole has
a demanding full-time job as a brand manager for Bosch, Siemens and Gaggenau,
which does make training for the Ironman harder, but she says the people around
her make it possible. “My work colleagues are really great supporters, as most
of them are athletes, so we all have a common interest and understand the
dedication needed to be a successful athlete,” she says. “You need to sacrifice
a lot of time and accept that it takes a lot of hard work.”

This
dedication sees her up every morning of the week at 4:45am for a bike session,
and at the end of a working day she either has a swimming or running session – and
she makes sure she is bed no later than 9pm. “I get to bed early and follow a
very healthy diet and lifestyle,” says Nicole. “The hardest part about
triathlon is the training and time, especially training for Ironman distances.
It is tough on your body and mind, but at the end of the day, I do the sport
because I love it. I know when I cross the finish line in Kona, all the
training, dedication and sacrifice will be worth it.”

COMPETITIVE NATURE

Nicole’s
sporting career started early, at the age of three, when she took part in horse
riding and went on to represent South Africa in show jumping in her junior
years. The competitive bug had bitten deep and she competed in most sports
offered at her school, including athletics, hockey, netball, swimming, biathlon
and triathlon (as part of a team). However, it was only in 2010 that she took on
her first individual triathlon, over the sprint distance, and she took 15^th
position in the women’s race. Not bad at all for her first effort.

Since
then, Nicole has enjoyed brilliant results. After winning her age category at
the Bela Bela 5150 in 2011, she had a great year in 2012, finishing third in
her category at the 11Global Tri at Sun City and fifth at Ironman 70.3, then
being selected to represent South Africa at the ITU World Champs in Spain and
coming home sixth in her category. This year she started off with a fifth place
in her category at Ironman 70.3, but what topped it all was getting that second
place at the full Ironman. Now her sights are firmly set on that top 10 in
Kona.

In
2009, one of Debbie’s running friends challenged her to do Ironman South
Africa, after he had done it, and she knew that she couldn’t let the challenge
slide. So in 2010 she lined up in Nelson Mandela Bay and came home with a 12:56 finish… and a newfound passion
as well. “In December 2009 I entered and I gave myself four months to
train. My speciality then was
cycling, but I had only ever run two half marathons. As for swimming, I’m not a
sea person,” she says. “My
first marathon was actually at Ironman 2010 and I realised from there that
running was something I loved doing – hence all the ultras I’ve done since
then! There’s just something about running that is more challenging than
cycling. My friends think I’m crazy but I get into a bubble when I run – nobody
can get in and I feel so refreshed afterwards.”

Now
with the Sunninghill Striders Running Club from Johannesburg, Debbie will be doing
her first Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in March and then will be going for a second
consecutive sub-9:00 Comrades Marathon finish in June. She ran 9:26:51 in her
first Big C in 2011, and then followed that up with an 8:39:19 last year –
clearly a very talented runner on road, but it is on the trails that she really
shines. She grabbed a second placing in the last year’s 70km Umgeni River Run,
finishing in 9:25:35, as well as third place in the 2012 Salomon Skyrun with a
time of 25 hours and 26 minutes. The Puffer is another event on her must-do
list each year.

SUB-HEADER HERE

Debbie
has a helter-skelter routine, balancing her work as a sales rep for Roxy and DC
Clothing with a strict training programme on top of the figure skating coaching
and spinning classes she leads. But for this talented and dedicated runner, “no
time to workout” is a bad excuse. “You have 24 hours in your day – you can definitely
find the time,” she says. “I have often used that excuse, because it’s an easy
way out, but you can make a choice to train!”

She
dedicates two days a week for an hour-and-a-half run, while weekends are set
out for longer runs, and her training programme also includes spinning four
hours a week as well as fitting in a gym programme compiled by Jeppe’s Mike
Kirby, focused on leg, core and upper body strength. “Mike’s programme is tough,
but he gets you mentally prepared for a race, helping you focus on your goal
and supporting you all the way.” She also makes sure that her diet will give
her the nutrients and ‘oomph’ to get her through her week, “It plays an
important role, because your body gets no energy if you don’t eat right,” she
says, adding that she always sticks to her ‘everything in moderation’ tip, “but
it’s hard, because I love food!”

RUNNING AND GLIDING

Debbie
has been figure skating since she was six years old and has coached the sport
for the past 13 years. Just like her
running bubble, she says she skates to feel free, and to express herself and
her emotions. She has always lived an active lifestyle, but says her
running has really paid off out on the ice, and the two actually compliment
each other. “Skating has given me the base of my
leg and my core strength, including giving me that competitive outlook to the
sport. In turn, running is improving my leg strength and I have found my
skating is a lot stronger than before I ran!”

She
also agrees that balance on the ice helps her when she is out on the trails,
which is the type of running she most enjoys. “It’s definitely more interesting
when you have to run and jump through streams and over rocks. It challenges you
a little bit more and fellow runners hurry to help you out,” she says. “I think
trail running is more sociable than road running at times.” That said, Debbie
doesn’t hang around to socialise when she is in racing mode, as can be seen from
her fantastic results. “Another really great thing about my running is that I
have my parents supporting me at many of the races. They’ll make an effort to
be there to watch me run, and that support goes a long way.”

Leon Baker did not think much of the medical tests he had to undergo for
a life insurance policy. In fact, the day he did the test started out like all
the other days: No exercise, eating another greasy take-out and lounging in
front of the TV. But then came the call that changed his life: His broker
informed him there would be a loading on his insurance policy as his
cholesterol was too high and he carried too much weight. Leon was shocked.

“It was not the extra money that bothered me, it was the fact that
somebody else thought my health was so bad that they had to charge me extra for
a policy. I was 33 at the time and saw the loading as completely ridiculous. I
saw red and asked for the test to be redone in three months. My broker laughed,
but agreed.” That very night Leon was out the door and started walking around
the block. “My first walk was 3.6km and every day I kept on walking. Gradually
it got a bit easier and I got a bit quicker. I was worried about my weight, but
that wasn’t the key factor… I was more worried about my health.”

HEAVY,
HEAVIER, HEAVIEST

At his heaviest in 2003, Leon weighed 97kg. Before that he was fairly
active at school and varsity and dabbled in alternative sports such as martial
arts and underwater hockey. “I was never fat, but it always looked like I could
lose a kilo or two.” However, Leon’s weight spiralled out of control when he
started working, because he was a young father trying to support his family and
also still studying. This meant the little sport he was doing was the first
thing that went out the door. “I ate a lot while sitting in front of the TV!”

Leon was uncomfortable and did not sleep well. He had bad indigestion
and felt miserable, but never to the point where he wanted to change his
lifestyle. “Once I got on a bike and cycled 3km. It took me a week to recover
and I thought I am definitely not doing that again!”

THEN CAME
CHANGE

After the call from his broker, Leon started improving his diet by
making very simple changes, such as cutting out all junk food, reducing
carbohydrates and even buying smaller dinner plates to eat off. He lost about
10kg in two months, but that was too much, too soon, and his immune system
crashed, resulting in him suffering from flu and colds quite often. “That was a
difficult time, and the closest I came to giving up on the whole thing. I could
not understand how I could live a healthy life, but suddenly get sick.”
Fortunately this passed and by the end of 2004, Leon was back running again.

And then the bug bit. In April 2005 he finished his first 10km race in
57:13. “I was finished, but all I could think about was doing it faster the
next time around.” Leon had discovered his competitive side and participated in
more 10km races, always trying to run faster. “I was inexperienced and believed
every run had to be faster. This eventually led to injury.” To compensate, Leon
started swimming and cycling, which eventually saw him taking part in his first
sprint triathlon as well. As his injury cleared, he moved up to half marathons,
a distance he immediately fell in love with. He joined Breakthru Midrand
Striders and soon entered the 2008 Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, finishing in a
respectable 5:10. At the same time, Leon’s 21km times started coming down to an
impressive sub-1:30 and by 2010 his weight was down to 77kg.

Leon says that peer pressure from club mates led to his first Comrades
in 2009, but he crossed the line in 8:48. “The most amazing part was running
down Fields Hill with about 20km to go and realising that I was going to make
it. Up to that point I did not believe it.” His running has since improved still
more and he includes gym work, core strength, time trials, speed intervals and
long runs in his programme. These days he is even a regular podium finisher in
his age category, and has now run four consecutive Comrades, clocking 8:19 (2010),
8:23 (2011) and a very impressive silver medal time of 7:25 last year.

FUTURE GOALS

Leon’s main aim this year is to break seven hours at Comrades and get
his 10km down to sub-35 minutes, his 21km time under 80, and his marathon time
to sub-2:50. He believes he is not a naturally fast runner, but that his good
lung capacity from years of underwater hockey contributes to his success. He also
believes that running is a journey you need to discover yourself. “When
non-sportspeople see how exhausted runners are, they feel sorry for us, but
they don’t realise how alive running makes us feel.”

Leon’s family is involved in sport and both his kids, Jennifer (17) and
Dylan (13) run. In fact, Jennifer was the second junior home at the recent
Dis-Chem Half Marathon. “When your children are involved with you in sport, the
whole family is more connected,” says Leon, who now weighs a healthy 67kg, a
whopping 30kg less than at his heaviest. Though he makes sure he eats healthily,
he is not fanatical about it. “I do have pizza or chocolate from time to time,
but definitely limit my intake. The best way to think of food is as fuel. Then
you see it differently.”

Leon’s biggest goal now is to see how fast he can go. “I have exceeded
all expectations I had of myself, or that anyone else had of me. Every time I
go faster, I get more motivated. I will never go back to the fat guy in the
pictures. That is not me. When I don’t exercise, I can feel my quality of life
dropping. I believe potential is limitless, and as long as I can hold on to
that idea, I can’t see any reason I should get slower. I am going to run the
rest of my life.”

THEY SAID…

“Leon is an inspiration to many and has
achieved his goals through dedication and hard training. His enthusiasm for
running is contagious. The harder he trains, the more he enjoys the sport, and
this love of running is what motivates those around him and draws fellow club
members to persevere. I am one of many runners who has benefited from Leon’s
commitment to the sport and I am truly thankful to him for all of his time,
advice and motivation.” – Caroline
Wostmann, former Breakthru Midrand Striders member, friend and training
partner, now part of the Nedbank Dream team.

“When I met Leon about five years ago at
a race in Pretoria, he was rather ‘porky’ and I easily beat him. Over the past
few years, he has caught up with me and passed me! He has achieved so much and
is an inspiration to me. He has shown me what is possible with focus and
dedication. Thanks, Leon, for your passion and your friendship. I hope you
continue to achieve the ambitious goals you set for yourself!”- Duane Newman, chairman of Breakthru Midrand
Striders and friend of Leon.

LEON’S PBs

10km             36:11

15km             57:29

21km             1:21:21

42km             2:58:28

56km             4:36

Comrades      7:25

Growing up on a farm in Warmbaths, Wian was always
outdoors, but after suffering from asthma at a young age, the doctors
recommended a simple solution to better his breathing: Get into the pool. “I
started swimming and my coach saw something in me,” says Wian. “Also, I was
always active as a kid – I ran everywhere before I walked anywhere.” Added to
that, Wian’s parents were avid cyclists, and when they introduced him to the
bike, to go with his raw talent in swimming and comfort in running any
distance, it soon became obvious that he was born to be a triathlete.

“At first I competed in all disciplines separately,”
Wian explains, “but then I saw triathlon on TV and fell in love with the sport,
knowing I could do well. At 15, I was already taking part in my first SA
Champs.” At 17, he finished eighth at the Youth Olympics, then secured a third place
in the 2011 All Africa Games, and that motivated him to train harder, and to be
faster and more focused coming into the 2012 season. That saw him claim a win in March at the SA Triathlon
Champs in Port Elizabeth (as an elite!), grab a win in the ETU Cup in
Slovenia, and then record his big win at the World Champs in New Zealand.

AMONGST THE LEADERS

Wian went across to New Zealand two weeks before the
World Champs to adapt to the 11-hour time difference and the unpredictable
weather. But when race day came around, he still had to contend with an extremely
challenging race day. “The water was only 15 degrees, the rain was coming down
hard, and the roads were wet, but I just kept my concentration from the start.
Also, I knew that there were at least 15 athletes that could pull off the win,
because that level is hard. You push yourself to the brink, but even with all
the elements that were out there on race day, I knew I had the training,
mentality and game plan,” he says.

After some pulling and fighting up front, Wian found
the leaders in the water and exited the 750m swim in the top 10, and it
remained tough-going all the way through the race. Despite the pouring rain and
three steep climbs, Wian revelled in the difficult conditions and stayed on his
bike for the 20km leg despite numerous crashes around him. Coming into the
second transition, his legs felt good and he pulled clear of France’s Simon Viain and Ireland’s Constantine
Doherty on the second of two 2.5km laps to become the first ITU World Champion
from Africa at junior, u/23 and elite level in 1:01:44.

“It’s hard to explain the
win,” says Wian, “it was an incredible feeling and I remember jumping around.
It was a dream for me from the beginning and I kept fantasising about the win
after months of hard training.” He was also lucky enough to see his parents at
the finish line – the support system he has enjoyed and appreciated from the
beginning. “They bend over backwards for me. They only sometimes travel with me,
but they were there at the win, so it was special. They’re also athletes, so
they always support me 100%.”

TOUGH TRAINING

Wian’s win was just
reward for the hectic training schedule he follows. Depending on the time of
season, he trains 30 hours a week, including 12 hours on the bike, running 5km
to 8km each session, and often doing between 20km and 30km in the pool at the
High Performance Centre in Pretoria. While focusing on specific swim, run and
bike sessions, Wian also dedicates some time to core strength work, and of
course, he makes sure he eats right. “I always say, if you don’t put the right
petrol in your car, it won’t go, and as an athlete you need to get in proper
food!”

After a long season
(February to November), Wian cherishes some downtime at the farm in December
and January, doing chores, hanging out with friends and family, and watching
movies – anything a regular teenager would do! But now, having taken a short
break after his terrific 2012 season, Wian has set both short-term and
long-term goals for 2013 and beyond. “I have a few international races coming
up and I’m planning to get to the Rio Olympics in a few years, with lots of
planning and focus!”

Wian says he can see the
sport of triathlon slowly growing in South Africa, and with good results from
locals on the international stage, he hopes there will be still more
development. “You see athletes like Richard Murray and others getting great
wins and it gets more people interested to compete, and slowly the local races
are getting bigger and better, which is great to see.” He adds that triathlon
is not just a sport for him, it’s a lifestyle he chose and a job he loves to
do. “I’m fortunate enough to do it. There are obviously bad days when I’m tired
and sore and I think of what else I could do, but then I think about how lucky
I am to do what I absolutely love!”

THANK YOU NOTE

Wian says he couldn’t do
it without his sponsors and supporters: Coaches Lindsey Parry and Rocco Meiring, Triathlon South Africa,
Business Systems Group (BSG), High Performance Centre (HPC), Sport and
Recreation South Africa, ASG Sport Solutions, PeptoPro, PeptoSport, Future
life, ITU, Bruce Reyneke Cycles and Continental tyres.

What you eat is important, but even
healthy food can stop you from losing weight if you eat too much of it.
Dieticians never recommend extreme calorie restriction, but there are some
tricks you can use to slightly reduce the amount of food you eat without
feeling deprived. Remember, your brain is easily fooled by shifts in
perspective. It’s also more responsive to external cues like an empty plate
than internal cues like a full stomach. Understanding these influences can show
you how to tilt them in your favour. Over time this calorie difference can help
you drop weight. It’s slow, but it’s steady. And best of all, it’s painless.

1. SMALL PLATES, TALLER GLASSES

A full plate sends the signal that
you’re eating a full meal and a partially full plate looks like a skimpy meal,
regardless of the actual quantity of food. Therefore, using smaller plates and
filling them up is a proven way to eat less without noticing. Also, you can cut
down on your liquid calories by choosing taller glasses rather than shorter,
fatter ones.

2. SNACKS OUT OF
SIGHT

People eat a lot more when food is
visible. Research has also demonstrated that the harder food is to get to, even
if the extra effort is just removing a lid or walking to the cabinet, the less
likely you are to eat it. The extra work forces you to talk yourself out of a decision
you may regret later.

3. DON’T EAT FROM
THE PACKAGE

Your stomach can’t count. When you can’t
see how much you’re eating, you’re more than a little likely to lose track and
consume double or even triple the amount you’d eat if you took the time to
serve yourself a proper portion. Use a plate or napkin, to make sure you get a
good visual of everything you’re going to eat.

4. CHOOSING FAST
FOODS

?    
Portion
control: Choose the smallest size available.

?    
Add
colour: Foods with colour contain more vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants.

?    
Know
what’s in your food: Spend
some time looking at the nutritional information for your favourite take-away.

?    
Choose
fatter chips: If you have to
have some sort of fried potato, choose wedges or thick-cut chips if they are
available, as thinner fries absorb more oil.

?      
Be
salad smart: Salad can be a
nutritious, low-kilojoule option, or it can be laden with fat. Keep an eye on
what you include in your salads!

5. BE FOOD CONSCIOUS

Don’t eat while doing something else,
like watching TV, reading or working. Eat slowly and enjoy your food.

6. THOSE TRICKY FOOD SITUATIONS

Make a plan including strategies for
handling challenging food situations, such as parties or festive foods at work.
Try having a piece of fruit, cup of yoghurt, half a lean deli meat sandwich, or
a few crackers with low-fat cheese ahead of time, to avoid arriving at the
party famished and then overeating.

7. UNDERSTAND YOUR FOOD BEHAVIOUR

If we don’t understand our own triggers
and patterns of behaviour with food, it can make it difficult to change. For
example, do you eat when you’re stressed or tired?

8. DON’T THINK OF GETTING TO ‘THE END’

Making permanent, sustainable change is
the constant theme! You don’t reach the goal and then you’re finished. Life
isn’t like that. It’s about navigating the good times and the bad times.

Remember: it’s about what you do all the
time, not about what you do sometimes. Here’s to a happy,
healthy 2013!