Category: Features

Despite his wealth of Comrades experience, former race winner Shaun Meiklejohn may be a little nervous when he lines up for the big ultra in May, but he will be spurred on by the great cause he is running for – and a bit of friendly competition.

With 21 Comrades Marathon medals to his name, ten gold and the rest silver, it’s strange to hear 1995 winner Shaun Meiklejohn say that he feels like a novice ahead of this year’s race, because it will be his first Comrades in seven years. Having run every Comrades but one between 1982 and 2003, the 48 year old explains, “I just felt I needed a break. After that I didn’t do much in terms of running. I put on weight and battled for a few years to get started again.” He also struggled with calf injuries and thought his running days were over.

However, things turned around in May 2009 when a nutritional consultant in Westville tested him on the B.E.S.T. (Bio-Energetic Stress Testing) system. Advised to eliminate wheat, dairy, sugar and alcohol from his diet for six weeks, Shaun soon lost 15 kilograms. “My energy levels increased dramatically and running became enjoyable again.” Fortunately, his calf problems also disappeared.

GREAT CAUSE
Shaun, who lives in Hilton and works as a financial manager for a plant hire company in Pietermaritzburg, now says that he realises he has a lot to be grateful for in life, including his running ability, and wants to give something back. “I would like to see others benefit from my run, either financially through fundraising or through creating an awareness and introducing new talent to the sport.”

He will therefore be running for the Comrades Marathon Association’s Amabeadiebeadie charities, the Mr Price Red Cap Foundation as well as the iThemba Projects’ run4africa initiative to form the Mashaka Running Club in Sweetwaters. Shaun has offered to be an ambassador and coach for the new club, and says, “I hope that iThemba will also be able to target other areas where there is a need, such as the education of children through proper mentoring and training of their teachers.”

FLASHBACK
Shaun ran his first Comrades during his second year at varsity in Pietermaritzburg. After earning seven silvers he broke into the golds in 1989, and national colours followed. In 1994 he represented South Africa at the World 100km Champs in Japan, finishing fourth, a result he repeated a year later in Holland. He also won the famous London to Brighton ultra in the UK in 1994. Then came his big day. “I started running for Mr Price in 1995 and their sponsorship allowed me to run as a full-time athlete. I won the Comrades that year, giving Mr Price Athletics their first winner. I have received tremendous support from them over the years and they are now supporting my endeavours to give back to the sport.”

He went on to become one of only seven runners to reach double figures for Comrades gold medals. “I’m really chuffed about it, because not many guys have ten or more. I never considered myself a natural athlete, so running ten golds made me really proud.”

Shaun says he hopes to finish in seven hours and earn another silver this year, but will also be keeping an eye on a number of well-known faces. That’s because the CMA liked his idea of a Legends Challenge for 2010, so Shaun will be racing the likes of Bruce Fordyce, Willie Motolo and Andrew Kelehe within the main race. “I’m sure the ‘old timers’ still have a bit of a competitive streak in them to get the best out of these tired bodies,” he concludes with a smile.

Publisher’s Note
What Shaun is doing for all the Modern Athletes of the future is a true example of what makes our sport and the people involved so special. Shaun, we at Modern Athlete salute you and appeal to all Comrades runners, supporters and our readers to support your cause as we wish you well for the 30th of May.

Meiklejohn’s Mantra
With many older, former Comrades runners returning for the 85th anniversary race this year, former winner Shaun Meiklejohn offers the following advice:
1. Set realistic goals: You’re older, you’ve had a lay-off, so you probably won’t be able to run at the same level as before.
2. Do enough training: You can’t just rely on experience to get you through Comrades. You need time on your legs.
3. Rest! Nowadays my hard training days aren’t as hard, but I still make sure I have easy days between them.
4. Prepare mentally. You need a plan for tackling the Comrades. I break it up into four 21s, then a little 8km time trial, which seems much less daunting.

Eating out is a major part of our social culture. We all enjoy having scrumptious meals prepared for us in restaurants. For runners a breakfast out after a long and hard run is often the cherry on top of a good training weekend, but often it can also be challenging. Over indulging and making the wrong food choices can leave you feeling guilty and erase all the hard work and health benefits you gained from your long run.

However, eating out does not necessarily mean you have to over indulge. By simply making a few healthier choices you can stay well within the realm of a healthy lifestyle. Here’s how:

QUICK BREAKFAST TIPS
1. Portion control is vital. Listen to your body, eat slowly and don’t over eat. Remember, you can over indulge on healthy food. If the portion is too big, you are over eating!
2. Choose a mixture of both carbs and protein. It helps optimize muscle refuelling and repair. For example, choose scrambled eggs on toast versus a plain cheese omelette.
3. Avoid excess fat. Opt for low fat or fat free milk. Hold back on margarine or butter on your toast or oats. If you are having brunch, ask for salad, vegetables or a baked potato as a side dish rather than potato wedges or chips. Stay away from dressings, sauces and dips and opt for olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dress salads.
4. Fresh is best. Fresh vegetables and fruit juices have less preservatives, additives and colourants than artificial ones. Add fresh fruit rather than fruit syrups to foods.
5. Choose unrefined/high-fibre carbs. Choose health, rye or seed bread over white or brown. Opt for plain yoghurt instead of fruit yoghurt and choose bran muffins over scones/croissants/non-bran muffins. Remember, vegetable juices are lower in sugar and carbs than fruit juices.

BEST CHOICES
How to order eggs: Eggs are a great source of protein, but can be very high in fat and calories. Order poached or scrambled eggs rather than fried eggs. Don’t bluff yourself with omelettes; they can be very oily depending on the restaurant and the fillings. Try ordering an egg white omelette and choose fillings such as grilled peppers, mushrooms, tomato and spinach.
How to order burgers: Choose chicken burgers over beef burgers. Remember, adding cheese, egg or bacon increases the fat amount so rather go without. If you want to add something, choose fresh tomato, lettuce or pineapple. Always keep in mind the type of place you are ordering from, for example, burgers from a coffee shop are generally lower in bad fats and sugar than burgers from fast food outlets.
How to order sandwiches: Open sandwiches are a great option. Choose health bread (without added margarine or butter) and toppings such as avocado, lean roast beef, tuna, chicken (hold back on too much mayonnaise), mozzarella and grilled halloumi.
How to order muesli and yoghurt: Though it sounds healthy, muesli and yoghurt is often not the best option as it is very high in carbs and fat, depending on the type of yoghurt and muesli. Ask for non-toasted Swiss muesli and plain yoghurt.
How to order oats: This is a great option, depending on what you add. Don’t add butter. Rather, add a bit of low fat milk, honey and cinnamon.
How to order a full breakfast: Almost all sausages are laced with unhealthy fats. Try substituting the sausage with baked beans, grilled mushroom, tomato or even a piece of grilled halloumi. Opt for grilled rather than fried tomato, mushrooms, onions, etc. Grilled tomato is very in high in the anti-oxidant lycopene.

The Dietician’s Choice

Use the key below to help you order a tasty and healthy breakfast at the following food outlets:

BOOST JUICE
Brekkie to gogo (450ml): Banana, toasted muesli, honey, low fat milk or soy, TD4 vanilla yoghurt, ice and an energising booster.

GLOBAL WRAPPS
Power Breakfast Wrapp: Boiled egg, bacon, sliced potato, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise and chopped tomato (HINT: Replace the bacon with mushrooms and the mayonnaise with avocado).

KAUAI
Power Oats: Oats with almonds, banana and fat free milk (HINT: Don’t add butter to your oats).
OR
Morning Riser: Free range scrambled eggs, cheddar, tomato, spring onion and green pepper served on a buttered roll (HINT: Replace the cheddar with mozzarella cheese and ask for no butter on roll).

MUGG & BEAN
Bowl of Warm Oats: Oats and almonds.
OR
Delite Breakfast: Poached eggs and gypsy ham on health toast with cream cheese, cherry tomatoes and a slice of fresh apple (HINT: Replace cream cheese with cottage cheese and ask for no added butter on the toast).

FOURNOS BAKERY
Scrambled Eggs and Smoked Salmon Bruschetta: Scrambled eggs on Italian bruschetta toast served with smoked salmon and chunky cheese.
OR
Make Your Own Breakfast: Choose poached eggs, spinach and feta, grilled tomato and a slice of non-buttered low GI bread.

DOPPIO ZERO
Open Vegetable Stack: Rocket, grilled halloumi, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and avocado on low GI bread.

The 29 Minute Challenge

From zero to hero in one short year

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge was a day that I can only compare to the first day of high school. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it was coming, but I didn’t want to think about it. I knew that this day would be a landmark in my life. It would be the day that I either gave in and lost a personal challenge, or broke through every barrier I had ever created and found the physical and mental strength to succeed. I had set myself a difficult goal, and had to find the courage from somewhere deep within to achieve it. – BY NA’AMA OREN

The week leading up to the challenge was a tense one for me. As the day came closer and closer, I began to panic more and more, and yet when the day came, a strange sense of calm settled over me. I knew on that day that I had worked hard enough, trained for long enough and prepared my mind enough. I was ready.

I wasn’t entirely convinced that I was going to meet my target time, but I was totally committed to trying. The support I got from my running buddies was incredible, and the hours and minutes flew by. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, my little group of encouragers and I were standing just 20 metres from the starting line. Despite the rain, my determination couldn’t be dampened and as the starting buzzer sounded, I started to run with my friends, David and Michelle, on either side of me. They had known for a long time what my goal was, and they were determined to help me achieve it.

The first kilometre came and went in a blur as we flew past the massive number of entrants. Although butterflies were still crashing into the walls of my stomach, I was feeling confident. David, our timekeeper, reported that we were on track, having beat the first kilometre in impressive time.

I was breathing hard as we passed the second kilometre. All the tension I had been holding onto was beginning to release, but it had already had an effect on my body. My shoulder muscles were sore and, though the distance could be considered measly by anyone’s standards, my legs were already starting to ache. But on we went, with Michelle talking to me, distracting me and David spontaneously shouting encouragements: “Well done! That’s it girl. You make Joburg great!”

Up the hills and down the hills, over flats and in between the throngs of runners we kept pushing on. At 300m to go, I saw the field lights flickering before me. “Okay,” Michelle decided, “As soon as we get to the gates, we have to run in. Give it everything you’ve got.”

We picked up the pace at the gates and ran all the way down to the finish line. With just 40 metres to go, I started feeling every training session, every early morning, every time I pushed myself. “I’m going to throw up!” I exclaimed. “I have to stop!”

“No, we’re nearly there,” Michelle assured me. “There’s the finish line.” And there it was. Suddenly all the pain and the worry disappeared and I picked up the pace to the finish line.

We went through the finish in 43 minutes, not 29. You may be asking yourself at this point whether I was disappointed, whether I felt as though all my hard work had been for nothing. I wasn’t, and it wasn’t. The feeling of elation I felt as we crossed the finish line nearly knocked me off my feet, because I knew even then that the time I had taken wasn’t important. It was the journey I took to get there. My goal, it turns out, had not been to get a certain time, but to get to the last milestone of the difficult road I had set myself to run.

To put my whole journey into perspective, I had to think about the statistics. In my eight month running journey I had: Taken 15 minutes off my time for the JP Morgan, lost six kilograms and gone down two dress sizes, made an uncountable number of friends, and built a type of self-esteem that I doubt I could ever have achieved without running.

My new motto to live by? Running is not about the destination or the distance. It’s about the journey. I hope that everyone who doesn’t believe they can achieve anything they put their minds to, thinks about the way my life changed when I dared to challenge myself to go further than I ever thought I could.

I wish I had the words to thank everyone who has touched my life for the support and encouragement they’ve given me, for the determination they’ve shown me and for the opportunities they’ve allowed me, but I would need libraries worth of paper to do it. A special thanks to Mike for the opportunity, to David, Michelle and other Michelle for the support and encouragement and to all the members of Jeppe, for being such incredible role models.

My next goal? Well, I’ve booked to do my first half marathon in April, my first 32km in May and hope to do my first full marathon by the end of July. Setting these goals in the future not only keeps me running, but also allows me to keep developing and growing, fulfilling my potential not just as an athlete, but as a person.

 

She has seven children, 24 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She has lived through a war, studied at a technikon at the age of 58 and worked full time until she turned 70. More amazingly, at the age of 86, Lorna Cochran has just completed her 12th consecutive Midmar Mile, becoming the oldest finisher in the history of the race. And there is no holding her back. For this great-grandmother, life – and training – has just started!

When Lorna Cochran lined up at the start of the Midmar Mile two years ago at the age of 84, someone asked her if she would be back the following year. “My dear, at my age we don’t buy green tomatoes because we might not live to see them ripe!” But Lorna has returned to the world’s largest open water swimming event twice. No small feat for someone who is heading for her 90s!

Lorna speaks passionately about her lifelong love of sport and her love for her sporty family. Sitting on a chair in the Methodist Home in Benoni where she lives, she effortlessly lifts her leg almost all the way to her head and explains the exercises she does twice a week with other residents and a fitness trainer. It is hard to believe that Lorna is at an age where most people don’t even think about exercise.

BORN TO BE SPORTY
Whilst Lorna hails from Springs in the East Rand, as a child she attended a convent in Newcastle. “I did not pay much attention in class, but when anybody even just whispered something about sport, I was there!” At school she danced, sang, played music, tennis, hockey and swam. “We did not have cars in those days and walked everywhere. We walked 4km to church and back and never thought anything of it. “

Lorna married her husband, Ewan, and had her first four children within five years of their wedding. The family moved to the former Rhodesia for a while, but returned to South Africa in 1968. Shortly afterwards, Ewan sadly passed away and Lorna had to start working again. “I hadn’t worked for years so I took the first job I could. When I turned 58 there were whispers that I would have to retire at the age of 60. That is when I decided to go back to technikon and redo my typing qualification. I wanted to use that as a bargaining point to keep a job.” Lorna then started working at a new company at the age of 60 before eventually retiring ten years later at the age of 70. In this time she kept her love for exercise going by playing tennis and walking (one of her sons owned a Run/Walk for Life franchise).

THE START OF A MEMORABLE JOURNEY
Lorna never really considered taking up swimming until her son, Neil, completed his first Midmar Mile and persuaded his mother to join him the following year. “It was all Neil’s fault that I started swimming! He came back from the Midmar Mile and said, ‘Mom, I think you can do this.’ My first thought was, ‘You do?’ I was 75 years old.”

That was in 1998. Neil fetched his mother three to four times a week to train at a nearby pool in Boksburg. “I could not even swim one lap (50m) the first time in the pool. I slowly started alternating breast stroke and freestyle and gradually improved. Within five months I could swim 1 200m!”

Lorna admits to being extremely nervous when she arrived at the start of her first Midmar Mile. “I was so frightened and was even thinking of ducking! As I got into the water I realised I could do it and when I finished, it felt so good that I became hooked.”

Every year since, Lorna stayed fit by playing tennis in winter and walking regularly before starting her swimming training in summer. She was so committed that she eventually trained alone in the mornings in a pool close to her home. Before she knew it, she was on her way to her tenth Midmar Mile. “I just kept going. It can get a little bit lonely living where I live, especially when you come from a very big family. Participating in the Midmar Mile makes you feel you are part of something. It has a sense of camaraderie and fun.”

A SPECIAL YEAR
2008 was a very special year for Lorna. Not only did many of her children and grandchildren join her on her tenth voyage, but it was also her son, Neil’s, tenth swim. The family had t-shirts made with the letters ‘TLC’ printed on the front and ‘Team Lorna Cochran’ on the back.

Lorna speaks of her family with great love and admiration. “My whole family has always been there for me. Their support and encouragement have been amazing.” Most of Lorna’s family is very sporty; Neil is a Comrades runner and Ironman finisher. His daughter, Rose, is also a Comrades finisher while many of Lorna’s other children and grandchildren partake in some form of sport. “When Neil finished the Ironman, I ran to him at the finish line. One of the spectators commented that she hopes that his wife can keep up with him. My daughter-in-law turned around and said, ‘Excuse me, I am the wife. That is the 85-year-old mother!’“

She would love to tackle the Midmar Mile again next year, but Lorna admits that it is getting harder every year. She completed her first Midmar Mile in 53:45 and her tenth in 60:10. She struggled with her breath last year and initially thought she was not going to make it. “This year was better. The water was a bit choppy and it took quite a bit of effort, but I didn’t push. It would be ridiculous to do so as I wouldn’t get to the end! I just see how I feel when I’m in the water.” Lorna has been awarded the Oldest Lady Finisher Trophy for the last three years, and she proudly displays it in her house.

A WAY OF LIFE
Exercise is a way of life for Lorna. She still walks three times a week, and joins in when residents from the Methodist Home go for walks at the nearby bird sanctuary. “They walk about 2.5km, but sometimes it is not much of a workout for me, so I try to add another 500m or so,” she chuckles. “After exercise I always feel so good!”

Many residents in the Methodist Home have taken up exercise after seeing Lorna’s passion for life and training. “Since I have been here a few people have started walking, even if it is just in the complex. I believe people have to motivate themselves. Even if you just walk around the block you have to do something. Exercise keeps me young; walking keeps my limbs moving and when I swim, there is not a lot of strain on the body. I can’t imagine not exercising.”

Lorna has never felt like giving up. “I believe you have to push through the challenge and be mentally strong. If the thought of giving up crosses my mind, I always think of these words: Remember that the task ahead of you is never as great as the power and potential within you.”

She is doing what many sport crazy athletes dream of every day, training full time and competing in some of the most exciting races internationally. Caroline Koll, one of South Africa’s top female triathletes, describes being a professional triathlete as the best job in the world! She is living her dream, but success comes with hard work.

To explain the origins of one’s athletic career requires a significant amount of retrospection. The reason one embarks on a journey in endurance sport is most often a quest for self satisfaction. I cannot recall a specific day when I decided to become an athlete, nor have I ever considered myself to have exceptional natural talent. Rather, talent and success came with hard work.

FAMILY TIES
I was born to immigrant parents, a stern German father and an even sterner French mother. I am sure that I acquired my adventurous side from them; after all, to come from ‘civilised’ Europe to darkest Africa in the 60s was no small feat! My schoolteacher mother instilled a strong sense of discipline in my older sister and me from a young age. In fact, education was considered of primary importance, and there was no play until the homework was done, and I mean all the homework!

I come from a non-sporting family, so my initial enjoyment of sport actually came from outdoor play with the local neighbourhood boys. I was not strong enough to tackle for a rugby ball (and it hurt!), so I employed the strategy that if I ran fast enough, I wouldn’t get caught or hurt! Climbing trees was also a firm favourite. It required a slight build, agility and brains. I became an accomplished tree climber, and this could have become my career of choice, were it not for the day I decided to see if I could ‘fly’ out of the tree, and fell heavily to the ground, tearing all the ligaments in my ankle. My thinking was that at least I had tried, and discovered for myself what was and wasn’t possible. It is very much this line of thinking that has driven me through my sporting career.

FINDING MY WAY
My first taste of conventional sport came in primary school, where, fortunately, I was exposed to a variety of sports. Having been blessed with poor eyesight (I say blessed because it forced me to focus harder on the things that I could do), I was obliged to wear rather thick glasses that, apart from being cumbersome and impractical, often caused me to bear the brunt of school bullies. I decided that if I could be better than those kids at something, they could not take that away from me. I started off my quest with a variety of sports, but it was swimming and running that I enjoyed most in the PE classes.

As I mentioned, sports in my home was never a priority, so there was never a chance that my parents would send me to a coach of any sort. Besides, at that stage I thought only good athletes went for coaching. I never suspected that you might actually go to a coach in order to become good! So my inspiration came from watching my mother, who can swim only breaststroke (and never gets her hair wet), and my older sister in our little pool at home. My sister, four years older, was naturally bigger and faster and I remember finding this very annoying. I decided that if I couldn’t beat her, I would swim further than her! I would set challenges for myself, like swimming a hundred lengths of the pool (which measured a whole ten metres in length). Eventually, when my eyes were bloodshot from the chlorine and the sun had gone down, my mother would threaten me with a hiding if I did not get out of the pool! Even though I could hardly see a thing without my glasses (and I couldn’t swim with them on for practical reasons), I enjoyed the school swimming galas and was especially proud that I did not come last!

MY LOVE FOR RUNNING
It was in high school that I developed my love for running. I tried almost every sport available at the school, but with a complete lack of hand/eye co-ordination, I was usually the last one picked for any team! The school athletics season brought with it requests for anyone who was willing to run, especially in the middle and longer distances. I was ‘anyone’! With a bit of encouragement from the high school coach, I soon realised that I could actually run quite well, and I went on to win some 800m events at the inter high school league meetings. No serious achievements by a long stretch, but it developed the love for running and competition that I have today.

TRIATHLONS
My involvement in triathlons only came about at age 20 when I was a student at Wits University. With no access to a club and no car to get to races, I was at a loose end when it came to athletics and merely ran at home to keep fit and get some air. It was at the local gym that I saw a leaflet for a triathlon taking place in my hometown of Benoni. I decided I was up for the challenge!

My first triathlon was a challenge to say the least. Even though I was a capable swimmer, I didn’t realise that one actually had to navigate and by the end of the swim, I found myself firmly planted in an outcrop of reeds, and firmly in second last place! I did finish the race that day, and it became the starting point of my career in triathlon.

When it comes to triathlon, the driving factor for me has always been the belief that I could do better. Even if you win a race, there is always someone out there who is better than you and can beat you. Chasing your best performance is what defines the dream.

RACING ABROAD
After completing an honours degree in politics, I decided to spend a couple of months racing abroad in France. I did some research and eventually found a club that was willing to take me on, just outside of Paris. It was a brave move, going overseas on my own, not knowing anyone, but it turned out to be one of the best life experiences! Having won the junior ranks back home, I thought that this would continue in the French club races. Instead, I got a whipping of note! The triathlon clubs in France are very well organised, and the standard, even back then, was very high. I ended up consoling myself with French pastries, but determined to come back a better athlete. For the next few years I worked at a local bike shop back home, which hardly made me rich but allowed me more flexibility to train. I would save every cent I made to go and race in France during the SA winter. Every time I went back, I would get a bit stronger and a bit faster. The experiences I gained there, I could not have gotten staying home. I eventually started gaining podiums and even winning races in France, which was highly motivating for me. I relished in the atmosphere of the French races – I mean where else in the world are you served lunch after the race? Meeting other athletes from all over the world was also a very enriching experience. Even to this day, I have friends stationed in all corners of the globe!

LOCAL BREAKTHROUGH
Locally, the breakthrough year for me was 2003 when I won the elite category of the South African Championships. It was a surprise for some, but I wanted nothing more than to prove to myself that I could win. Unfortunately the Olympic dream was never going to happen for me. We were required to race the World Cup Circuit and obtain sufficient points to be ranked in the top 50 in the world. At the time, the cost of competing in these races was entirely our own and we did not receive any support at all. I tried, at great personal expense, but it was nearly impossible to maintain a top position when competing with wealthier nations who fully supported their athlete’s campaigns on the circuit. Apart from that, I don’t think that I ever swam fast enough to get into the front pack of an international race and be a serious contender.   

IRONMAN
My interest in long course triathlons came from reading the exploits of Raynard Tissink, who I think has played an integral role in bringing the lure of Ironman events to South Africa. At the age of 23 I did my first Ironman in Gordon’s Bay. Ironically, I had had an altercation with a car three weeks before, and broke my ribs and collar bone. I ended up in hospital and in my delusional state was apparently causing quite a scene because I was afraid of catching the flu from the other patients! The doctor told me to rest for six weeks. I told the doctor I would rest for three days. True to my word, I was back in the pool three days after the accident, and three weeks later, I raced my first Ironman with a broken collar bone. I finished way down in 11:35, but the challenge of Ironman was real! Competing in an Ironman is primarily a challenge to one’s self, and then a competition against others.

I have since competed in many Ironman races. I can’t remember how many. For me, it is only the last one that counts and how you are going to improve in the next one. Sometimes you take a step forward, other times you go backwards, and that is what makes racing the Ironman so hard. I have finished on the podium (third in Ironman Korea 2006), and I have failed miserably, even walking 28km (Ironman Cozumel 2009)!
When people ask, “When are you going to give it up and get a real job?” I can only reply, “I have the best job in the world – chasing my dream!” How many people can honestly say that?

Career Highlights
 South African Elite Champion –  Long Course (2002; 2010)
 South African Elite Champion –  Olympic Distance (2003)
 Third in Ironman Korea (2006)
 Fifth in Ironman South Africa (2009)
 Third in Powerman Malaysia (2009)
 Third in Ostseeman Germany (2009)
 Ninth in 70.3 Switzerland
 First at Vaal Marathon in 2:55 (2010)

Interviewing Carl Peatfield once again made me realise what special people some of our fellow ‘Modern Athletes’ really are, and just how much we take for granted every time we put on our running shoes. Have you ever wondered what the story is behind the person you are passing or being passed by during a race? If you are a regular on the circuit, chances are you may have been passed by Carl Peatfield. Here is his story.

When someone mentions cyanide poisoning, you generally think about the World Wars or James Bond movies. A fatal dose for a human can be as low as 1.5mg per kilogram of body weight. Carl Peatfield is one of the few humans alive to have survived an acute dose of cyanide poisoning and lived, not only to tell the story, but to become a truly remarkable Modern Athlete.

CARL, THE RISING STAR
In the 90s Carl was a tough runner of slight frame with a good head for ultra distance racing. He was starting to show phenomenal potential on the road and by 1999, had completed ten consecutive Comrades Marathons, running five bronze and five silver medals, with a best time of 7:00. Many of his club mates believed he was well on his way to breaking the magical 6:30 mark. He simply loved running. He trained hard and his pocket battleship style earned him the nickname ‘Mighty Mouse’ on the road.

ONE OF THE BOYS
Off the road, Carl was well liked. He loved being in the company of the local boys and enjoyed a social beer. In fact, he earned himself a second nickname, ‘Rush Hour’. His wife in those days used to keep close tabs on him, so when he met the boys at the local pub for a ‘quick’ beer, he only had an hour to have a few cold ones. This translated into one beer every ten minutes, or a six-pack in ‘rush hour’.

A LIFE CHANGING DAY
Carl worked as a general manager for Ergo in Brakpan until his life changed one day in November 1999. The staff was doing general maintenance on a tank at the plant when Carl got a call on his radio, informing him that a worker, Aiden Laurence, was down with a cyanide leak in an open-ended tank. Carl immediately ran to the tank and without any regard for his own safety, he and a fellow employee, John Ruff, got Aiden out. Sadly, it was all to no avail as Aiden died. Carl and John, though alive, had taken in huge amounts of cyanide.

Carl was rushed to Milpark Hospital and declared 85% dead. He was in a coma for seven days and the prognosis was that if he survived, he would never be normal again. But Carl was a runner in great endurance condition and had a tough head on his shoulders, and he was going to fight to the bitter end. Carl did recover, eventually coming out of his coma and slowly starting the long road to rehabilitation. A disconnection in the signals sent to Carl’s brain meant he had to learn to walk again with the use of footmark decals on his floor at home. He was officially declared ‘disabled’ and released from Ergo. Carl’s colleague John, also suffered some serious injuries and today still battles with speech.

FIGHTING BACK
“At first I could not walk. I needed help with everything, even tying my shoelaces, but I slowly started walking. Nearly eight weeks after the accident – on New Year’s Day – I walked alone around the block! Those were my first steps to recovery. And that was the day that I knew I would run again,” says Carl.

With the help of his club mates, Carl eventually made it back to training. His first ‘race’ was about three months after the accident. Carl asked his wife to drop him at the 5km-to-go marker of the Johnson Crane Marathon in Benoni. “I waited for my club mates and walked/ran with them to the finish! I kept on training. Club mates such as Barry Holland came to my house and ran with me. I even kept a logbook.”

In the middle of 2000, Carl ran his first 10km race and in April 2002, completed his first marathon in a time of 3:45. Being a true Modern Athlete his goal wasn’t just to complete these runs; it was to get back to the Comrades Marathon!

A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
The break in transmission signals in Carl’s brain meant that he needed a push in the back to start moving forward. It also meant that he fell forward more often on the runs. Grazes on his hands and knees saw him resort to running in leather gloves and using knee pads. He persevered and did the unthinkable; he entered the 2002 Comrades Marathon, less than three years after being in a coma.

He had some great club mates and friends who dedicated their time and training to help this remarkable human being run his dream race. Alfie Pain, Eddie Oliver, Declan Kavanagh and Dario Scaggiante trained with Carl. Because he was so unstable, these athletes made the decision to run Comrades with Carl strapped into a ‘harness’, while they held the straps on each of the four corners. “I was going to try and run alone, but the night before the race, Alfie phoned and said he had a harness for me. The next morning Declan, Dario and Eddie also pitched up!”

Carl can only remember some parts of that incredible day in 2002. “The harness was quite comfortable. The guys held onto it and it helped, especially on the downhills where I usually fell forward. I remember going through halfway with twelve minutes to spare. The guys kept on encouraging me. I never wanted to give up. I knew we would make it!”

But Carl and his team were cutting things fine. Dario had fallen off the pace and Eddie, Declan and Alfie were starting to feel the exhaustion. With ten minutes to go, a huge crowd had gathered on the bridge entering the stadium, not knowing whether or not Carl would make the cut off of 11 hours.

A huge cheer broke out and people started hugging each other and crying as Carl came into the stadium, pulling Eddie, Declan and Alfie in tow. “I couldn’t see the crowds properly, but I could hear them cheering ‘Go Carl!’ Tears streamed down my face.”

This little Mighty Mouse had found the strength to run all the way and nothing was going to stop him getting to the finish. They crossed the finish line in 10:55. Carl and his loyal friends had just created one of the most memorable moments in the history of this great race.

CARL TODAY
Today there are still many things he struggles with. Carl runs unassisted, but still falls every so often. Occasionally, he ends up in the medical tent because he has forgotten to drink enough and becomes dehydrated.

He has completed seven Comrades Marathons since the accident and even got a Bill Rowan in 2009. He enjoys Two Oceans and recently ran the New York City Marathon and the London Marathon. Carl’s style on the road is very distinctive; he tends to slap the ground hard with one foot and, though he looks awkward, his determination to get to the finish is incredible. “My body has become used to the way I run, but I get frustrated because I still sometimes fall.”

He works as a road leader at the Edenvale branch of Run/Walk for Life. Carl can often be seen riding his bike in the neighborhood. “I go everywhere with my bike! In the mornings I ride to gym and afterwards I go for a run. I also run at night and try to do about 90km a week.”

He met his partner, Gale Visagie, at RWFL and they often train together. “She keeps me motivated and inspired. My kids, Robyn (19) and Gregory (15), also play a huge role in my life.” Carl says his many friends (amongst others Mario Alvares, Tony Da Silva and John Pimm) hold a special place in his heart.

“A positive attitude and self belief have brought me this far.” In a motivational speech, Carl explained his theory of how to live: “It is no secret that life can be full of difficulties. Sometimes when things go wrong it can seem almost impossible to maintain a positive attitude. Just remember, tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

Running has kept Carl alive and motivated; it gives him a reason to get up in the morning and to look past what happened to him. It makes you realise how lucky we are to run as healthy, full-bodied athletes and how incredible and special some of the Modern Athletes who share the road with us really are…

THE EFFECTS OF CYANIDE POISONING
Cyanide affects the cells of an organism such that they are unable to use oxygen. Inhalation of high concentrations of cyanide causes a coma with seizures, apnea and cardiac arrest, with death following in a matter of minutes. At the first stage of unconsciousness, breathing is often sufficient or rapid, but the victim falls into a coma and usually cardiac arrest follows, as the cells can no longer process the oxygen that the body is receiving through respiration.

 Finishing  Overall Category Gender Year Direction Age Club   Time Medal Pos Pos Pos

1990 Up 26 Unknown 1003   9:52:27 Bronze 5601 3828 5360
1991 Down 27 Unknown 1003   10:18:18 Bronze 8258 5736 7713
1992 Up 28 SANDF AC – Pretoria (PMMC) 8:25:44 Bronze 1978 1529 1922
1993 Down 29 Vaal Reefs Marathon Club  7:24:58 Silver 853 682 842
1994 Up 30 Vaal Reefs Marathon Club  7:28:53 Silver 737 582 720
1995 Down 31 Vaal Reefs Marathon Club  8:13:45 Bronze 1458 1121 1410
1996 Up 32 Jeppe Quondam Athletic Club 7:53:13 Bronze 1275 1234 1234
1997 Down 33 Jeppe Quondam Athletic Club 7:26:51 Silver 848 703 828
1998 Up 34 Jeppe Quondam Athletic Club 7:28:15 Silver 635 515 618
1999 Down 35 Jeppe Quondam Athletic Club 7:00:51 Silver 290 248 282

 

 Finishing Overall Category Gender  Year Direction Age Club Time  Medal Pos Pos Pos

2002 Up 38 Jeppe  10:55:21 Bronze  8521 4049 7415
2003 Down 39 Jeppe  10:44:34 Bronze  7618 3330 6585
2004 Up 40 Jeppe  10:30:54 Bronze  5661 1658 5018
2005 Down 41 Jeppe  9:38:02 Bronze  4157 1174 3761
2006 Up 42 Jeppe  9:57:48 Bronze  4260 1190 3875
2007 Down 43 Jeppe   DNF  –  – – –
2008 Up 44 Jeppe  10:49:41 Bronze  5335 1494 4674
2009 Down 45 Jeppe  8:57:57 Bill Rowan 2405 670 2252

She’s one of South Africa’s hottest television presenters on Idols and Soundcheck Live on M-Net, a Jacaranda 94.2 DJ, as well as a corporate MC and motivational speaker. But one thing you might not know is that Liezel van der Westhuizen has her heart set on a very special goal this year – to complete Ironman on 25 April.

Why Ironman?
I wanted to achieve a big goal in 2010 and what’s bigger than Ironman? I love the three disciplines that make up Ironman, as well as the mental and physical challenge that comes with taking part in this ultimate triathlon. I got into triathlons after my dad showed me some triathlon and Ironman videos. I have only been competing since November last year, so I’m still very new to the scene and not very good at it! But I am enjoying everything about the sport.

You recently competed in Ironman 70.3, but just missed the bike cut-off. Were you disheartened?
I had an amazing race and wasn’t a bit disappointed. I was more motivated than ever. I was proud of myself for attempting it, even though I had hardly been on a bike before the race (I was a bit overambitious). The experience was amazing and I learnt a lot about myself. Now I know what to expect for the full Ironman.

How will you realise your goal?
I come from a family of runners, but my strongest discipline is swimming. I have started training with a coach, Mike Moriarty, and we’re working on my cycling and running. I train five mornings a week at 4am, doing either a bike or run session, or both. I gym twice a week and swim 2km three times a week.

How do you manage to fit training into your busy schedule?
It’s not easy. I never had enough time to train before Ironman 70.3 in January, so now I have decided to make time to train. This has seen me make some sacrifices in my work schedule, but I believe if it requires great sacrifice, victory will be that much sweeter.

Will you have supporters at Ironman?
My coach will be racing next to me the whole way and my partner, Dean, will be racing in his fourth Ironman. He will be at the finish line when I eventually get there, along with my parents and my cousins from Port Alfred, so I will have a huge support group!

Any plans to reward yourself if you achieve your goal?
I will buy a new bicycle, because I am using a hand-me-down. I also plan to buy a new pair of running shoes to start training for Comrades!

Why is it important to have a sporting goal?
It helps give you purpose and provides motivational focus – and it feels great to achieve a goal. Setting a sporting goal raises your self-confidence when you recognise your ability to achieve that goal.

Why are you so passionate about sport?
I grew up in a sport-crazy family and had the opportunity to take part in lots of sporting activities. That taught me a lot about myself, such as self-discipline. Participating provides us with some of our best memories in life. It also provides for conversation when there is nothing else to talk about! Sport allows us to make connections and friendships where usually we wouldn’t.

What are your sporting goals after Ironman?
I would love to run Comrades in 2011 and do the Eight-Miler at Midmar Mile. And of course re-tackle the half Ironman. Another sporting goal is to assist disadvantaged triathletes to compete in a triathlon or Ironman. My dad taught me this: You can, if you think you can.

 

When Maria Ghisleni first took up walking, she saw it more as an opportunity to keep fit and healthy while getting some fresh air, instead of just doing Jane Fonda-esque aerobics in the gym, but soon the racing bug bit and today she has quite some record to show for her efforts.

I began to walk 15 years ago but only started race-walking seven years ago. I progressed from the usual power walking that everyone knows to the race-walking style that everyone finds so strange (including my children). There is a big difference between walking and race-walking. Race-walking flows, the feet roll continuously, the knees straighten on heel contact and remain straight until under the body. And of course, the rule that most people are aware of: contact with part of one foot on the ground at all times. It’s a beautiful but technical sport that can be mastered and enjoyed by all.

I have always enjoyed any form of exercise. At both primary and high school level, I participated in numerous sports such as athletics, hockey and netball. Thereafter I started my teaching career and had less time to participate in team sports. I kept fit by going to the local gym. Jane Fonda was the favourite in those days and we all had to slog away till we felt ’the Burn!’

A number of years and babies later, I joined the Bedfordview Health & Racquet Club. One of the classes offered at that time was a ’walking and exercise class‘ on the fields. This appealed to me, to be out in the open air. Walking and exercising on the field progressed to faster walking on the road. We then heard about organised walks on Sundays. These were organised by Run/Walk for Life and would vary in distance. The challenge at that time was to see if I could complete the distance.

Like all walkers, I thoroughly enjoyed the companionship on these walks and obviously, I did a lot of walking and talking. However, I noticed that there were some fast walkers who would fly past me. Their walking styles were very different compared to my half marching/plodding walk. They seemed far more efficient and much lighter on their feet. But at that time I was more focused on distance than style and continued to challenge myself by walking longer distances.

OFF TO THE RACES
I entered the Brenner’s Toyota Walk (now known as the 702 Walk the Talk), which was held at the Johannesburg Zoo in those days, and completed my very first 21km. My goal thereafter was to walk the 42km. For this I did some training and surprisingly, finished as second lady in 1998. The bug had bitten; I then wanted to see if I could win the race if I actually did some dedicated training. Three years later (2001) I won the marathon, and did so again in 2003 and 2004. My best time was my 4:26 in 2007.

I have also competed in a number of 30km and 50km races, and even in the well-known Cape Times Big Walk 80km. My friend and old training partner, Monica Risk, and I decided we would do the 80km together in 2003. We went with the casual attitude that we were going for a whole day’s walk. We did a minimal amount of training and walked and talked the whole way. Monica still managed to finish in third place and I finished fourth. Our times were not the greatest, but we created some very happy memories and we solved the whole world’s problems along that 80km walk.

By then I had improved a great deal on my walking technique and had become far more serious about my walking. In 2004, I joined the Wanderers Walking Club run by both Barbara Nell and Gail de Zabo. There my coaches gave me a training programme and worked on my technique. My goal had altered: distance was no longer important. I now wanted to improve on my speed as well as my style. I wanted to break 30 minutes for a 5km and 4:30 for a marathon. They helped me to achieve both. They encouraged me to compete in track events, which meant joining CGA Masters. At Masters one is able to compete in five-year age categories. The fast track work helped to improve my times on the road and, as it is a judged race, I was forced to focus continuously on my technique. I must admit that I still struggle with the mental side of going around a track 12 and a half times for a 5km. 10km and 20km races are not raced on the track but on a fairly flat piece of road, usually a 2km lap. Under Barbara and Gail’s continued guidance, I have grown from strength to strength.

VITAL SUPPORT
However, I do have to make mention of a person who in the past four years, tweaked my technique to make it what it is today. It’s still not perfect, mind you, but walking is like yoga: there is always room for improvement and to strive for perfection. This is a person who has always supported me and encouraged me in my training and has been at all my important races: my husband, Vincent.

An ex-runner, Vincent began walking with me in 2003 when I desperately needed a training partner to train my longer distances with me. I had been selected by CGA to compete in the 20km SA Road Walking Champs. My husband first ran next to me and then, as he got fitter, did more and more walking. He found he quite enjoyed being out on the road again and his old running injuries did not worry him when he walked. He improved in leaps and bounds and picked up the race-walking technique far more quickly than I ever did. Within two years he was top of his age group (45-50) and had fantastic times: 23:17 for 5km and 1:44 for 20km.

MASTERS CHAMPS
In 2007 we trained together, coached by Gail and Barbara, to compete in the World Masters in Italy. Unfortunately, Vincent picked up an injury about a month before we were set to leave for Italy. Race-walkers, like runners, continually have to guard against injuries by stretching, building up core and muscle strength, and increasing mileage gradually. Vincent’s injury still aggravates him whenever he does really fast walking and he has now decided to cycle instead.

In 2008, we were awarded SA Colours for race-walking, a proud moment for both of us. In 2009, we competed once again at the World Masters in Finland. My goals, as always, are personal. I always focus on myself in a race and set myself times. Should I get a placing, that’s a bonus. My personal goal is more important than beating someone or coming first. In Finland I achieved my goals in both the 5km and 20km. I did my best times in both these races and had the added bonus of achieving a bronze in the 5km (26:38) and a silver medal in the 20km (1:54). I did not reach my goal in the 10km (55:48) race as I had done better times in SA. Another added bonus was that I was privileged to be part of the SA walking team, consisting of three members, in both the 10km and 20km. In both events, the team placed first and we won gold. Finland was a wonderful and fulfilling experience.

TRAINING REGIME
My training is very similar to that of a runner’s. It consists of five stages:
•    Base phase (establishing a foundation of fitness).
•    General phase (building on the foundation, including some faster and longer distances).
•    Strength phase (building muscular endurance).
•    Specific phase (workouts tailored according to your goal).
•    Finally, the taper before the race.

Just like runners, walkers do speed work and hill work, although the gradients of our hills are less, to ensure that we maintain our style at all times. I train at least six times a week and even do double sessions on certain days. Most of my training is done in the Bedfordview area with the Bedfordview Club. Every Tuesday afternoon, I train at Wanderers on a grass track. There my style is checked by my coaches to ensure that I have not picked up any bad habits, which is very easy to do. I go to gym at least three times a week.

FOLLOW ME
My advice to all people who wish to become active is to try walking. Everyone can do it! Should you already be a walker but wish to increase your speed, then I suggest you learn the race-walking technique, either by attending a race-walking clinic or joining a club such as the Wanderers Walking Club. You might enjoy it so much that you’ll decide to become more competitive (whether it is for yourself or amongst others). There is a whole new world of race-walking awaiting anyone who wants to try.

What are my future goals? To walk faster and improve my times. How is that possible at the age of 50, you may ask. I just have to look at my coach and mentor, Barbara Nell, a Springbok walker aged 55, whose times are still way faster than my own, and I reason to myself that if she can still walk at that speed then I still have room for improvement. I hope to do well at the next World Masters in Sacramento in 2011. God willing, I will be there to compete and have another opportunity to achieve my personal goals. And who knows, maybe you could be there. Whether you are a runner, walker, long jumper or discus thrower, all Masters (30 years and onwards) are welcome to compete at the World Masters Athletics. Hope to see you there.

 

We live in a country with a road running calendar like no other, but running every race can become costly. Modern Athlete spoke to race organisers to find out what goes into organising a race and what costs are involved.

Exactly 32 years ago, it cost R2 to enter the RAC Tough One, a hilly 32km race in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. Up to a couple of years ago the entry fee for a standard half marathon was R30, a 32km would cost R40 and a marathon about R50. Over the years, like most other things, entry fees have escalated.

These days it is not uncommon to pay R50 for a half marathon, R60 for a 32km and R70 for a full marathon. Some larger, more popular ultras (50km) may even cost about R150 and the accompanying half marathon could cost entrants up to R100. Some runners complain that races have become too pricey, while others don’t mind paying, but want value for their money.

Many times runners complain, but they have no idea what goes into organising a race and how much it costs, says Vreni Welch, one of the country’s well-known faces in road running. Vreni has been the Rand Athletic Club’s secretary for the past 28 years and has been involved in organising the RAC Tough One as well as some of Gauteng’s biggest races.

Entry fees for road running races are still minimal compared to events such as Ironman and many cycling races. An entry into the Ironman 70.3 costs about R1 200 while, depending on sponsorships, you could pay anything between R2 200 and R3 500 to compete in the full Ironman. And when it comes to our country’s cycling races it is not uncommon to pay more than R250 for a 105km cycling event. “These amounts are realistic. Road running races are still cheap compared to cycling, adventure races, duathlons and triathlons,” says Vreni.

CLUBS VERSUS EVENT COMPANIES
In most instances running clubs organise their own races and do everything from start to finish. This includes finding sponsorships, printing and distributing entry forms, ordering Coke, water, t-shirts and medals, setting up water tables and taking care of every little detail. “It can take up to five months to organise a race and about 400 people are involved. Most times we just break even,” says Vreni.

Event organisation companies sometimes get involved when clubs are too small or inexperienced to organise their own races or when the race is too big, says Andrew Bell, co-owner of Top Events Event Management Company in Cape Town. Top Events is known for its excellent organisation of several races, including the BDO Peninsula Marathon & Half in February in Cape Town and the Safari Half Marathon in Wellington in May. The Safari attracts close to 10 000 athletes while another 10 000 people usually participate in the day’s festivities. Companies like Top Events usually charge a management fee and/or claim between 15 and 25 percent of the sponsorship.

These event companies usually organise a race in its entirety, but sometimes they only help with certain aspects such as the printing and distribution of entry forms. Sponsorship has become extremely hard to find. “We had some long-standing contracts last year. If it wasn’t for that we would have gone under,” says Andrew.

He points out the following:
•    Top Event’s budget for the recent Peninsula Marathon in Cape Town, which is seen as a medium-sized race, was just under R300 000. The upcoming Safari Half Marathon is classified as a big race and their budget is about R900 000. The medals alone cost R122 000. A small race could cost between R25 000 and R40 000 to organise.
•    Medals and the traffic department are usually the two biggest expenses. A decent medal costs between
R6 and R8 while the traffic bill for a race like the Peninsula Marathon could add up to R26 000. A race announcer costs anything between R2 000 and R3 000 and at bigger events, two announcers are usually needed.
•    A race such as the Peninsula Marathon takes about six months to organise.

RACE DAY HEADACHES
Most clubs and organisers try to keep entry fees as low as possible, but as time goes by, expenses go up. Things can go wrong because organisers start taking short cuts. A shortage of water or no medals are usually the biggest complaints amongst runners, says Andrew.

“In summer when it is extremely hot or when the route is very tough, we always try to order more water. Also, in times such as Comrades 2000 and Comrades 2010, we know there will be an increase in numbers and we try to increase our resources. Organisers just hope and pray it doesn’t rain on the day and that everything goes well,” says Andrew.

When organising a race it is very hard to predict how many runners will actually show up on the day, says Vreni. “We usually work on the previous year’s numbers plus a 10% increase. We try to encourage athletes to pre-enter and try to cover our costs with pre-entries; anything over that will help with incidental costs. But often we work on a loss. There are no set entry fees for the different distances. Clubs look at what the others are charging and just hope they will get their numbers. We can only hope and pray for good weather on the day and that everyone involved arrives on time and does what they are supposed to.”

The following items all contribute to race costs:
•    The printing of entry forms costs about R5 per person. “It is heartbreaking to see entry forms lying on the ground after a race,” says Vreni.
•    Most clubs make use of volunteers or companies to set up water tables free of charge, but sometimes this incurs further costs.
•    Metro police officers need to be stationed at every traffic light. The traffic bill is usually the most costly, as traffic officials can charge up to R200 per hour.
•    The delivery of ice early on a Sunday morning outside of working hours can cost a club up to R2 500 – often more than the ice bill.
•    Three to four marshals are necessary for every 1km in the city.
•    It costs a minimum of R150 to hire one portable toilet. Nowadays more races have toilets on the route, which adds to costs.
•    Cones for races can be very expensive and many are needed. For example, 890 were used at the 2009 RAC Tough One.

Organisers sometimes get frustrated with runners who complain about everything. “One year we handed out very nice toiletry bags, but many athletes complained because it was empty!” says Vreni.

The bottom line is that the cost of organising a race is no small money, but at the same time a small budget is no excuse for bad organisation.

YOU CAN HELP KEEP RACE COSTS DOWN

He has had tea at his house with sporting legend Martina Navratilova, the well-known Williams tennis sisters count amongst his friends, and local sporting stars such as Ryk Neethling, Corn? Krige and countless others have found relief from their injuries under his experienced guidance. And on top of that he speaks a bit of German, Russian and fairly decent Chinese. Richard Sutton has the international sporting world on fire with his fusion of treatment therapies and training methods. Though he has lived and worked abroad for the last ten years, Richard is a homegrown boy who wants to return to his own country and share his expertise with local athletes.

It is hard to pinpoint an exact job title for Johannesburg-born Richard Sutton. It seems he does it all. His treatments and training methods can best be explained as a fusion of kinesiology, physical therapy, visceral osteopathy and sports science. Quite a mouthful! But one thing is for sure: Richard has had amazing results and success internationally and locally over the last ten years.

His tennis clientele includes five former number one players, 14 top ten players, 22 top 20 players along with a host of other top international players. Most recently, with his guidance and support, China’s top player, Li Na, achieved amazing results when she reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and broke into the top ten – something that China has been trying to achieve for decades.

Li was one of two Chinese players in the semi-finals and both had an extensive history of injuries. With Richard’s help these injuries were resolved.

THE START OF GREAT THINGS
When Richard was growing up, his idols in the sporting industry all had kinesiology backgrounds. After completing his national service in the navy, a career in sports therapy was a natural path for Richard to follow. He studied sports science in the UK before continuing his studies in clinical kinesiology in the USA. “There was always something that drew me back to South Africa and after my studies, I decided to come home and set up a practice here.”

He leaned towards specialising in golf mechanics together with the treatment of movement-related pain disorders. “I was very lucky and quickly started gaining recognition. Truthfully, golf was not my primary passion, but I found it incredibly stimulating and an excellent base to start from,” he says.

Richard has worked with a broad spectrum of sportspeople, ranging from elite rugby players to swimmers and runners. He found a love and passion for tennis when, through his extensive golfing network, he was introduced to and started treating two former Davis Cup players. One thing led to another and soon Richard was on tour with South Africa’s current Davis Cup captain, John-Laffnie De Jager.

“I specialise in repetitive trauma injuries, which means anything that is of a neuro-mechanical nature that comes about through over-exposure to the same movement.”

ROAD TO INTERNATIONAL STARDOM
While travelling and working abroad, Richard’s fascination with pelvic asymmetry and associated pain led to another major career breakthrough. At the 2003 Wimbledon Championships, tennis legend Martina Navratilova was introduced to Richard. She had a lower extremity injury referred to as ’heel pain‘ syndrome. Martina had struggled with this injury for some time and had seen countless professionals with little success. “After three treatments she had full resolution,” says Richard. Martina managed to play pain-free until her final doubles match at the US Open in 2006, which she won.

BIG NAMES
Richard has worked with some of the biggest names in the local and international sporting industry. These are just a few:
•    In 2005 he helped SA tennis player, Wesley Moodie, with his physical development. During this time Wesley captured a Wimbledon doubles trophy and stormed his way into the top 55 singles rankings/top 20 doubles.

•    In 2006 Richard signed with Russian tennis star, Nadia Petrova, and was appointed as the Russian National Therapist for the Hopman Cup. In this time Nadia peaked at a personal best of three in the world.

•    In 2007 Tommy Haas, German-American tennis player, achieved one of his best years as he managed to stay injury-free after working with Richard. Tommy peaked at a top ranking of sixth in the world.

•    Richard has also worked with South Africa’s top tennis players, Wayne Ferreira, John-Laffnie De Jager, Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard.

•    Other SA sports stars include Corn? Krige (rugby), Ryk Neethling (Olympic gold medallist, swimming), Kobus Visage (rugby) as well as Roger Wessels and Tjaart van der Walt (both golf).

•    Richard was the Executive Director of Physical Development for the Chinese National Olympic Tennis team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

LIFE IN CHINA
An important part of Richard’s career was spent in China when the Chinese National Tennis Federation approached him to work at the National Olympic Training Center in Beijing. China had never performed well at any of the previous Olympics and had never won a singles match. Also, all five members of the Olympic team were injured. In 2008, eight months after Richard joined the team, China achieved their greatest results in singles tennis; this included going to the semi-finals and a bronze medal at the Olympics.

“While in China I consulted in many other kinds of sports, ranging from gymnastics to judo.” China’s success in Beijing was unmatched, with a medal count almost twice that of any previous Olympics (100 medals, including 51 golds).

PRACTICAL EXPLANATION
So what exactly makes Richard’s treatments and exercise programmes so different from others? “Perhaps it is the way I integrate different therapies/philosophies and the fusion of east and west that has given me the edge the last ten years. I try to see the broader picture at the end, before I even start.”

Richard evaluates hopeful athletes and only then makes a decision on a recovery path, and which manual therapies and/or exercise interventions to use. “I normally only take on injured individuals and depending on the level they are at, I make a decision whether I will take over their training programme. I will treat them in any way that is required within my scope of practice and concurrently initiate a progressive integrated and functional training programme. Initially my goal within the Chinese team was to eradicate injuries, then to make sure they don’t get injured again and lastly to make sure they excel at their given sport through the re-education of movements as well as the facilitation of performance through improved power, endurance, co-ordination, speed and other relevant physical abilities.”

HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
The international sporting industry is competitive and to be successful one has to achieve results. “It’s one thing to work with an individual and they remain the same, and another thing to work with them and they improve. That is what determines great or average people within this industry. I work seven days a week, months on end. Success is not a nine-to-five job. You are hired for results. If you do not deliver, you will get fired. High-level international sport is brutal; there is a lot of money at stake and the pressure is high, but it suits my personality.”

RICHARD ON RUNNING
Most runners suffer from ankle, hip and lower back problems, and often a combination. “When exposing your body to high volumes of stress, it stands to reason that your body will break down, normally at the weakest point, and when the physical and psychological stresses are the greatest,” says Richard.

Running programmes are generally not well balanced; a lot of time is spent on the road and too little time is spent on strengthening and balancing supportive structures. “If runners focused more on the inclusion of core exercises, flexibility/mobility training and functional movement development, they would get better results and their injury rate would be lower.”

Richard’s advice to runners who are serious about their sport is, “Balance your programmes better with the inclusion of core, flexibility and functional strength training. Additionally, focus on good nutrition, improved recovery strategies (massage, ice baths, etc) and proper warm-up and cool-down practices. Good programme structure, consistency and discipline go a long way to ensuring personal success.”

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
Sport and South Africa are in his blood. “I started feeling fit for the first time when I joined the navy. It was like a drug. I realised the power it gives you mentally, physically and emotionally,” says Richard, who himself matches his elite athletes on every level while training.

The international sporting scene has been good to him, but he admits to getting tired of living in hotel rooms. “I love what I do. If I don’t have pressure, I don’t do well. For me the beauty of the international sport scene is if you don’t get a result, you are out. That means one needs to constantly find ways to make it happen. The only thing that counts is whether you make a difference.”

For now, 37-year-old Richard will continue travelling, training and treating Asia’s foremost sporting hero Li Na, and other top international athletes, but he hopes to settle back in South Africa within the next two years. “This country is in my blood and I would love to be home more and make a difference here.”