Category: Features

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!

Norman and Pedri are accustomed to the immense
challenge and unpredictability of Comrades, and both are motivated to encourage
others to give back. Norman has run Comrades twice while Pedri is a more
experienced runner with 11 Comrades finishes under his belt, including an
impressive best of 6:53. “It’s simple for us,” says Pedri, “running to give
back is an opportunity for us to do what we love. We combine our love of Jesus
and our love of running!”

THE MISSION

For Pedri and Norman, the Sudan4Jesus (S4J) initiative
strives to implement a ‘buddy system’ every year where Comrades Marathon
runners who are members will nominate a ‘buddy’ (athlete or not) to help them
with their journey. “A runner has a buddy who inspires and helps throughout the
journey,” explains Norman. “To run the Comrades, one commits and has to juggle
work, family, training and fundraising, so it always helps to have someone with
you.”

From a modest but commendable beginning in 2010 of raising
R35 000 between the two runners, the campaign soon became more popular, with 20
members signing up in 2011 and raising around R115 000. “In 2012, we raised another
R105 000, and the growth has been so amazing!” says Pedri.

Given the campaign’s rapid growth, Pedri and Norman now
encourage an average of R5 000 raised per athlete with a target of signing up 100
athletes for Comrades 2013 and beyond. Near the end of 2012, they were well on
their way, with 85 runners from 20 different running clubs having committed! Included
in this 2013 Up Run S4J team is seasoned Comrades runner Louis Massyn, who has
run 40 consecutive Comrades, as well as the 2012 Washie 100-miler winner Johan
Van Der Merwe.

FOLLOWING THE FUNDS

For Pedri and Norman, the S4J campaign is not just
about raising funds, they are hands-on when it comes to bringing the gospel to
communities who haven’t heard it before, supplying ministry tools, and participating
in outreach projects like painting schools in the area. Apart from their
personal religious duty, S4J is also a humanitarian project. “It’s amazing to
see the funding available to see our strategy work,” say Norman. “We can speak
out on behalf of those who cannot, because the reality is that the country is
still full of conflict and the government’s reign is violent.”

The duo believe that some runners have the natural DNA
to want to give back and make a greater impact for change. “It’s about Comrades
and giving back,” Pedri explains, “and at the finish of Comrades 2013, we’ll
have a community at our stand and we’ll all celebrate!”

For more information about S4J and how to get
involved, visit www.sudan4jesus.com and www.sudanpartners.org, or call Pedri on
012 460 5153.

I am 33, married, with two young sons and am also
hard-of-hearing. Without my hearing aids on, I am essentially deaf. However, I
am fortunate to have good quality hearing aids, and they enable me to have
access to the hearing world. You see, I had a complicated birth, where I had to
be resuscitated. I had no muscle tone, and was put on life support. I
eventually recovered my muscle tone, but lost most of my hearing due to oxygen
deprivation. The doctors told my parents they must accept I was retarded and
would need special schooling, and advised them to place me in a home as they
“could always have other children.” Thankfully, my parents did not listen to
these doctors!

I was mainstream schooled. I experienced several communication
challenges throughout my schooling and subsequent university career, but
ultimately, largely through reading the texts on my own, I graduated with a BA,
and later MA (Religious Studies) from UCT, and a PgDip in Journalism (Rhodes). I
have been working as a Researcher with DeafNET Centre of Knowledge in Worcester
for the past five years.

I competed in athletics and cross-country at school in
Grahamstown, being awarded my colours for cross-country in my Matric year. At
UCT, I started to train more efficiently and ran at the SASSU Provincial and
National Champs. I also competed in a few marathons, completed both the Two
Oceans and Comrades twice, and I also completed the Cape Town 100km at the age
of 20 in 1999 and ran the False Bay 50km twice (best of 3:40).

DETERMINATION

In April 2007, I was hospitalised for a month with a
movement disorder that rendered me unable to move most of my body. At the time,
I was diagnosed with Atypical Parkinsonism. It took me several months to learn
how to walk again. However, I was determined to run again, and secured a good
coach at the end of the year, who guided me towards being selected for the
first World Deaf Athletics Champs in Turkey, 2008, where I competed in the marathon
for Britain (I have dual citizenship, South African and British). I qualified
for the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, and again competed in the marathon, but two
months later I relapsed with the movement disorder once again, and it took two
months to recover.

In 2010, I represented Boland Masters at the 2010 SA
Masters Athletics Champs, winning the 10 000m in the 30-34 age-group. Then last
October, I chose to join in running 130km over five days to help raise funds
for the National Institute for the Deaf, and I managed to raise R25 000, but a
week later I relapsed again. The specialists advised then
I would never run again, but my mind told me otherwise.

BORN TO RUN

After my December relapse, I walked with a stick for
almost six months, and had extreme muscle weakness. It was a long road back, but
I have now mostly recovered, and while my times are not nearly as fast as I
used to do, I just LOVE my running. I am so grateful to do what I can do. Being
out there is the reward in and of itself. When you have been in a wheelchair, after
previously having completed several marathons and ultras, and knowing your
self-identity is a runner, and then having to learn to walk again with the aid
of a stick over several months, you start to appreciate life and running with a
deep realisation of what it truly means to be a runner.

It’s not about the records, the provincial and
national selections, the medals even. It’s about being out there, doing it
because you love it. It’s how you breathe. It’s what you do. It IS you. I am a
runner because it is who I am. It is not a part of me. It is me. All of me. And
it always will be.

By the way, I
am currently training for the 2013 Buffs Marathon and the 2013 Two Oceans ultra-marathon.

With
more and more trail races being added to the calendar, and more runners hitting
the trails, there is a school of thought that South Africa needs a national
trail running body so that the sport can be run efficiently and safely, and the
athletes can benefit from a formalised structure. However, one of the things
that makes trail running so enjoyable is the freedom it offers – no club
colours, no licence numbers, and none of the rules and regulations of road
running – and that is something many trail runners and event organisers want to
retain.

Athletics
South Africa President James Evans has gone on record to say that ASA does not
want to impose strict rules and regulations on trail running, but does want a
national trail running body established and affiliated to ASA somehow, so that our
world class trail runners can be included in international competition, since
these competition structures only deal with national athletic federations.
Therefore, ASA recently convened a sub-committee to look into all aspects of
this formalisation process, and asked well-known Western Cape race commentator
and avid trail runner Altus Schreuder to chair the committee.

“ASA
is largely hands off – the trail running community can decide what we want, and
my job is to drive the process, not the outcome” says Altus. “I have tried to
contact as many people as possible in all the provinces to include them in the discussion,
including every trail race organiser I could find, and most agree that it is
unavoidable that there must be a national structure. I’m also finding that all
the athletes are positive about structures being put in place, because it will
give them more opportunities and will see them looked after better.”

THREE-PRONG APPROACH

Altus
explains that the committee is currently working on three main areas of the
sport:

1. National structure – “It’s the most contentious aspect and also the one that differs the
most from region to region. The Western Cape has over 40% of all SA trail
races and most are well established, so the organisers and runners are
generally satisfied and therefore more concerned that a national body will come
in and change things. The other regions tend to want more structure and support
at this stage. Overall,
the
trail community is anti-clubs, licences, etc, and the whole concept of freedom
is very important to them. From an ASA point of view, I can go on record to say
that clubs and licences will not be an issue. ASA is OK with that.”

2. Safety and Environment – “These proposals will cover the non-negotiable aspects of safety of
runners and protection of the environment, but without adding more ‘red tape’ that will
interfere with the individuality of runners and events, or the entrepreneurial
spirit of organisers. Most experienced organisers are doing this already and
will not be impacted by this.”

3. Fixtures list, national champs and teams – “This is by far the most urgent, since we
need to be up and running in 2013 in order to send athletes to the various
World Champs events. We have just sent out various proposed policy
documents on how we are going to select teams using champs events and a points
systems, and how to select events for SA Champs, using criteria like distance,
profile, and time of year, since our champs must be just the right time before
a world champs event in order for our athletes to prepare properly. We have
also sent out a bidding document for organisers to apply to host champs
events.”

INAUGURAL CHAMPS

In the meantime, the Trail Committee
has already selected the Addo Elephant Trail Run 76km on 2 March in the Eastern
Cape as the first South African Ultra Trail Championships, where a team of
three men and three women will be selected for the IAU World Trail Champs
(50-80km) in Wales. “With
the World Champs in July, we need a national championships roughly in March,
and the Addo is the only event that fits the bill in terms of timing, distance
and profile,” says Altus. After that, further SA Champs events will be
selected from bidding events for the long distance (35-45km) and mountain
running (8-10km for women; 10-13km
for men) categories.

Added
to that, a points system will also come into play where all athletes in all
trail events will score points according to a detailed system that takes into
account distance, terrain, gradient, etc, and their best three performances
over a 12-month period will also count towards a wild card selection for
national teams, in case they cannot attend an SA Champs event, or have a bad
run at these champs.

To
find out more about the proposed future of trail running, mail Altus on
[email protected].

The
gloves are coming off. That is the best way to describe the ongoing debate in
nutritional circles thanks to Tim Noakes’ highly contentious statements over the
past year about what we should or should not be eating. He has been labelled a
crackpot, accused of unscientific methodology, and even referred to as the
“Julius Malema of medicine – a man with a hoard of followers and considerable media sway, who is capable
of producing charismatic but probably irresponsible solutions to very complex
problems.” In return, Tim has referred to some of the doctors who are opposing
him as ‘pill-pushers,’ and even said the Health Profession’s Council of SA
(HPCSA) does not understand the basis of science.

But this doesn’t help the
layman, who is none the wiser after the war of words. Must we remove all
carbohydrate from our diets, as Tim originally advocated, or do we just remove
specific types, as he now suggests, or do we ignore him and stick with the
‘party line’ being advocated by those who oppose him? It seems nobody can
answer that question now, because the jury is still out. That is why most
doctors, nutritionists, specialists and even the Sport Science Institute of South
Africa and University of Cape Town (Tim’s employers) have come out with
statements that tell people to continue eating balanced diets, not go ‘gung-ho’
on the low-carb/high-fat diet that Tim is advocating. In essence, the two sides
are not yet able to prove absolutely that they are right, so most are taking
the middle road.

Tim’s Conspiracy Theory

In 1977 the US Senate
adopted the McGovern Report on nutritional guidelines for Americans, based on a
low-fat, high-carb diet, ostensibly to promote health, but Tim believes it was
just a tool by the then US government to strengthen the country’s corn-based
agricultural sector. “Since then, people have reduced their consumption of fat
to reduce cholesterol, but obesity has risen. Before that, humans were generally
lean and did not need to be told what not to eat.” Furthermore, Tim believes
that there is a misconception that people are getting fatter because they are
eating more and exercising less, but rather it’s because they are they eating
more carbohydrate, which to cut a very long scientific story short, is being
converted into body fat, leading to obesity and serious illnesses, including
various cancers. “About 70% of chronic diseases are nutrition-based, and if we
continue as we are now, we are going to need more hospitals and doctors,” says
Tim.

On the other hand, opposing
doctors and nutritionist say the initial health benefits Tim has apparently
derived from his about-face on eating carbs – loss of excess weight, several
ailments cured, feeling energised, running better than ever – can be explained,
and they warn of bigger problems down the line: For starters, type one
diabetics may develop renal failure or go into a hypoglycaemic coma, and
patients with elevated triglycerides risk contracting potentially fatal
pancreatitis.

The
bottom line is that both sides agree that a low-carb, high-fat diet can cause rapid weight-loss,
but the regimen is not without acute dangers, and the long-term benefits of the
diet remain unclear. So while Tim has swung from high carbs to no carbs, the widely-accepted
consensus remains that something in between is best: Avoid transfats, sugars
and refined carbohydrates, eat a calorie-restricted, balanced diet with whole
grains, protein and healthy fats, exercise in moderation, and drink water when
you’re thirsty.

(Strap) MY GOAL

The
Great Wall of China is one of the man-made wonders of the world and a
world-renowned tourist destination, and each May it plays host to the Great
Wall Marathon, of which half the distance is run on the Wall itself, including
over 5100 steps! However, that is just a small ‘tourist section’ of the Wall,
which stretches for over 4200km across China – and only two runners are known
to have ever run the full length. That was back in 2006, and it was done by
SA’s David Grier and Braam Malherbe.

Now
another South African, 40-year-old former fashion designer and creative
director Alister ‘Dream Wilder’ Koeresies, plans to run on the Wall in an
effort to raise funds to pay for school sport and playground facilities and
equipment, as well as computers, for the underprivileged kids of the
Masiphumelele township near Fish Hoek in Cape Town. “I’ve been training for a
year for this trip, doing up to 60km a day, so mentally and physically I feel I
am ready,” says Alister. “Now I’m busy lining up my support crew, because I
will need some ‘crazies’ to go with me!”

RUNNING ROOTS

Alister
was a talented middle-distance runner at school, later moving up to long
distances and running the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in 1996, clocking an
impressive 4:36:57. He ran it again in 1999, but then took an extended break
from running. “I started again in 2011, ran another Oceans, then decided last
year to run a marathon every few weeks for five months in order to raise money
for the kids. It was the first time I had done anything like that… before that
I had been a business executive, but having separated from my life partner, I
decided to refresh myself, because I felt I had become stagnant.”

And
so, from April to August, Alister ran the Two Oceans, then based himself in the
UK to run the London Marathon, Cork Marathon (Ireland), Defi Mountain Marathon (Switzerland),
Midnight Sun Marathon (Norway), Stockholm Marathon (Sweden), Davos
Ultra-marathon (79.4km, Switzerland) and the Poeti Cinque Terra Marathon (47km,
Italy). “Some I ran unofficially as charity runs, but others I took seriously,
including finishing eighth at Defi and 13^th in the Cinque Terra. It
was a really taxing experience, because I hitchhiked and ran to get to many of
the races, but I raised about R40 000 in sponsored gear donations for the kids.”

APPETITE WHETTED

Next
Alister decided it was time to pursue one of his all-time ambitions, to visit
the Great Wall of China, and what better way than on the run? “I’ve always been
fascinated by Eastern philosophy, and when I went to Hong Kong at age 22, my
interest was piqued by a silk robe I saw on sale, which led to me becoming
interested in the old silk trade routes. That in turn led me to the Great Wall
of China, and I’ve always wanted to see it. I came across a Chinese quote that
says, ‘To be a great man, you have to stand on the Great Wall.’ Next year I
will fulfil that dream.”

However,
Alister realised that the language and culture barriers will make the trip even
harder than it already is, so in June he flew to China for a month of
fact-finding, planning, networking and training, while also taking in as much
Chinese culture as he could. This included training with various martial arts
masters. “I have no martial arts background; it was more about learning about
my inner strength and energy.” Strangely enough, the one thing he didn’t do was
visit the Great Wall. “I had to be disciplined about not ‘opening my Christmas
present’ early, because I want the Wall to be a surprise when I get there next
year.”

IN THE MEANTIME…

March
is still a long way off, so in the meantime Alister has jetted off to Europe again
for a few months of training. This includes training in the Italian Alps, running
the Davos and Cinque Terra races again, and running the 800km Camino de Santiago
Pilgrim’s Trail in Spain. “I’ll just see how my legs feel and take it one day
at a time,” he says.

To
support Alister’s run, go to www.alisterdreamwilder.co.za.

He knew something was seriously wrong as he lay there on the tar, unable
to move, and yet Pieter du Preez was still the one keeping everyone around him
calm; from the motorist who just knocked him off his bike, to the shocked
crowd. Firstly, he told the motorist that she should stop crying and that he
forgave her, because everything happens for a reason. Then he asked someone to
please phone his dad, as he would be the calmer family member to deal with the
situation.

Pieter was admitted to hospital in a life-threatening condition and
spent 42 days in the ICU. For the first 32 days of that, the doctors kept him in
an induced coma, and breathing on a ventilator. When he came round and found himself
paralysed, he made a promise to himself: Within one year he would learn how to
be totally independent, and he would find a way to do sport again, whatever it took,
and in whatever form. But SupaPiet did so much more than just ‘do sport’ again…
he has become an inspiration to many people worldwide!

A WORLD
FIRST

On 11 May this year, Pieter made history when he became the world’s
first C6 quadriplegic to complete a Half Ironman triathlon event, finishing the
Busselton 70.3 in Australia in six hours and 37 minutes. He completed the 1.9km
swim in 54 minutes by swimming backstroke with a guide tapping his feet to help
him keep direction and as a safety measure. The 90km bike leg, which Pieter
describes as his weakest discipline, took him 3:55 to complete on his hand
bike. He then went on to complete the 21km run leg in 1:33, again using his
hand bike, and beating more than 150 able-bodied athletes to the finish line.

“It was the most amazing thing I have ever done!” says Pieter. “Before
the race I just wanted to finish, but afterwards I realised I could have
actually finished in close to six hours! One of my first thoughts was that I am
only halfway. Now I can take on Full Ironman.”

NATURAL
SPORTSMAN

Growing up in Randburg, Pieter was always a gifted athlete. He excelled
at all sports and achieved provincial colours in running and duathlon. After
school he studied BSc in Actuarial Sciences at the University of Johannesburg
before moving on to a part-time Honours degree in investment management. His
love for sport continued throughout his student years, when he earned South
African colours in triathlon as well as SA Student colours in cycling in 2001.

When the accident happened on 6 October 2003, Pieter was on his way to
the chiropractor to sort out a niggling injury. He had decided to cover his
60km training ride for the day by cycling there and back. Then tragedy struck.
“An elderly lady drove right into me. Many people can’t understand why I am not
bitter, but I believe that day I had angels with me. It was amazing how calm I
was, though I had broken my neck, femur, knee and wrists.”

The accident left Pieter paralysed from his nipples down. The only
movement he has is in his shoulders and biceps. He has no tricep movement, and
though he can move his wrists, his hands don’t function. He can’t feel pain,
heat or cold, and his nervous system has been affected to the extent that he
does not sweat. “From day one in ICU, my faith in God saved me. While I was in
rehab they wanted to give me anti-depressants to help me cope, but I did not
take them. Every day I refused that little pill and said as long as I have my
faith, I will be fine,” says Pieter. “It’s been 10 years since the accident and
not one day have I had an ‘off day’ because I am in a wheelchair. Sure, I have
had off days when taxi’s drive in front of me, or a bad day at work, but not
because of my accident.”

TAKING HIS
LIFE BACK

Pieter was released from hospital on 23 February 2004 and barely two
weeks later, on 9 March, he wrote his final Honours exam. “It was tough, but I
managed to graduate with my class.” Shortly after that, he decided his next big
goal was to gain independence. Today Pieter is totally independent. He baths
and dresses himself and if needs be, can go away for a weekend and look after
himself 100%. “I had to find little ways and tricks in my quest for
independence, for instance, how to put my socks on even though I can’t move my
fingers,” he says. “I suppose I looked like a useless quad and I guess my
parents did not know where I was going to find a job, but they were always
supportive of me, even when I told them that I would find a way to participate in
triathlons again.”

A year after his release from hospital, Pieter started off with
wheelchair rugby, in which he represented South Africa in 2005 in Rio. In the
same year he got a job at Deloitte, where he still works as a senior actuarial
analyst in the Actuarial and Insurance Solutions Division. “Deloitte has been
amazing and has supported and sponsored me in all my sporting endeavours. The
whole company has been behind me, and I can’t thank them enough for what they
have done for me.” He started working towards getting back into triathlon by
first researching sporting equipment he could use, then he started cycling
before tackling his first marathon in Berlin
in 2008. That same year he married Ilse, an occupational therapist. “She is my
biggest supporter and helper on race day. We are a team,” says Pieter.

His dream was realised when he became one of the first quadriplegics
ever to complete an Olympic-distance triathlon in 2010. In the same year he
made the SA hand cycle team and represented his country at the World Cup in
Spain. Later that year he finished the 94.7 Cycle Challenge with Ilse, before earning
a silver and bronze medal on the track in the 100m and 200m sprints at the IPC
(International Paralympic Committee) World Champs in New Zealand. Then another
of his dreams was realised in August 2012, when he represented SA in the 100m
at the London Paralympics.

A CUT ABOVE
THE REST

It was just after the Paralympics that he set his sights on
participating in a Half Ironman event. “I had to find a race with a flat route,
as the bike is always my drawback, but just the idea of competing was mind-blowing,”
says Pieter. And having conquered the 70.3, he immediately set his sights still
higher. “On the way back from Half Ironman, I said to Ilse, now it is time to
set a date for full Ironman!”

And so Pieter has chosen the Busselton Full Ironman in Australia on 8
December. One of his worries is that the race extends into the night, which
might complicate things for him due to his deteriorating eyesight. He suffers
from a hereditary eye condition, which will eventually
see him becoming blind, but he is determined to see it through and become the
first quadriplegic to complete a full Ironman.

When chatting to Pieter, one quickly realises that he is a cut above the
rest. He is not only positive, but has a great sense of humour and an
unshakeable faith that this is the path that was chosen for him. “I believe to
inspire creates a circle effect. I know I inspire people through what I do, but
what they don’t realise is that when they come to me and congratulate me, that
in turn inspires me to carry on!” he says. “If I could have any words of advice
for anyone, it would be for people to be nice to each other. And if someone
means something to you, go and tell them that. Finally, I would say this: The
impossible is possible!”

After initially
going well in this year’s hot and humid Comrades Marathon, Malusi ‘Richard’ Monisi’s
race plan became seriously derailed. Having first run the Comrades in 2004 and
with eight medals already to his name, Richard was forced to a grinding stop
when the heat got the better of his guide. “She collapsed due to dehydration
and I stayed by her for an hour,” he says. “I felt so bad and waited before
taking out my cane and continuing.”

Yes, you did
read that correctly. He just took out his cane and carried on with race,
clocking an unbelievable 9:57:10, despite barely being able to make out what
was happening around him, and while also worrying about his guide in between
worrying about the cut-off. But Richard says his only goal was to get to the finish
before the 12-hour gun, and tick off another ultra. “I’ve been dealing with
this a few times in my life, where I have to ‘see’ the route with my cane. It’s
a fold-up, and it’s always by my side.”

GUIDING HANDS

Born in
Limpopo, Richard moved to Johannesburg
20 years ago in search of a job. After walking into Gerald Fox’s shop asking
for money, Richard was introduced to running. “Gerald told me I looked fit and
that I could probably do sports,” explains Richard. “That was in 1997 and I
started running. After six months, I entered my first ever race, The Tough One,
and I struggled! Gerald was there looking after me.” In that challenging 32km,
Richard finished in 2:55 and vowed to improve, so he joined Rockies Road
Runners and says he received amazing support from the very beginning. “They got
me kit and a race number, and they helped me where they could – and still do
today!”

Despite only
being able to see about two metres and barely make out shapes, Richard took to
running naturally, and after a few years of shorter races, where he always
received great support, he found himself lining up for his first Comrades in
2004. The record books say he finished in 10:45, but interestingly, Richard
thinks it was a lot slower. “I just just made
it. I think it was 11:50-something. I learnt a lot from that and a year later I
finished in 8:45! I get a lot of support on the road – from runners and
spectators. They think I struggle because I am a blind man and think it’s
wonderful what I’m doing. I hope many are inspired by me.”

LIKE BRUCE

Today,
Richard is a well-known figure at Comrades, which he has now run nine times,
and at the Two Oceans, where he has eight medals. While he may not see the
beauty of Cape Town, he says he can feel the
energy of the Cape Town
classic. “I get very excited in Cape
Town! I feel myself and every being of me there.” He
has managed a 4:54 finish at Oceans and also deems the Soweto Marathon, his ‘hometown
race,’ a special event that is always a must on his calendar.

Richard has
always struggled to find a sponsor to cover decent running shoes and travelling
expenses, but somehow has always found the means over the years. “I’ve always
held the belief that if I think it and pray, it will happen. I dreamt about
Comrades and Oceans, and I prayed for it, and God gave me the means, despite it
being expensive!” For Richard, nothing seems out of reach, and running is his
outlet to forget about hardship or stress. “It can be a cure for almost
anything! For young runners, for inspiring runners, there needs to be a
desire,” Richard explains. “If you think you can run like Bruce Fordyce, then
you can! When I think of Bruce, I think I can do the same, and run despite my
disability!”

GIVING BACK

Every day
Richard spends his time at the ‘Service for the Blind’ building in Industria
West in Jo’burg, loading trucks with boxes for retailers and packing goodie
bags for countless running and cycling events in Gauteng for Monica Childa
Marketing. “Monica found us and helped us back in 2005,” he explains. “We are
given an opportunity to be helpful in society and this has given a lot of work
to the blind community!” After work, Richard does three 10km training runs a
week, before dedicating his Sundays to a local race or long five-hour run. He
says that running, alongside his love of gospel music, is his go-to for relaxation
and having fun.

Despite
everything he has achieved already, Richard says he still has more dreams he
would like to fulfil in the sport he loves. “I got to Oceans. I got to
Comrades. Now, I dream of running the London and
New York
marathons. That would be amazing! That is my future, and maybe I can find a way
there with a little help one day.”

Richard
feels that it is important to recognise disabled runners for the love they hold,
just as much as able athletes, for lacing up, and even more so for inspiring
the everyday runner. “Some of us struggle to enjoy the sport because of having no
sponsors, but we run because we are in love with the sport! Perhaps races need
to make specific categories for disabled athletes as an incentive. This will
also give us support in the future.”

To get behind Richard
and his running, you can contact him on 078 467 3161.

On a global
scale, modern lifestyles generally reduce opportunities to lace up and hit the
road. Not only do we have less time for exercise these days, but there also
seem to be less outdoor leisure facilities where one can train safely and
effectively, and we often blame government for the lack of choice out there.
The Fittest City study is looking to change that, by
not only putting a spotlight on a city’s overall fitness and activity levels,
but also helping to facilitate an improvement in urban planning that can
contribute to a city getting fitter. “We would like the index to act as a
motivation to encourage people to find opportunities to move more or sit less,
so that they can get moving for their health,” says Dr Tracy Kolbe-Alexander, a
biokineticist who co-conceptualised the study.

THE DATA SPEAKS

Data for
the study was collected from reliable, publicly available resources and
research, and divided into: personal health, physical activity, transport and
sports facilities. And this is how our cities ranked:

Personal Health Indicators

(Based on BMI, high blood pressure
and high cholesterol)

1.
eThekwini (Durban)

2. City of Johannesburg

3. Nelson Mandela
Bay (PE)

4.
Ekhurleni (East Rand)

5. Tshwane
(Pretoria)

6. City of Cape Town

Self-reported physical activity

(Percentage of people who reported
that they participate in at least moderate amounts of physical activity)

1. Nelson Mandela
Bay

2. Cape Town

3. Johannesburg

4. Tshwane

5. Ekhurleni

6. eThekwini

Transport

(Representation of the use of
non-motorised or public transport)

1. Cape Town

2. eThekwini

3. Tshwane

4. Nelson Mandela
Bay

5. Johannesburg

6. Ekhurleni

Physical activity-related facilities

(Number of facilities per 100 000
people)

1. Cape Town

2. Tshwane

3. Nelson Mandela
Bay

4. Johannesburg

5. eThekwini

6. Ekhurleni

CAPE TOWN RULES!

After
putting all the data together, the study concluded that Cape Town trumps most other cities with its
public transport and facilities. For example, the Mother
City’s cycle path between Paarden Island and Milnerton is one way that
residents are looking to get fit while commuting. Meanwhile, residents in the
Bay enjoy the country’s top reported physical activity, and thus, Cape Town came out on top of the overall rankings,
followed by Nelson
Mandel Bay:

1. Cape Town

2. Nelson Mandela
Bay

3. Tshwane

4. Ethekwini

5. Johannesburg

6. Ekurhuleni

While Durban has a lot to work
on, there are walkers, runners and cyclists that make daily use of the
promenade and water enthusiasts often enjoy snorkelling and windsurfing at
Vetch’s Pier. This year’s Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk, with a record field
of 33 500 entrants, is also a great event that brings the residents out en
masse. While Jozi rates quite low overall, the use of the Gautrain and the Rea
Vaya Bus system helps reduce the city’s carbon footprint, and outdoor gyms in
public parks have been erected in Soweto,
Diepsloot and Eldorado
Park, but there is loads
more work to be done! On the other hand, Gauteng
does boast many great races each week, so there is an opportunity for more people
to get active.

THE WAY FORWARD

For a city
to improve its ‘fit and healthy’ status, it has to create an environment that
encourages movement. There need to be policies in education, transportation,
parks and recreation, media and business that boost how much we move. For
example, in Bogota, Colombia, the city has developed a
series of new green spaces, parks and playing fields. By ‘greening’ the city,
the city has become safer, which encourages more citizens to cycle and run in
the city. Here in SA, our cities could do the following to achieve the same goals:

?        
Workplace
wonders: On-site exercise facilities at work boosts productivity!

?        
Beat
the traffic: Better bus services will encourage citizens to be less dependent
on their cars.

?        
Starts
at school: Playgrounds and sports fields need to be improved.

?        
Keep
it clean, keep it safe: A clean and safe neighbourhood encourages more running
and cycling.

?        
Creating
the track: Cycle lanes on busy streets or designated times in slow lanes for
cyclists promote bicycle use.