Category: Features

He has two Paralympic gold medals and two world records to his name in the 100m and 200m in the T37 class for athletes with cerebral palsy, but Fanie van der Merwe just wants to get better, and that’s why the 24-year-old is working to improve the one aspect of his sprinting that he feels still lets
him down. – BY SEAN FALCONER

What is the short-term goal you’ve set yourself to improve your performance?
My reaction times to the gun are not that good. The one Chinese guy has an amazing start, and he’s usually two metres ahead of everyone straight from the start, so we have to chase him down.
I’m a good finisher, but I still need to work on my explosive power during this winter off-season.

So you must be doing a lot of hard training at the moment.
Yes, but I’m privileged to be able to train in Stellenbosch, which is a real hub of disabled athletics. I’m part of a squad trained by Suzanne Ferreira that includes Arnu Fourie, Hilton Langenhoven, Ilse Carstens and
Jonathan Ntutu. We’re all international athletes and always train together, often for the same competitions, so it helps keep us all motivated and focused.

The stories behind your world records sound a bit complicated…
At the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, I won gold in the 100 with a PB time of 11.83, when the world record was 11.79. Then at the Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled in Port Elizabeth earlier this year I ran 11.71 for a new world record, but for a long time I had been listed as running 11.66. I actually ran 11.86 in 2008, but it was written down incorrectly and somehow never corrected.

In the 200, my 23.84 in Beijing was a new world record, and then I beat it with a time of 23.19 at the second Fazza International Athletics Competition in Dubai in early 2010, but I wasn’t officially registered with the International Paralympic Committee at the time, so they don’t recognise that time as the world record, even though they recognise it as my PB! A few months after that I broke the record again, at the Champs in PE, but it was ruled wind-assisted and therefore the 23.84 still stood as the record. Luckily I ran 23.72 in the Netherlands and then 23.3 in Spain during a recent overseas tour with other South African Paralympic athletes, so now I have officially beaten the 23.84. It’s always good to break a record, but obviously it’s a bit weird because it’s not my personal best.

So the tour went well?
Yes, most of it. I won the 100 and 200 at the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, although my times weren’t great. Then we took part in the Dutch Nationals and I won both my races again. It was raining when we ran the 100, but the conditions were perfect for the 200 and I ran the record 23.72. From there we went to Barcelona for the Spanish National Champs, but my 100 was a disaster. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Canadian next to me false start and expected them to call us back, but it didn’t come and I got left in my blocks. All the other guys went with him, even though most of them said afterwards they also thought it was a false start. That just amped me up even more for the 200m, and I ran 23.3 to break the world record again! After that we went to Germany for two competitions, including the German National Champs, where
I ran good times in the 100.

What about long-term goals?
I’m building up to the World Champs in New Zealand in January 2011 and the next Paralympics in London in August 2012. My goal is to go to London and win more golds, and I want to set more world record times. I would like to run 11.65 for the 100, break 23.19 in the 200, and go under 53:00 in the 400. The 200 will always be my focus, because it’s my strongest event, and I would rather perform well in the 100 than the 400, but I still want to add the 400 as my third event. It would be a real blessing to go to London, run three events and bring back three golds, but the 100 and the 400 are far apart – it’s rare that you get an athlete doing both. I won’t slack on my 100 speedwork to concentrate on the 400.

Fanie van der Merwe is a true modern athlete and an inspiration to all of us. Keep winning golds and breaking records Fanie, Modern Athlete and the whole South African running community is behind you all the way to the finish line.

Cross-country has often been regarded as the stepsister of track and road running. Then one man decided to take the lead and create new structures, allowing mass participation especially amongst school kids in this often disregarded sporting discipline. His efforts have paid off and today, cross-country in Gauteng North is blooming to such an extent that other provinces could take home some valuable lessons on how things should be done within cross-country structures. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS

If you had pitched up at any weekend cross-country event in Gauteng North less than two years ago, you would be lucky to find 600 athletes lining up at the start. How things have changed! Just a couple of weeks ago more than 2 800 athletes of all ages and abilities took on various organised cross-country events in and around the Jacaranda City. All this would not have been possible if it wasn’t for one man’s passion and drive to bring various role players together in order to put cross-country back in its rightful place. Andre Gobey, Chairman of the Cross-Country Committee: Athletics Gauteng North, believes our country has the ability to produce some world class cross-country athletes if we manage to better our current cross-country structures.

ONE SMALL STEP
For many years various athletics structures, departments and schools all organised their own cross-country meetings in Gauteng North. This led to a small number of athletes arriving at the meetings, and often the dates of the various meetings clashed. “In the past we had primary schools organising their own meetings, high schools doing their own thing as well as the Department of Education and private schools all organising their own races. All of us were always fighting for the same sponsors, the same venues, administrators and even athletes,” says Andre, who has been running since the age of ten and who has been involved in the administration of athletics since 2004.

Andre started discussions with all the various role players and before long they were all around a table talking about ways to better the organisation of the meetings, and most importantly, to benefit the athletes and the sport of cross-country in general. “We started with a mass participation project amongst school children. The Pretoria City Council helped to drive this side of the project; they were very passionate about getting kids from less-privileged communities involved in cross-country, especially because some of these kids don’t have any facilities to train at school.” This meant Athletics Gauteng North organised cross-country meetings for school children and the City Council helped transport hundreds of kids to the meetings. “We tried to expose the kids to cross-country and make them love the sport, which I believe is a building block to success in other sporting disciplines,” says Andre.

Today many of these meetings are held during the week, which means more school kids are introduced to cross-country and get to participate as they are transported during school hours to the various races. In the past the meetings were mainly held on Saturdays, which meant many kids didn’t pitch up as parents were often busy and didn’t have time to get their kids to the different venues, or didn’t have the means or financial ability to get their kids to the meetings. Since the weekly cross-country races were introduced, as many as 2 800 competitors have been participating in various cross-country meetings held over one week.

Andre believes that introducing cross-country to kids is like introducing them to playing. “We try to make kids love running through cross-country; it is the basis of all sporting disciplines. Once you love cross-country running, you will probably keep on running for the rest of your life.”

Another major bonus that came from the new structures was the discovery of amazing talent. In the last three years more than 80 kids who started through mass participation have made the Gauteng North and SA cross-country teams. “One of them was even awarded national colours,” says Andre.

IT’S ALL ABOUT TIMING
The current system in Gauteng North has worked wonders, but Andre believes there is still some work to be done in order to produce world-class cross-country athletes. Firstly, the timing of the cross-country season might have to change. Cross-country is run in the winter, which is not the most attractive season and the courses are usually extremely dusty and dry. Also, cross-country events countrywide are sometimes not well attended because many road runners, especially veterans and masters, train for Comrades when the cross-country season starts. “If we can change the dates so that our cross-country season starts in September, Comrades will be done and dusted and more road runners might get involved in cross-country. It will make them stronger and help them to build a good base from September to January before they start to train again for longer distances.”

Another issue to consider regarding date changes is the Cross-Country World Champs which is held annually in March, a time when most international cross-country athletes peak. “In South Africa it is the other way around. Our cross-country season is held in winter and we peak at the South African Champs in September. Ideally our cross-country season should start around September and culminate at the SA Champs in January.”

Despite this, South African athletes have still achieved remarkably at the World Champs, says Andre. This year the SA Junior Team finished seventh in the world, the senior team 12th and the senior and junior ladies were amongst the top ten. “I know the potential is there. It is my dream to see our athletes finish on the podium at the World Champs. I believe they have what it takes. We just need to allow all the different athletics structures their place in the sun.”

The South African Cross-Country Championships will be held on 11 September at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria. For more info contact the ASA Office at 011 880 5800.

The doctors said that his running fitness probably saved his life by preventing a blocked artery and blood clot from causing a massive stroke – and that he was lucky to survive his first ultra marathon, all because Marius Oosthuizen bumped his head on a roof beam while installing a satellite dish! – BY SEAN FALCONER

It was just another workday for Marius Oosthuizen, a technical consultant from Somerset West with his own business installing home and business audio equipment. 18 March 2002: 12 days before the then 39 year old was due to run his first Two Oceans ultra marathon, he was up in a client’s roof, installing cabling,
but then everything changed. “I was walking forwards, bent over and pulling a cable, when I walked into a low beam. I hit the right side of my head hard, which caused my head to whiplash backwards and I saw stars, but my head cleared again after a few minutes and I continued working,” Marius says, describing the incident.

It may sound harmless enough, perhaps even comical, yet there was nothing funny about what happened next. “That evening I got a really bad headache, but because I had suffered from regular migraines before, I didn’t think much of it. The doctors said that the migraines were diet-related, caused by a tyramine allergy brought on by eating dairy products, bread and also Marmite or Oxo, so I just thought it was the same problem and that it would go away after a few days, as it normally did.”

What Marius didn’t know was that the whiplash had caused a small tear in his right-hand internal carotid artery. The two carotid arteries run up each side of the neck to pump oxygenated blood from the heart to the head, and are a vital part of the circulatory system. The tear had caused a clot to form and block the artery, thus preventing blood from reaching the right side of his brain.

When the headache had not gone away after almost a week and his right eye had become slightly swollen, giving him double vision, Marius decided to phone his doctor, but could only get an appointment after the Easter weekend – and since he still thought it was just an allergy-induced migraine, he continued working. The next day he happened to be working at a radiologist friend’s house, Dr Peter Berndt, who took one look at Marius and told him that his drooping eye was a possible sign of a neurological problem and that he should have it checked out. Marius still thought it was nothing serious – and besides, he had a 56km race to run in a few days.

RACE DAY PRAYERS
Saturday 30 March dawned – Two Oceans race day – and Marius and Susan’s 11th wedding anniversary. Despite his headache, Marius drove to Cape Town with his Strand clubmates to line up for the race. “I didn’t want to miss out on it, so I decided to just run the first few kilometres. When I got to my starting pen, I sat down on the pavement and prayed to God that I could just feel a bit better and be able to run a short distance. When the gun was fired a few minutes later, the headache was suddenly gone, and I just felt better the further I ran. I finished in 5:51:35 and loved every minute of it, despite some leg cramps near the end.”

That evening he went out for supper with his wife for a triple celebration of their anniversary, the imminent birth of their third child – Susan was eight months pregnant at the time – and his first Two Oceans medal. On the way to the restaurant, the headache came back, and it was still there later that week when Marius was due to continue working at Peter Berndt’s house. By now his right eye was swollen shut.

“I called Peter to say I did not feel well enough to work, and he told me to come in for a check-up. Then I was booked in for an MRI scan that Friday, 5 April. When I came out, I found four specialists studying my scans and shaking their heads! I was diagnosed with a dissecting carotid artery with thrombosis, and they said they could not understand how I had not suffered a stroke. When they heard I had just run a 56km ultra-marathon, they told me they couldn’t believe I was still alive!”

BOOKED OFF
The doctors said it would be too dangerous to operate, because the clot could break up or be dislodged and reach the heart or brain, so they booked Marius into hospital to give him blood-thinning treatment to begin dissolving the clot. Susan says that even in that dark hour, there was a lighter side to things.
“We were filling in the paperwork and the hospital staff couldn’t believe it was Marius going in, not me, because he looked so fit and healthy, whereas I was so heavily pregnant! And the day after he went in, when I brought him some more things, everybody kept wishing me luck because they thought I was checking in!”

Marius soon responded to the treatment, and after four days of his scheduled five-day stay, he was ready to go home again. “I asked if I could go home because I already felt better and the 8th of April was Susan’s birthday. The doctors discharged me, but told me that I would have to be booked off all activity for six months. No work, no running, no anything. I was told to just lie still!”

On the 19th of April, Susan was back at the hospital, and this time she was the patient. After a difficult Caesarean birth, she was booked off to recover at home, and Marius says it was quite nice to be able to be there with her and the new baby, to help where he could without straining too much. Fortunately, he was recovering quickly and felt fine again.

Just over two months later, Marius’ eldest daughter celebrated her birthday and invited some friends over for a party. One of the fathers picking up an invited friend after the party was a physician, and the two fathers got talking about Marius’ condition. Marius showed him the MRI scans and the physician simply said, “I can’t believe that somebody who looked like this is still standing in front of me.”

The physician then explained to Marius what had probably saved him: fitness. “He told me that the two carotid arteries feed the two sides of the brain independently, but at the top of the brain there are thin veins which can feed a small amount of blood from side to side. In my case, no blood was coming up to the right side of the brain, but I had enough interconnections for the right side to still get enough blood to prevent permanent damage. He said that my high level of fitness contributed to this greatly, so my running literally saved me.”

TOUGH TIMES
For six months Marius had to go in for weekly blood tests so that the doctors could make sure all the clots had been dissolved and check there was no kidney damage, a possible side-effect of the treatment. Physically, Marius felt fine – he was more worried about his financial health. “I was working for myself, so being booked off for six months meant the family had no income. Fortunately I had insurance, and no debt, so we survived by tightening our belts.”

“I followed the doctors’ orders and sat at home doing nothing for six months, even though I felt fine, and then I eased myself back into work, going out to see clients but not doing physical work yet. I brought in a young apprentice and he is still with me eight years later, and luckily, many of my clients that I had referred to my opposition came back to me. Even today some of them still ask me if I’m okay.”

He also eased himself back into running, and that November he lined up for his first post-treatment race, the Winelands Half Marathon in Stellenbosch. Seven months later he had added another Two Oceans medal and his first Comrades medal to his collection. At the time of the injury he had only just done his first two marathons – today he has about 70 marathons and ultras under his belt, including nine Two Oceans and six Comrades. Next year he will be aiming for his Two Oceans Blue Number.

Two of our lucky readers just had their lives changed by Modern Athlete and the great people at Run/Walk for Life (RWFL). Edwin Olivier of Kuilsriver in the Cape and Roxene La Grange of Johannesburg have been selected as the winners of our RWFL/Modern Athlete Win a RWFL Franchise competition.

When we launched a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and gave our readers the chance to turn their passion for running/walking into a profit by owning their very own business, we thought it was a great prize and would attract a lot of interest. We were inundated with quality entries and had a hard time deciding on the winners! Eventually the selection was narrowed down to two and needless to say, their dreams were made true!

EDWIN OLIVIER, PROUD NEW OWNER OF
A RWFL FRANCHISE IN THE CAPE
Edwin Olivier of Kuilsriver got the surprise of his life when he was announced as one of the winners. When Edwin received a call from Western Cape RWFL Regional Co-ordinator Deon Lerm, asking him to come down to the Panorama branch for a final interview, he had no idea he was actually being brought in for a surprise announcement that he was one of the two winners of the competition.

“This is a life-changing moment and I never dreamt I would win something this meaningful. I’ve won a few lucky draw prizes at races, but never anything like this!” says the 45-year-old infrastructure planner with the Post Office.  “I have worked for the Post Office for 25 years, but had a long-term plan to find something else, so when I saw the competition in Modern Athlete, I thought why not, because I would love to work in a field where I can make a living from my passion for running. But just as important, I want the satisfaction of helping others achieve their goals.” Edwin has been running for two years and has one Two Oceans and one Comrades medal to his name, as well as a number of marathons and shorter races. He openly admits that not so long ago he was a couch potato, but a couple of things happened to convince him to get off the couch. “In August 2008 we had checkups at work and they told me I was overweight and a good candidate for a heart attack. Then my 62-year-old cousin died of a heart attack at the end of January 2009, and that really made me want to look after my health. A week later, my wife, Anilee, was late getting to the start for the Saturday morning training session with her In Touch AC club mates, so I went with her and we walked 8km together.
The following Tuesday I joined the club training session and I was hooked.”

ROXENE LA GRANGE
Roxene La Grange of Wilgeheuwel in the West Rand entered the competition only days after she received Modern Athlete at the Comrades Expo. “I had just run Comrades and when I read about the competition I knew it would be a dream come true. I have always had a huge passion for sport. It is a part of my life and keeps my mind and soul free,” says Roxene who works as an au pair and is also a qualified sports development coach.

A month later she was notified that she had made the top 65 list of potential winners and some time after
that she received another mail. She also had a look at a RWFL franchise to get the feel of what it is about.
“I sent RWFL a mail and said I loved what I saw! When Matthew Grossett [RWFL CEO] phoned me I thought it was in reaction to my mail. Then he congratulated me as the second winner! The first words I got out were: ‘You are my hero!’”

Roxene is only 23 years old but it is clear she has more drive and maturity than most people twice her age! “Don’t let my age fool you. I am passionate, I believe I can be a good role model; I am goal driven and love to motivate people to take up a sporting challenge!” Roxene has a huge passion for sport and has excelled at numerous sporting disciplines over the years. Most recently she took on her very first Comrades Marathon and is planning to tackle the Duzi soon!

“I am so excited! Every month I read Modern Athlete from front to back. I love reading all the inspirational articles and now I am going to be featured in the magazine. And on top of that I am the owner of my own business at the age of 23! Only a month before I entered the competition, someone asked me what my goals are and I said I would love to start my own business and help others. Look at me now!”

Edwin and Roxene will now undergo three to four months of training, and will take charge of established Run/Walk For Life branches for a few sessions to make sure they are ready, before opening their own branches around January 2011. Edwin will open his branch in the Brackenfell area and Roxene’s branch will be situated in the West Rand.

You work, you take care of the kids, you try to spend some time with the family and you try to fit in your ‘can’t do without’ run! Often preparing a healthy and nutritious meal after a workout falls by the wayside and we opt for quick, unhealthy fixes to save time. Try these four scrumptious recipes that are not only quick to prepare, but also healthy and perfect post-run meals! – BY CHRISTINE PETERS

LITE SPEEDY TORTILLA PIZZA (Serves 2)
Preparation time: One minute. Cooking time: 12 minutes.
This is a quick and light alternative to normal pizza. With one wrap being the equivalent of only two slices of bread, you can rest assured that you will not be over-indulging on carbs!

Ingredients:
  2 tortillas or wraps (bought or frozen).
  ? cup of tinned chopped tomato.
  100g grated mozzarella cheese.
 1-2 chicken breasts cut into strips.
  1 green or red pepper, chopped or sliced thinly.

Method:
  Heat oven to 180?C.
  Heat a thick pan with two tsp oil (e.g. sesame oil). Stir fry  chicken strips until slightly brown. Remove from heat.
 Spice chopped tomatoes with oregano, salt, pepper, garlic flakes, etc.
  Spread tomato mixture thinly over each wrap.
 Sprinkle with grated cheese. Add chicken strips and chopped peppers.
  
Place one pizza in centre of oven and bake for about eight to ten minutes or until cheese has risen, fallen and gone slightly brown.
 Remove pizza from oven and let it stand for three minutes before slicing into pizza wedges.
  Serve immediately with salad.

SIMPLE SWEET CHILLI STIR FRY (Serves 4)
Preparation time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 12 minutes.
Stir fry is a quick and easy way to prepare a meal without a lot of added fat.

Ingredients:
  1 tbs oil e.g. sesame/olive or Spray & Cook.
  400g chicken or extra lean beef strips or 150g firm tofu (cut into strips).
 2 onions sliced.
1kg (4 cups) vegetables cut into strips e.g. frozen or fresh carrots/green beans/peppers/snap peas/baby corn/broccoli/mushrooms, etc.
  ? cup vegetable broth or water.
  1 tsp grated orange or lemon zest (grated skin).
  1 tbs chopped coriander (optional).

Method:
 Heat a wok or large, thick-based pan over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or oil.
  Brown chicken/beef/tofu on all sides, then remove from pan and set aside.
  Add onion to wok and saut? for one minute or until transparent. Add vegetables e.g. broccoli, carrots, peas and red pepper; stir-fry until tender crisp, about five minutes.
  Return chicken, beef or tofu to wok and stir in broth, chilli sauce and orange zest. Heat until bubbling.
  Transfer stir fry to serving platter and sprinkle with coriander (optional).
  Serve with brown or basmati rice.

BAKED FISH AND MUSHROOM WITH PEA MASH (Serves 4)
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. Perfect for lunch or supper.

Ingredients:
  4 salmon or butterfish fillets.
  8 large brown mushrooms.
 ? round piece of feta (crumbed).
 450g frozen peas (defrosted).
 50ml natural yoghurt.
  Pinch of cumin.

Method:
  Preheat oven to 180?C.
  Place fish fillets in individual foil (skin facing down) and season with mustard, lemon juice, soya sauce, salt and pepper. Close foil parcels and place on baking tray on one side.
  Place mushrooms on the other side of the baking tray and thinly sprinkle with crumbed feta, oregano, salt and pepper.
  Bake for about 10 minutes. Open up foil parcels and grill for 5 minutes.
  Blitz peas, yoghurt and cumin till smooth. Allow to stand for 10 minutes.
  Serve salmon fillets with mushrooms and pea mash.

PUFFY EGGS (Serves 2)
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. After a race or long run most of us can’t bear the taste of another sweet thing that reminds us of the energy gels we had earlier! Try these easy, tasty and healthy eggs instead.

Ingredients:
  1 whole egg and 3 egg whites.
  2 tbs water.
  60g grated mozzarella cheese.
 ? ripe avocado.
  2 pieces of lean bacon (optional).
  Salt and pepper (to taste).
  1 tsp oregano.
  2 slices toasted low GI or rye bread.

Method:

Crack egg and egg whites into a small thick-based saucepan.
 Add water.
  Heat the pan on low heat. Scramble the eggs. Remove from the heat while they are still half runny, half scrambled.
 Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese over the eggs.
  Place the eggs in the pan and grill for five to ten minutes until cheese melts and browns slightly.
 Toast the bread and microwave two pieces of lean bacon for 30 seconds or until cooked/crispy.
  Spread ? avocado on each slice of toast.
  Once cheese has melted, remove pan from oven.
  Scoop half of the baked eggs on avocado toast.
 Top with bacon, season with pepper, salt and oregano and serve immediately.

Optional additions: feta, onion, corn, marmalade, tomato, peppers and garlic.

Love brought me to South Africa. While living in North Carolina I met a man from South Africa. We fell in love, got married and moved to Gordon’s Bay, where we still live today. I couldn’t have asked for a better life and sometimes it is hard to believe that not too long ago, I was on the verge of death. My life expectancy was around 18-24 months. That was seven years ago! The following is the story of my bout with cancer and how running helped me through the bad patches. – BY JULIE MARSDEN

HEARTACHE BEFORE HAPPINESS

I met my husband Mike through work in August 2004. At the time he lived in the United States and I worked for a property management company in North Carolina. In February 2006 we made the big move to Gordon’s Bay in South Africa.

About a year before I met Mike I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Until then I was always quite healthy! Or so
I thought. I started running in June 1982 after I had gained 9kg while living in New Orleans. 

In the months prior to my diagnosis I was training for Grandma’s Marathon in Minnesota. I had assumed the fatigue and stomach disturbances I was experiencing were a result of hard training. Most runners pay close attention to their bodies, but we also tend to ignore simple aches and pains. We run because we love it, because it makes us feel whole, and for the joy we find at the finish. Despite my body’s complaining, I continued to accumulate miles.

THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED

On 9 June 2003 I felt so sick I had to go to the emergency room. What I expected to be diagnosed as a simple case of food poisoning led to tests, and new vocabulary I never knew existed. Tests revealed lumps in my right breast and a significant number of lesions on my bones. My doctor convinced me to fly to Duluth, run the marathon and upon my return, meet with the surgeon.

My running partner, Sallie Whitmore, and I did just that.
As Sallie and I wandered the expo, queasiness began to set in.
I quickly became well acquainted with the porcelain fixtures in the bathroom. My marathon was spent in hospital! On my return home, I went to the surgeon. He ordered a biopsy on my breast. The colonoscopy had shown signs of colon cancer. The breast biopsy was also cancerous…

RUNNING TO KEEP SANE

After being diagnosed I continued running. It was something that kept me sane. I actually ran right up until the day before my surgery in late July 2003. My breast cancer was Stage 4 metastatic, which meant the cancer had spread to the colon and bone. My first operation was the colon resection. Some breast tissue and nodes from the top of the breast and under my arm were also removed. Four days after my release from hospital I walked a very slow kilometre around my neighbourhood. The distance increased slightly every other day until the ‘thrilling’ world of chemotherapy ensued.

FIGHTING TO GET BETTER

Chemo was usually on a Friday. I have four sisters and a brother and each of them went to a chemo treatment with me. A friend accompanied me to the last one. The first seven days after a chemo session were the worst. Despite the anti-nausea drug, I was sick the entire time. I watched television, read books and ran back and forth from the couch to the bathroom to the bed constantly. The second set of seven days was slightly better.  I knew I had to try and run. Two days a week I ran 5km with my usual group. These runs were slow with frequent walk breaks and often a pit stop for the toilet. I noticed my running times had slowed considerably. I also required more water but at least I was running.

 
I relished the fresh air on my face; sometimes I even took my hat off and uncovered my bald head allowing the cool air to invigorate me. Most of all I dreamt that one day I would run again without the fear that my stomach would send me off in search of a porcelain bowl! On Saturdays Sallie and I managed about 10km!

During the last seven days of the chemo cycle I actually felt almost normal. I had more energy. I would then try and run three times a week, and sometimes as far as 15km.

My decision to continue running throughout my illness was never in question. I needed to try and live as normally as possible. Running kept me from isolation, it got me out of the house and around my running friends.

FAMILY SUPPORT

I am so grateful to my children, Michael and Zachary. They were in school in California and Florida at the time I got sick. We spoke at least twice a week, and they visited me at Christmas. As a present they gave me an iPod engraved with the words ‘Big
Bald Mama’.

I think the boys liked having a bald mother. Even though it was winter I refused to wear a wig and opted for hats in the cold.
I enjoyed going out to dinner and to the stores bald.
It was great fun watching the children’s eyes widen in wonder. My doctor, my surgeon and my oncologist helped me understand my cancer and its ramifications. I considered them friends not doctors, and refused to call them by their surnames.

My friends Sallie, Nancy, Melissa, Ben and Sue were with me throughout the process. They came to the hospital, they cooked for me when I couldn’t (or wouldn’t), and listened to me complain about how rotten I felt.

DREAMING BIG

In 2006 when we moved to South Africa I was in remission. I joined Strand Athletic Club in Cape Town and ran the Two Oceans Half Marathon in April 2006 and the Winelands Marathon in November. My husband has always supported and encouraged me and he has been at the finish line of most of my races. In 2009 I ran the full Two Oceans Ultra Marathon!

Shortly after moving to South Africa I heard many of my club’s members tell endless stories about the Comrades Marathon. Last year after completing my second Two Oceans I felt it was possible for me to run Comrades. On 1 November at 9am I registered. Within 20 minutes, with my money spent, nervousness ensued. 

My training went well and on 28 May, my husband and I flew to Durban. On the night before the race Mike cooked me dinner and put me to bed by 8:30. Race day was exciting. There were the families of runners, the residents of Pietermaritzburg, and others who had just come out to see the crazy folks run 89km.

At the 10km mark my friend, Candice Winterboer, and her friend Craig Vivian found me. For a down Comrades there sure seemed to be a lot of ‘opdraandes’ but at halfway, I knew I could finish it! I ate oranges, bananas, biscuits and more potatoes than I can count. Drank Coke, Powerade, water and then some more water to wash everything down.

What can I say about Field’s Hill? I asked Candice and Craig, “Is that it?” I had barely noticed it!
My mind was mush by that point. Then we hit Cowie’s Hill and I walked. At Mayville I began to
feel nauseous, but we realised if we picked up the pace we could cross the finish line in just under 11 hours.

At the 1km to go mark we ran! Not a slow slog; we really ran! Entering the stadium was amazing. The crowds were clapping and yelling; the vuvuzelas were blowing. Crossing the finish line was one of the best feelings I have experienced.

A BRIGHT FUTURE

I have several races planned for the future: the Cape Town Marathon in September, several local half marathons, another Two Oceans and of course the Comrades next year. Having goals motivates me to be the best I can.

The South African running community has been so good to me. I found the South African runners to be more focused than Americans. In my opinion this is because of the time limits imposed on races in South Africa. In America there is no time limit for marathons or half marathons. Therefore, not all but most Americans put no emphasis on speed.

FROM THE HEART

The thought that I had cancer and might die never bothered me. I valued my quality of life more than the quantity. Accepting the situation was the first part; then I had to live with it and the impact it had on my life.

To those suffering from cancer my advice to you is to live your life as close as possible to what it was before your diagnosis. Read a novel, check out all those movies you have always wanted to watch. Treat yourself with kindness. And never ever be afraid to ask for help. Ask your doctors questions. And if you want a second opinion, get one.

One of my saving graces was running. It defined me. It allowed me to visit new places, and make new friends. There is always something new to discover whether it is beautiful scenery or new neighbourhoods. I have run in snow, rain, humidity, heat and cold. To me each run was a personal success. Each race was my race, and my finish time mine! I often say I run to keep the weight off. It may have started that way but that plays a small part now.

If you had told me in 1982 that I would be running marathons and ultras in 2010 I would have said you were nuts. Today running is a vital part of my existence. After chemo the oncologist said my life expectancy was around 18-24 months. That was seven years ago! I am not worried that the cancer will return. I have too much living to do and too many races to run!

He had a dream to compete in the 2010 Junior World Championships in Canada. That dream recently came true when 17-year-old Werner Pretorius and his South African team mates set off for Moncton, Canada, to match their skills against their counterparts from all over the world. Werner and his team mates not only experienced international competition at the highest level, but more importantly learnt how a shared passion for sport unites different cultures from all over the world. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS

He had dreamed of the moment forever: walking into the stadium in Canada representing South Africa at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships. And finally on 19 July his dream came true! Werner, a matric pupil from Afrikaans Ho?r Seunskool in Pretoria and one of the country’s top junior 110m hurdlers, was part of the 18 boys and five girls who made up the South African team. Though they only managed to bring home two medals, they all gained valuable experience in the international arena. “If only everybody got close to their PBs, we would have performed much better as a team. Nevertheless we had such great fun and made so many friends from different countries,” says Werner, who qualified for the World Champs in June.
The qualifying time for the 110m hurdles was 13.90;
Werner ran a PB of 13.87.

OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony was something Werner will remember forever. Youngsters from all over the world came together at an indoor track next to the stadium where the Games were held before marching into the stadium. “It felt like the Olympics!
I knew some of the athletes from other countries as I competed against some of them last year. We all got along so well.
This year the South Africans became very good friends with athletes from Germany, Sweden and Finland.” The South African team stayed on a university campus 50km outside the city.

PUTTING THE WRONG FOOT FORWARD

Unfortunately Werner did not perform at his best as he had broken a small bone in his foot only days before he had to compete. “I was with a friend and I was wearing sandals.
Just as I wanted to get into a car, I slipped and stepped into a ditch! I immediately knew I broke a little bone as the same happened last year while wearing the same shoes!” Werner used painkillers to try and manage the pain and got some physiotherapy, but it still had an influence on his performance. “It was not sore but I could feel that I lacked strength in my foot when competing.” Despite this Werner missed going through to the semi-finals by only 0.1sec!

SUPPORT

Werner’s parents as well as his coach, Irma Reyneke (a former 400m and 400m hurdles Springbok) supported Werner at the Games. “Initially when I heard about his foot I thought he was joking! Then I got angry, but we all accepted it and made the best of the situation,” says Irma, who believes Werner has the ability to become a South African record holder. She has been coaching Werner for a little over a year. For her the highlight of the Games was watching the 110m final hurdles event.
“These kids are all so good. There is very little difference between them. The finals were so exciting because the favourites did not win!”

NEW FRIENDS

Werner has made many new friends and can’t wait to go and visit them! “We communicate on Facebook and sms each other daily! They are all great and we all got along so well. It was awesome competing, but for me the highlight of the trip was the after party. All the teenagers from all the different countries came together and partied!”

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDALS

Werner is very proud of his medal-winning team mates, Luvo Manyonga and Tazmin Brits. Boland long jump sensation, Luvo, won the long jump gold medal after producing a final leap of 7.99m. After his win he dedicated his medal to Caster Semenya’s return to international athletics. His win was Team South Africa’s second medal after North West University javelin star Tazmin Brits collected a bronze with an evening best of 54.55m on her fourth throw. Other elite athletes in the South African team included Waide Jooste (100m), Gideon Trotter (100m), Shaun de Jager (400m), Ratlale Mokone (800m),
Rocco van Rooyen (javelin), Dan Goosen (javelin) and Gert Swanepoel (decathlon), all ranked among the top ten in their respective disciplines.

MORE DREAMS

Werner plans to study civil engineering at the University of Pretoria next year and hopes to secure a bursary to further his studies in the United States. For now he is taking a break from athletics and concentrating on his studies before starting training later in the year for the African Junior Champs next year. And of course he has a new dream, to compete at the Olympics in 2012. “I will have to run a time of at least 13.5sec to qualify. Also, by then I will be a senior and the hurdles will be higher. It will be very hard but nothing is impossible.”

He is one of the most experienced and well-known coaches in the country under whose watchful eye many elite athletes and average Joe’s have achieved the ultimate running glory and elusive personal bests. Now you too can be coached by John Hamlett himself! This month sees the launch of the Modern Athlete coaching programme which will make it possible for anyone – from an average walker or runner to an elite athlete – to be coached by the Modern Athlete coaching team, headed up by one of the best in the business. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS

Many of us have been running for years, chasing elusive PBs and hoping each year that it would be our best running year ever. Often we are disappointed when the opposite happens and our times actually get slower and slower. Sometimes we get advice from running buddies or from articles in sporting magazines and our times do improve slightly, but more often than not our running stays stuck in a rut!

Then, on the other end of the scale there are the novices who end up frustrated with injuries due to incorrect training methods. This sometimes completely puts them off the sport of running and often even drives them to cycling!

Our very own Modern Athlete online coaching programme now gives you the opportunity to receive an online coaching programme from one of the best coaches in the country.
Don’t be fooled into believing that coaching programmes
are just for long-distance junkies. Our programmes cover
all distances, which means that if you are a 10km addict,
a goal-driven walker or a Comrades devotee, an individualised programme can be constructed for you.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The programmes will be available for beginners to advanced runners.
Your first step is to log onto
the Modern Athlete website
(www.modernathlete.co.za) and complete a questionnaire to help us individualise your programme.

You will then receive
bi-weekly programmes
from our team headed up by John, who will take all of your goals, current training methods, injuries, previous best times, personal and work circumstances, medical history and much more into consideration before we supply you with the best programme to suit your needs!

Also, an interactive online feedback programme will be available, on which you can interact with John and our team and keep us updated on your progress or bring up any worries you might have regarding your training. We will help with slight adjustments to your programme if need be.
You will be coached in
eight-week cycles for a monthly fee of R249, that’s only R8.30 a day to be
coached by the best. Further to this, Modern Athlete will hold regular coaching seminars for members.
We don’t want to give it all away right now, so for more information log onto our website and find
out how our coaching team can take you from zero to hero!

MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACH
John is no stranger to running. He ran his first marathon at the age of 15 and has been coaching elite and average athletes
for over 30 years. He has a marathon PB of 2:20 and a 10km sub-34min PB.

John is more recently known for his successes with top athletes such as Andrew Kelehe (2001 Comrades winner), Yolandi MacLean (two times Comrades gold medallist), Fusi Nhlapo (2003 Comrades Champion), Lindsay van Aswegen (eighth lady and second South African woman home at Comrades 2010) and Fanie Matshipa (fifth in a time of 5:39 at Comrades 2010).

This former police colonel has come a long way in running circles and has helped more than 30 athletes achieve Comrades gold and more than ten achieve Two Oceans gold. In earlier years he was very involved with the former Liberty Nike running team, which won the team trophy at Comrades a few years ago.

John was recently appointed by South Africa’s top selling car manufacturer, Toyota, as coach of the up-and-coming Team Toyota running club. The new team produced brilliant results at the recent Comrades Marathon and all eyes are on this team to become a powerhouse in years to come.

Don’t feel intimidated; John does not only coach elite runners. Over the last few years he has made a name for himself as the Average Joe’s coach. In many cases his average athletes have achieved not only what they thought was impossible, but more often than not have lost weight in the process. “One of the runners I have coached went from 140kg to 75kg and a six pack in only one year.”

On top of this John has coached schoolchildren, duathletes, triathletes and track athletes. “In all sport disciplines the same training principles apply; the principles of the body don’t change, only the mechanics of it. All disciplines need the same facets; the only difference is how you apply it.”

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
For any training programme to be successful, you have to be prepared to put in the work, warns John. “Firstly, you need to be prepared to change your eating habits if you are currently eating unhealthily. Believe it or not, an average runner has between 15-21% body fat! Runners believe they can eat anything because they run.”

John knows all about incorrect eating habits; in days gone by he was known as the Kentucky King. “I ate Kentucky at least four times a week! Then I went to Russia where I met a professor who taught me all about the science of nutrition. It made a big difference in my life and in those of my athletes.”

John believes that for any training or eating programme to be successful you need to be determined, seek professional guidance, concentrate on quality training, persevere and have realistic goals in place. He does not believe in so-called ‘bucket training’. “You can’t throw people in a bucket and make them all train the same way. Some might improve but only to a certain point. I believe it is important to first establish the individual’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Many of us find time an obstacle in our training; John’s training programme ensures that you train wisely in the time you have available. “If you only have an hour a day to invest, we will make sure that hour counts and that you train smart. Well-known runner Bob de la Motte only had 90 minutes a day to train and he made sure he spent this time well.”

WHY INVEST IN A COACH?
If you train alone without any guidance your running sometimes becomes a bit of a guessing game, says John. “While
I was running competitively I was constantly guessing. One always wonders if you are doing the right thing. Also, often you can’t judge yourself objectively and worry if you have done enough or should have done more. Often many runners don’t even know when they are peaking while others rest so many days before Comrades that they are actually unfit come Comrades day! Runners are too emotionally involved in their training. With a structured coaching programme you know exactly what the next phase is and what you are working towards.”

Runners also tend to find the easy way out and not always the best way. “Many times we run the same 10km route every day and think that what we are doing is okay because we are building up enough kilometres to log in our logbooks. The sad thing is this will not make you a stronger and faster runner.”

Someone once asked what makes for a good elite runner and was answered, “What God left out, I can’t put in.” John believes that every runner has an ability that can be refined, often surpassing their wildest dreams. “There are so many things we can strengthen and perfect in our running. Look at Andrew Kelehe; in 2001 he ran an average of 3:39min/km for the whole 89km. Scientists would have told you earlier that those times aren’t possible. Then along came Leonid Shvetsov and he ran even faster! I believe with the right guidance and training we can all do so much more than we ever thought possible.”

WITH PASSION YOU WILL GO FAR
John has what all brilliant coaches should have: passion!
“I can’t imagine a better job in the world. Every day I meet new and amazing people. People involved in sport are out there to better themselves. You will not find a washout that runs everyday!
Most runners want to improve and everybody
out there has their own goals that make them
special. With the right coaching most runners
will achieve brilliantly!”

Most Modern Athletes have a special sporting goal: it keeps us on our toes and makes for great conversations once we’ve achieved them! We spoke to an elite triathlete and a novice runner about their different upcoming sporting goals.

Richard Murray

Former World Duathlon Champion and top SA mountain biker. He is currently based in the UK and competes on the European racing circuit.

MAIN GOAL
To become the world’s number one triathlete and get to the Olympic Games.

What are your major triathlon goals at the moment?
Becoming the best triathlete in the world is my big goal, but first I need to improve my swim! Right now I want to race International Triathlon Union (ITU) events and gain enough points to race World Triathlon events. Then I want to get a top ten place at the World Triathlon Championships in Budapest on 11 September. My other big goal is to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games in 2012, then go on to win the Olympic triathlon in 2016 or 2020.

How do you intend to achieve your goal?
I want to be able to swim with the top 30, which is vital to gaining a bunch on the bike. That’s going to take a year or two of suffering in the pool before I will be able to really excel.

Tell us about your sporting background and how you got into triathlon.
I began as a cross-country runner at about seven and then did my first triathlon when I was 13, going from stone-last in the swim to winning as I caught up big time in the run. When I was 15 I was the best SA cross-country mountain biker in my age category, and then at 18 and 19, I was two-time World Duathlon Champion. But I asked myself, can I make a living in duathlon? The answer was no, so from last year I focused on triathlon.

Do you have any short-term goals?
Racing is an important factor to improve fitness and see progression in training. I will do about five races in Europe and some swimming events before World Champs to improve my swim and gain open water experience, and this will give me vital fitness, skills and direction to improve for the big race in September. I will also do quite a few African Cup events to get ITU points, which are vital for me to enter the major races in the year to come.

What will you do after you reach your goal?
After ITU triathlons I want to go back to my roots and move into XTERRA. Mountain biking, trail running and swimming in lakes sound like great fun to me. When I’m past my competitive peak, I want to move into coaching and become the TSA coach, to help triathlon become stronger in South Africa. I want to help turn the real potential in our country into world-class athletes.

Dan?l Blaauw

A Johannesburg-based journalist and novice runner.

GOAL
Completing the Spar Women’s 5km Challenge in August in Pretoria.

Why did you choose this specific goal?
I realised that I had to start exercising and I also wanted to lose some weight. I knew the only way to do it was to commit to something and set a goal for myself. I promised two of my girlfriends I would do the Spar ‘fun run’ – as they described it – with them. I thought setting a goal and training for it was the best way of getting into a routine of working out. So now I am going to keep my promise and I am getting a great workout at the same time!

Have you competed in any road races or other sporting events before?
No, I have not exercised for years! Even at high school I was never much of an athlete. I played a bit of netball and tennis and continued for a while after school. Over the years I occasionally worked out in the gym, which involved a bit of running on the treadmill. But other than that I have never competed in organised sporting events.

How do you intend to achieve your goal?
With hard work, commitment and by the looks of it, a lot of exercise, which is so not me! I am sure I am the most unfit person in the whole of Johannesburg. I started going to the gym twice a week since the beginning of July. I increased it to three times a week after three weeks and hopefully I will be in the gym five times a week soon. This will be a huge achievement for me. I am also working out with a personal trainer and a friend gave me a five-week 5km training programme so I can be ready for the Spar Ladies’ Race.

I know for sure that on the day I won’t be able to run the whole 5km without stopping, but I know I will be able to walk/run the distance. I must admit I don’t really like running, but I know it is good for me. This combined with a healthy eating plan will also hopefully put me on my way to shedding a few kilograms by the end of August.

What has been the hardest part of your training?
I am not the most disciplined person and I love my sleep, especially in winter. It has been really hard to get up in the mornings and go to gym. But luckily I paid my gym membership in advance and I know I have to go in order to achieve my goal.

And then of course there is the promise that I made to my girlfriends. I can’t disappoint them! My working hours are getting in the way of my training; I am in and out of the city a lot and I’m also going on holiday. I am worried I won’t stick to my training programme, but I am determined to try.

What would you like to achieve on the day?
I just want to complete the 5km without having to drag myself over the finish line, or asking my girlfriends to drag me! I want to have enough fitness by then so I can enjoy it. I am not setting a finishing time for myself. I just want to run, walk and have fun. And if I can burn lots of calories in the process I’ll be in seventh heaven! I am looking forward to crossing the finish line knowing that I set a goal for myself and achieved it! It is also going to be great being surrounded by so many women all having fun and working towards different goals.

Any plans to reward yourself if you achieve your goal?
If I finish and also manage to lose a few kilograms by race day, I will definitely be rewarding myself with a pair of Lee Cooper jeans!

What are your sporting goals after you reach your goal?
I want to swim the Midmar Mile in January… another promise to two girlfriends…

Many of us visualize Russia as a mysterious country and in the running world, a country that produces top athletes year after year. In fact, some of the Comrades greats hail from this former communist country. Nick Bester, Manager of the Nedbank Running Club, caught up with Dmitri Grishin, Comrades Champion of 1996 and 1998, and other international Russian athletes in their home town of Vladimir.

A ROUND TRIP!
Dmitri and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. Though we have been great competitors we have built up a special friendship over the years. I visited him for the first time in October last year when my son took part in the Junior World Cycling Championships held in Russia.

This year my wife and I visited our son who is currently cycling for a professional team in Spain. We decided to travel from Spain to Russia and visit Dmitri, who is always complaining we don’t see each other often enough. We travelled from Moscow to St Petersburg and then eventually to Vladimir, about 200km from Moscow.

CATCHING UP
One of the first things I realised when catching up with Dmitri was that he certainly knows how to turn running success into business success. When Dmitri retired from competitive running in 2005 he did not fall into unemployment and poverty like many top runners. He started with a totally new career that he knew nothing about and turned it into a great success story.

At the end of 2005 he started to build houses in his hometown, Vladimir. Since then he has completed and sold 14 luxury houses with the biggest measuring 600 square metres. Some of the houses are being sold for about R5 million. The residents are naming one of the streets in Vladimir, Dmitri Prospect, as he has built four outstanding houses in this street.

The houses are incredible inside and the workmanship is amazing; some have indoor swimming pools, underfloor heating systems and electricity as well as gas facilities with sophisticated operating systems.

A PROUD HUSBAND AND FATHER
Dmitri is married to Nikita and they are the proud parents of three strong boys. He says he will try for a daughter once again but not before 2016 because in true Russian fashion his doctor advises him that his genes and blood are too strong and dominating, so the chances are that he will not produce a girl before then!

He does not train much these days, but is still as lean as ever. He ran a 5km race the other day just for the fun of it.

While the Spanish fill up with bread and pasta, the Russians enjoy mostly protein, salad and vegetables. Physically the Spaniards are a bit ‘rounder and softer’ while the Russians are more like lean machines. They are very health conscious and thrive on fresh fruit and vegetables. One day we travelled to a small town just to buy fresh cherries and berries from people who grow them in their backyards.

FAMOUS FRIENDS
Another Comrades gold medallist and Comrades runner-up in 2000, and one of Dmitri’s best friends and training partners for many years, is Alexi Volgin. He lives around the corner from Dmitri with his wife, Natalia. She is also a Comrades gold medallist who is now concentrating on marathon running. She recently ran a great time of 2:29 at a marathon in Frankfurt.

We also met up with Andrei Pisminiy, former President of Ultra Runners in Russia. He is currently the manager of the biggest professional running club in Russia. There are no social running clubs such as in South Africa, only some big professional clubs.

One evening when we all went for dinner at a local restaurant, we realised that between the four of us we have a total of 20 Comrades gold medals! I have nine gold medals, Dmitri has four, Alexi has six and Natalia has one. Not bad for a table of four in a quiet Russian town.

Natalia belonged to the former Harmony Running Club, which I managed in earlier years. She won the Two Oceans Marathon in 2002 and got that gold at Comrades. We had such a good time and strangely enough we did not talk much about running. We actually spoke about everything and anything, life in general which was nice and refreshing.

DOING IT THE RUSSIAN WAY
One thing about the Russians that I admire is their hospitality and friendliness! They always send you away with gifts. While Dmitri was in South Africa, he stayed with Piet Botha, son of Pik Botha, former SA politician. Dmitri sent me away with a Special Edition bottle of Hennessey, a brand of cognac, that he wanted me to give to Piet. One can’t buy Special Editions; Dmitri specially phoned a friend at the head office to ask for ten bottles!

While visiting Dmitri, the Russian twins, Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva, phoned and said they heard I was in the country. We had a nice chat, and they invited me to visit them sometime. They were taking a break after Comrades, but were slowly starting to train again despite being on holiday.

Dmitri is very keen on South Africa. When he was here the last time he shot some game and I recently helped him get his trophies back to Russia. He will be visiting South Africa towards the end of the year with friends.

It was awesome visiting them; I will go back any day! They are like family.