Category: Features

It was his fourth duathlon race ever and all the big sporting names were there. He left his bike, which he had borrowed from a friend, in the transition area with those of the other elite competitors before warming up. But when Jason Spong got back, officials had moved his bike, as they did not think it belonged to an elite athlete. Little did they know that the guy whose bike they had dismissed as non-elite, would not only become the new SA Champion that day, but also a world class duathlete. And now he is taking on Ironman South Africa.

Jason Spong has come a long way from borrowing bikes. His name is synonymous with outstanding sporting performances and podium placings at several gruelling Powerman races around the world, where he regularly takes on the best international athletes.

His commitment to sport started at a young age; as a ten-year-old he was cycling every weekend, dreaming of one day competing in the Tour de France. However, those days Jason always got left way behind by the other boys. He eventually got so bored riding his bike alone that he sang songs to himself while riding right at the back. But how things have changed…

Today this 33-year-old hardly ever gets left behind. He knows the feeling of being right up there with the world’s best and has a sporting CV of note: first at Powerman Germany 2009, first at Powerman Malaysia 2005 and 2008, second at Powerman Luxembourg 2009, first at the World Amatuer Duathlon Championships 2003, South African Duathlon Champion, first at Afriman Duathlon 2006, and so the list goes on. He finished the 2008/2009 season ranked seventh in the world in the final Powerman World Rankings.

Jason says his sporting career up to now has been an awesome journey filled with incredible experiences, victories and performances, both locally and internationally, but the road to becoming a professional athlete has not always been easy.

SPORTING GENES
Jason was born into a sporting family; his dad, Dennis, was a bodybuilder who finished third at the Mr SA Competition before he took on cycling and raced as a veteran at the World Cycling Championships in Austria. Jason’s dad owned a gym in the south of Johannesburg. “You could say we grew up in a gym. It’s strange that my brother and I never became bodybuilders, but instead ended up being skinny endurance athletes! My parents allowed us to become anything we wanted to. They never pushed us to do anything we did not want to. They have always encouraged us and stood behind us no matter what,” says Jason.

As a 13-year-old, he cycled the Argus Cycle Tour with his cousins and uncle, but lost them along the way and still finished in sub-three hours – not bad for a young boy! But Jason soon began to dislike cycling as he was the smallest in the group and was always left behind. He decided to concentrate on running after competing in a modern biathlon (100m swim and 2km run). Jason was way ahead on the run, but got left behind in the pool. He started winning most cross-country races and in high school, broke all the school records. “I believed running was what I was meant to do. I didn’t want to know anything about bikes or pools.”

LONG AND WINDING ROAD
After school Jason got a scholarship from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, USA, but never got to race as his coach struggled to overturn a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) technical ruling that prohibited him from competing. It was a hard and lonely time for Jason as he was far away from his family and had to train alone, hoping things would be resolved. “I remember running track sessions all by myself. I was in good shape and was doing 1 000m in 2:36min/km pace.” Unfortunately the problems with the NCAA were never resolved and Jason returned home, feeling despondent about running.

But his sporting family’s influence was always present and his sister, Samantha, an excellent triathlete, convinced Jason to compete in a team triathlon with her. Shortly afterwards at the 1999 Gauteng Duathlon Champs, he clinched second position. It was only his third ever duathlon – and a month later he won the SA Duathlon Champs  held in Sun City.

“It was a good time but also a bad time. Because of my performance at SAs, everyone thought I was going to win the World Duathlon Champs. I was an amateur and did not know much about compression socks, eating on the plane and altitude sickness. I made many mistakes in my build-up to the race; two weeks before the race I did a 200km ride with a friend. That was stupid, but then I did not know any better.”

He had a disappointing race at the World Champs, but it motivated him to train even harder. “I was so angry with myself. Every night I went to a track close to my aunt’s house and ran 8km as fast as I could,” says Jason, who after the World Champs stayed with an aunt in California for 18 months. “On some nights I ran the 8km in about 24 minutes. I had to clear my mind and say to myself, my performance wasn’t because I was weak but because something was wrong with my body. Everyone had their own opinions about my performance at Worlds, but I had to clear it up in my head for myself.”

While living in California Jason worked in a sport shop, competing in as many duathlons as he could. He also started swimming and participated in some triathlons. He came back to SA for a while before returning to America a third time at the end of 2002. But after battling for eight months to get a visa, Jason found himself back in his home country.

The decision to specialise in duathlons came after Jason’s father and sister qualified in their respective age groups for the World Duathlon Champs. His brother, Rory, was racing in Switzerland and Jason decided to join them all. He got a wild card entry as an age grouper and ended up winning his age group. “From there my focus was purely on duathlons. I risked everything for it. Every penny I had I put into my sport.”

POWERMAN
Jason began to excel at the Powerman races, winning his first ever Powerman race in 2005 in Malaysia, breaking the course record by two minutes. Unfortunately, he battled to find sponsors back home. Things were no better in America, where he worked in a multi-sport store in Richmond, Virginia in 2007. “It’s unfortunate that duathlons are not seen in the same light as triathlons. It’s seen as a secondary sport to triathlons.” So in 2007 Jason returned home.

His most memorable race came in 2008 when he won Powerman Malaysia for the second time. “When I crossed the finish line the race director was in tears because she knew my story and the uphills I had fought. That day I had won and beat the best in the world. My mom was there, standing right at the finish line. It was special and emotional for me because my family has gone through this whole journey with me.”

Recently Jason, who prefers specialising in long distance duathlons, competed in a shorter distance duathlon series in South Africa, the 2009 Momentum Health Teavigo National Duathlon Series, fi nishing third. He continued to excel at the Powerman races. Last year he finished third at Powerman Malaysia but an iron deficiency saw him dropping out of Powerman Austria. Unfortunately, he did not recover fast enough and this led to a disappointing 15th position at the 2009 Powerman World Championships in Zofingen, Switzerland.

THE JOURNEY TO IRONMAN
Duathlons will always hold a special place in Jason’s heart and he would like to compete in many more, but the reality is that triathlons attract more sponsors and offer better prize money. “I am 33 years old and I don’t want to scramble around for race entry fees. I am living my dream and I have had good results, but I need to earn a salary to fi t the dream. There are many Ironman races on the calendar and they all offer good prize money.”

Jason has always dreamt of competing at Ironman Hawaii. Doing well at Ironman South Africa on 25 April will hopefully be the first step in realising that dream. He finished 19th at Ironman SA in 2005, but says that his placing was not an indication of his ability, as a bike crash only weeks before the race kept him from training.

THE COACH
Last year Jason met John Hamlet, one of the country’s top running coaches, and the two of them immediately clicked. “I have been with a lot of coaches but I have been mainly self-coached. After Zofingen I felt I needed somebody. When John and I started chatting he said the things I wanted to hear. There is hard training and then there is hard training with passion. John oozes this passion.”

Former top triathlete Dominique Donner also helps Jason with his swimming. “I am in a fortunate position to be coached by them. John overlooks my whole training programme. He knows everything about ultra-distance training and though his speciality lies with running, the principles for ultra-distance cycling and swimming are the same.”

Jason trains an average of four hours a day, doing specific workouts that build power, speed, endurance and all other facets of his racing ability. Mentally the hardest part of his training is swimming because he has never really had a great love for it. Physically he finds the three- to four-hour training rides, directly followed by two-hour runs challenging, but believes it is all worth it on his path to Ironman. “I believe I can finish in the top five.”

SPONSORSHIP
A friend asked Jason, who has a PB of 30:50 for 10km and 68:03 for 21.1km, what the difference was between him and the best in the world. “Only support,” Jason answered. “I know I have the mental strength, the ability and the experience. I don’t need a special bike or special  running shoes. I have what it takes. But I just need support. If I have support I know I can make it.” For someone who has achieved so much and successfully represented his country at several international races, it’s hard to believe that Jason battles to find more sponsorship. He is currently sponsored by Nike, PeptoPro? and S2R Projects.

“The reality is that duathlons and triathlons don’t attract the attention a sport such as rugby does. In other countries it attracts huge crowds. Also, sponsors in South Africa don’t think long term when it comes to developing athletes. They don’t develop an athlete to become a world champion. They first want you to win the World Championship before you get support. The reality is that you can’t win a World Championship on your own, with no support. I have never been to a World Championship with support. I had to find my own sponsors.”

It’s these hard financial times that have made Jason sometimes wonder if it is all worth it. But every time his love for the sport outweighs the sacrifices. “I believe with anything you do in life, you can never reach your full potential unless you have  passion for what you do. Disappointments at races just made me more determined. Your bad races tell you more about yourself than your good races. Sometimes you have a great day but you really have to fight for your victories. When you lose, it takes a real athlete to come back and be strong.”

DREAMS
Jason wants to remain true to his first love, duathlons. “I want to keep to my roots and compete in as many Powerman Zofingen and Malaysia races as possible.” But for  now, his heart is set on one thing only. “Ironman South Africa is going to become a special race for me because it is home. It is a place where all my friends, parents and family can stand on the side and experience the race with me.” So what happens after that? “As far as I am concerned there is only one Ironman and that is Ironman Hawaii. You have not walked the walk until you have done Hawaii!”

He will always compete in sport but one day, when the competitive aspect is no longer there, Jason would like to own an airbrushing business, airbrushing bicycles, helmets and motorbikes. In between training now, he spends time painting and designing.

Jason has come a long way and hopes that Ironman SA will be the start of an even greater journey. One thing is for sure, no race official will ever again remove Jason Spong’s bike from any transition area!

Most of us have watched the Boston, Chicago, New York, London and Berlin marathons on television, taking in the historic sights and great scenery of some of the world’s greatest cities. These five races form the World Marathon Majors Series, which offers a $1 million prize purse to be split equally between the top male and female marathoners in the series. Watching the best marathoners in the world straining every sinew for the prestigious wins and chasing world record times makes for super viewing!

Apart from the appeal the elite frontrunners bring to these events, it is the thousands of backmarkers who make these marathons so spectacular. They come from all walks of life, each one with a different goal and many running for a worthy cause. One such runner is Kay Naicker from Verulam Athletic Club in KwaZulu-Natal.

BEGINNING IN BOSTON
She had only been running for a year when she decided to tackle her first major marathon, the 2005 Boston Marathon. And it all happened by chance. Kay’s daughter, Kubeshini, has lived in the USA since 2004 and Kay was planning to visit her. “One of my club members suggested I run a marathon while I’m there. As soon as I booked my ticket I started training hard,” says Kay, who in the process became good friends with Marie Howarth of Penthouse Travel Sporting Tours, the South African company that offers tour package deals with guaranteed entries for a number of big city marathons. Marie regularly accompanies South African tour groups to these races, and Kay has booked all her marathon tours through Marie.

Kay remembers the Boston Marathon as an amazing experience, though the course was very hilly. Initially she did not consider raising money while running, but as she arrived in Boston her daughter’s mentor and friend, Mark Davidson, passed away from lymphatic cancer. Kay decided to wear a little tag from an American group raising money for cancer. This was the start of her journey to not only run all the big city marathons, but to also raise money for several worthy causes.

LONDON AND KILIMANJARO
The year 2006 was a busy one for Kay. Not only did she take on the London  Marathon, she also tackled Mount Kilimanjaro. “It was a hectic year, but an amazing journey. I enjoyed the race so much. It rained from start to finish, but there were so many South Africans in London. You see a lot of them having braais next to the road. When they saw me in my SA vest they shouted, ‘Go SA!’ ”

While she was preparing for London, Kay decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with her friend, Vanessa Phillips. In the process they raised R70 000 for the Verulam Hospice.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!
Barely back in South Africa, Kay decided to run the 2007 New York Marathon, raising money for the Starfish Foundation, an organisation that helps children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/Aids. “I ran the race with Marie and a group of other South Africans. What I enjoy most about these races is the great atmosphere. There is not a single place where you are running alone or where there are no supporters next to the road.”

ON TO BERLIN
Kay’s fourth international marathon was the Berlin Marathon in September 2008. She did not manage to raise money on this trip as she got caught up at work and did not have enough time to plan it. “I will never forget a man I met at this race, though I don’t even know his name! I saw him every 5km up to 35km and every time he shouted, ‘Go SA!’ At the 35km mark I said to him, ‘I want to see you at the end.’ And there he was waiting at the end. I went up to him and gave him a big hug. That is what I like about running; making friends along the way.”

The highlight of Kay’s trip was when she met race winner and marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia at a party after the race. “That was the day he broke the world record for the second time in Berlin. It was amazing and I got to shake his hand. He is such a down-to-earth man.”

CHICAGO CONCLUSION
In October last year on her granddaughter’s birthday, Kay and her daughter ran the Chicago Marathon together. “It was so cold, only 8?C by the time we finished. As I finished the announcer made an announcement that I have just completed the five major marathons. It was a special race for me as my daughter and granddaughter were there; three generations together.”

It’s hard to choose the best race out of all five, says Kay. “They are all different and amazing. In London the crowds were overwhelming, in Boston it was a public holiday and all the school children were out supporting, and in New York there were all the different and beautiful bridges to admire. Standing at the start at each one of these marathons was so exciting!”

A WORTHY CAUSE
Kay, who has been with First National Bank for 34 years, working on projects and development for low-cost housing, has also been part of the FNB employee  volunteers programme, in which employees are encouraged to give of their time and money to support community development projects of their choice. “I am very passionate about charity. It is close to my heart because I come from a poor family where we could not afford things. Now I am much more comfortable and I have to give something back. I love making a difference in the lives of people.”

There is no stopping Kay now. She is planning on running The Great Wall Marathon in China and climbing Mount Everest. She knows she is capable of it because this Durban grandmother believes in never quitting.

Each one of the big five city marathons has a rich history.

1. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon and is run on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April every year. It was first held in 1897 and was inspired by the success of the first modern day marathon race in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The number of people taking part has more than doubled over the past decade; from 1997 to 2007 the number has grown from 10 471 to 23 869. Runners start in the rural town of Hopkinton and run the legendary course through eight cities and towns before finishing in Boston’s Back Bay. One of the legendary landmarks on this route is Heartbreak Hill.


2. The Chicago Marathon is held yearly in Cook County, Illinois. It is one of the fastest growing marathons in the world, due largely to its fast and flat course that weaves through 29 diverse neighbourhoods and passes dozens of local and historic landmarks. The popularity of the race has seen entries grow from around 16 000 runners in 1997 to around 45 000, which is the limit now imposed by the organisers. It has no qualification requirements and entries are available on a first come, first served basis.


3. The New York City Marathon is certainly the biggest, with over 100 000 runners applying to run every year, but only some 40 000 are accepted. The race was first run  in 1970 when no more than 100 athletes raced around Central Park to log the required 42.2km They each paid just a dollar and only 55 crossed the finish line. Today this marathon has developed into a major sporting event and many celebrities run as well, including Lance Armstrong, Katie Holmes and Puff Daddy in the last few years.


4. The Berlin Marathon was first run in 1974 and traditionally takes place on the last weekend in September. With more than 35 000 official finishers from more than 100 countries and more than one million spectators, Berlin is one of the most popular road races in the world. The most marathon world records for men and women have been set on the Berlin course, which is known for its flat profile, even surface and frequently mild autumn temperatures. It starts and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks, and also passes other notable landmarks such as the Reichstag and Berliner Dom.


5. The London Marathon has been run each year since 1981.The course is fast and flat, and basically runs along the River Thames on the south side and then the north side after crossing the river by the famous Tower Bridge. Marathoners will pass a number of famous London landmarks, including the Tower of London, London Eye and the 140-year-old clipper ship, the Cutty Sark. The race is known for the large amounts of money it raises for charity. According to the race organisers, it is now the largest annual fundraising event in the world, with the 2006 participants raising over R500 million for charity.

He finished sixth in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympics and many thought he would bring home a medal from the 2009 World Champs, but those dreams were shattered when an injury forced Juan van Deventer to lay off running for a year. Now he is back on track, hoping to bring home a medal when he competes at the IAAF World Indoor Championships next month.

His comeback at the end of last year was spectacular. The tall 26-year-old posted a third consecutive victory at the RAC Tough One 32km in Johannesburg, running uncontested for most of the route that is known for its many unforgiving hills, and clocking his fastest time of 1:43:33. He followed this up with another win at the recent Dis-Chem Half Marathon in Bedfordview, finishing in 1:06:41. Not bad for an athlete who specialises in middle distance track events.

Juan believes his performances at the Tough One and Dis-Chem are a good indication of his renewed strength and fitness for the upcoming World Indoor Champs in Doha, Qatar from 12 to 14 March, as well as the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in October. He is currently competing in the European international indoor track circuit, with the last race to be held on 23 February. “I am using the indoor circuit as a build-up to the World Indoor Champs, where I am hoping to perform well.”

HIGHS AND LOWS
Juan has always preferred individual sport and has been running for as long as he can remember. “Since I’ve been young, sport has been everything. It has been the only thing I ever wanted to do and the only thing I have been sure of wanting to do.”

Over the years he has continued to impress against the world’s best, but his greatest achievements came in 2008. He reached the 1500m Olympic final and, in the same year, finished third at the African Champs in Ethiopia. One of his greatest moments came in July 2008 when he broke the longstanding South African 3000m record (7:44.00) of track legend Johan Fourie, set in 1985. Juan smashed it by finishing in 7:41.06.

“My manager phoned me just before and said he got me into the race. I knew I had a chance to break the record because I ran a good 1500m (3:35.20) in Belgium a couple of days before.” But then in 2009 Juan was diagnosed with a stress fracture. “I ran a 1500m event in New York and finished second, but afterwards I could barely walk. I was out for a year, missing the international track season as well as the World Champs. It was so disappointing.”

TRAINING TIME
Juan’s coach, Gerrie Coetzee, who also coaches top SA female track and road athlete Ren? Kalmer, is right behind his athlete’s road running ‘excursions’. “Gerrie believes one can excel in shorter and longer distances. I won’t run 32km in the middle of the track season, but towards the end of last year it was a good test. Gerrie wants me to try a marathon later this year.”

For Juan road running is sometimes more enjoyable than track running. “A track event is over within minutes. You have either won or not. But when you are running a road race and there is 5km left with your closest competitor two minutes behind, you have time to enjoy the last few kilometres. Also, the crowds next to the road give me goosebumps.”

Juan runs about 160km weekly, training seven days a week and running 8km to 15km every morning. “I run those sessions fast, 3:20min/km and faster. Gerrie calls it ideal conditioning.” On Tuesdays and Thursdays he focuses on strength in the gym and on Thursdays, it’s track endurance. Saturdays are reserved for speed work and Sundays for 24km to 40km progressive runs; starting at a 3:45min/km pace and finishing at 3:15min/km.

FUTURE OF TRACK
“A while ago I looked at a picture of Johan Fourie running the mile. Crowds packed the stadium. These days you are lucky to get 100 people at a local meeting,” says Juan, who has a BCom Sports Management degree as well as a diploma and certificate in sports administration.

“It is a fact that bad management and organisation have been part of athletics. Now is the time for someone to step in and put athletics back in place. Track running is an attractive sport. Internationally the stadiums are packed.”

LONELY ROAD
He loves travelling but the loneliness of it all sometimes gets to Juan. “Many times I am the only South African at a race. There is no coach and one has to train alone; that can be tough. I always try to keep in contact with someone back home to keep sane.”

Juan is good friends with fellow track star Johan Cronj?, whom he also describes as his greatest competitor. “We have so much in common. We have been swapping first and second position for a very long time.”

His parents, Frans and Sandy, and sister Cherie, are very supportive. “They try to go to every race. My parents will definitely be right there next to the track at World Indoors in March.”

DREAMING BIG
Juan says his big dream is to win gold at the 2012 Olympics. “There is no use in just saying I want to qualify for the Olympics or I want to make the final. I have done that. Now I want to win!”

He describes his 2008 Olympic performance as an amazing experience, but also disappointing, finishing sixth in 3:34.77. “Standing on the starting line amongst the top 12 athletes in the world was the greatest moment up to now. But I wasn’t happy with my performance. It felt as if I had a lot more left and as if I didn’t believe enough in myself. After the race I realised I could have had a medal.

I learnt a lot from that race.” Mental preparation is an important factor in Juan’s build-up to the 2012 Olympics. “I know how to train hard and how to live a disciplined life.
Now I just need to believe that I can be the best. That is the only way to run. One has to have a winning attitude.”

Racing is hard, but Juan says he is almost addicted to the feeling he gets after a race. “It is great walking off the line knowing that you have run as hard as you can and that you have achieved what you wanted to.”

This year will definitely see him running a marathon, and even the Comrades Marathon is on the cards in future years. “I would love to win an up and down Comrades – and set the record on both.” But for now his focus is on bringing a medal home from the World Champs. “I also know the SA mile and 1500m records are within my reach and it has to happen this year.”

He surely is capable of it all when one reads the words he lives by, which are stuck on the fridge of his West Rand home: “I am the master of my thoughts and the master of my reality.”

Juan’s Personal Bests

800m	1:47.44	Potchefstroom	31/01/2003
1000m	2:19.38	Roodepoort	28/03/2003
1500m	3:34.30	New York	30/05/2009
One mile	3:51.31	Oslo	06/06/2008
3000m	7:41.06	Stockholm	22/07/2008
5000m	14:09.48	Stellenbosch	04/04/2009
10 000m	28:55.37	Stellenbosch	03/04/2009

Like any new dad, he dreamt of playing sport with his son one day. But when Kevin Garwood’s baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, he abandoned those dreams. Kevin also gave up his job to take care of Nicholas, the son he loved more than life itself – but in the process he took on his son’s disability. He wouldn’t take part in any sport, believing one can’t compete with a disabled child. Until eight months ago, when Kevin saw a video clip of an American father competing in triathlons with his disabled son…

That was the day a nearly forgotten dream came alive in Kevin’s heart. When he showed the clip to 11-year-old Nicholas and saw the excitement in his son’s eyes, Kevin realised that nothing is impossible. Today this Johannesburg father and son take on sporting events that most able-bodied people wouldn’t dream of doing. This is the story of Team Garwood’s incredible journey towards their first Ironman triathlon.

The finish line of an Ironman race is an emotional place to be. For hundreds of athletes worldwide, the weeks and months of hard training and discipline culminate at the finish of these gruelling triathlons. And at each race, everyone from the elites to the backmarkers emerges as a champion in their own right. But at the recent Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA, the image of two competitors will be etched into the memories of many fellow athletes and spectators for years to come.

When Kevin Garwood lined up with his disabled son for the 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km run, very few people were left untouched. Finishing this gruelling race on one’s own is a great feat in itself, but swimming, cycling and running with a disabled son is a commitment that goes far beyond that, and is one of the greatest gifts a father can give his son. Kevin pulled Nicholas in a special boat as they swam and towed him in a special trailer behind his bike for the cycle leg. Unfortunately Kevin did not manage to make the four-hour cut-off for the cycle leg and was not allowed to continue the run. Nevertheless, on that day, he not only realised his dream of  competing in a sport with his disabled son, but his performance also brought inspiration to so many others.

Kevin and Nicholas had only been competing in triathlons for six months before they took on Ironman 70.3, held on 17 January in Buffalo City. “We had an awesome swim, but the cycle was just too tough. About 15km into the cycle I realised we won’t make the cut-off time. I asked the support crew if we should stop or carry on. They  phoned the race director, Paul Wolf, and he said the people want us to finish. We eventually finished the cycle in six hours and the crowds went wild.” They are happy regardless of the result and plan to tackle Ironman 70.3 as well as the full Ironman (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run) in 2011. “We are grateful to Triangle Sports who sponsored our entry and to all the supporters. We will be back.”

EARLY YEARS
Nicholas was a premature baby born at 35 weeks and suffered distress as the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. His left eye did not develop fully in the early stages of pregnancy and as a baby, he had an expander inserted to help grow the socket in which his prosthetic eye now fits.

When Nicholas battled to grow according to the standard milestones of child development, Kevin (46) and his wife, Cheryl (43), took him to a paediatrician who initially dismissed their concerns. A second opinion from another paediatrician established that Nicholas had a serious brain injury. He was diagnosed with Athetoid cerebral palsy with spasticity. Simply explained, this is a condition where the brain can’t send the correct messages to the muscles. Doctors told the couple that their son would never be able to walk or talk, that he would be in a state of vegetation, and would be uneducable. One doctor even suggested the Garwood’s find a suitable home for their son and ‘get on with their lives’. But the couple refused to give up hope. “Nicholas had a home; we did not need to find him a home. We refused to give up on him,” says Cheryl. The couple came across an American home-based therapy programme to help with Nicholas’ development. Kevin stopped working when Nicholas was two years old to take care of him fulltime. Cheryl, a manager at a large financial institution, kept things going on the work front.

The therapy programme did wonders for Nicholas, but after about three years, the Garwoods decided to stop as it was so intensive that volunteers were needed to help with hourly therapy sessions. Nicholas started attending a school for special needs children, but his parents were disappointed with his progress and decided to home school him. “He has just finished grade two and half of grade three and has made such good progress. He can be as naughty as any other school kid. At the end of November I said to him, ‘We have some books left to finish before we can go on holiday.’ Within two days he was finished with a week’s work and proclaimed he was ready for his holiday! He has a good understanding and a great sense of humour,” says Kevin.

THE START OF A COURAGEOUS JOURNEY
Kevin, who used to do a bit of running, has spent every possible hour of every day of  the last years trying to enrich his son’s life. But the thought of competing in a sport  with his son never really crossed his mind. “I never thought the two of us could do
something together. When you look at sport you sometimes have tunnel vision. You imagine only able-bodied people can compete and only those who are disabled in a certain way,” says Kevin.

In April last year he received a video clip from his pastor’s wife that would change his life forever. It was a clip called ‘My Redeemer Lives’ and it showed an American  father, Dick Hoyt, participating in an Ironman event with his disabled son, Rick, who has cerebral palsy caused by loss of oxygen to his brain at birth (see next page).

“I burst into tears when I saw it. As a father one of my biggest dreams was to one day be there for my son and support him in sporting events. I could never do that. Over the years I almost took on my son’s disability and limited my own physical abilities. When I saw this  video I realised there was a way to compete with my son.”

Kevin showed the video clip to his wife and then to Nicholas. “I asked him if he would like to do it and he immediately replied, ‘Yes, of course!’” At that stage Kevin did not even own a pair of running shoes, a swimsuit or a bike. He was unfit and about 10kg overweight, but the possibility of fulfilling a lifelong dream was far greater than any obstacles.

LEARNING CURVE
At first Kevin started training slowly. “I started out on a mountain bike but was so unfit everyone had to stop and wait for me.” His brother-in-law researched on the Internet and found a Wike, a trailer that converts into a jogger. It is specially made in Canada for special needs children. The Wike, which is much bigger than a normal jogger, hooks onto the back axle of a bike and when cycling, it looks like a trailer at the back of the bike. Adding a front wheel converts it into a jogger for running.

Kevin imported the Wike, which was probably the greatest gift he could ever give Nicholas. It arrived a week before his son’s birthday in May last year. Their first official race together was the 702 Walk the Talk before they tackled the Dome to Dome 40km cycle race. “That race was a wake up call for me because I realised I am nowhere near as fi t as I needed to be. The Wike weighs about 15kg and Nicholas another 30kg. Add that to my own weight and that of the bike and you can imagine the weight I need to cycle with,” says Kevin.

He refused to give up and worked hard on his fitness, losing 10kg in the process. Dad and son competed in the Mini Afriman, the 94.7 Cycle Challenge and a number of duathlons, triathlons, short road races and cycling events, learning as they went along. “In our first duathlon we were last! It took us forever to finish. Before the last run I asked Nicholas if we should stop or carry on. When he said, ‘I want my medal, Dad!’ we pushed on. People were just so supportive. By the time we were finishing they were already in their cars on their way home. But when they saw us, many stopped, got out of their cars and cheered us on.”

Kevin always makes sure he is allowed to compete with Nicholas before entering any race. “We have found the triathlon community to be very accommodating and open to us. The running community has been a bit more difficult as not all road races, especially the longer races, allow wheelchairs or joggers.”

THE LONG ROAD
When doing triathlons the family usually wakes up very early, as there is so much preparation to do and equipment to pack. “The night before a race Nicholas is always excited! He talks about it and wakes up early the next morning, telling everyone to get dressed,” says Kevin.

Arriving at events Team Garwood needs to keep focused when preparing as they have so much more to take into consideration than the average competitor. Kevin usually starts at the back when the swimming leg begins. He puts Nicholas into a kayak and swims with a ski rope attached to a hook on the boat and a belt on a harness he wears. “Nicholas loves the water and usually tells everyone around him to swim faster.”

When they get out of the water, Kevin carries Nicholas in his arms and runs with him to the transition area where the bikes are. “For us it is quite a mission going through the transition area. I need to see to Nicholas, to myself and organise our equipment. And don’t forget, I am also very competitive! It’s funny how competitive others can become when they see us passing them.”

Kevin puts Nicholas in the Wike, making sure he is well hydrated. “It’s very safe and stable. I have gone over 50km/hour on downhills.” Because the races are all endurance-based, the couple has taught Nicholas to hold his own bottle and drink water whenever he wants to. “We also pack sandwiches for him in case he gets hungry,” says Cheryl.

Kevin finds the cycling leg the hardest discipline, as the extra weight of the Wike and Nicholas’ weight make it tough, especially riding up hills. After the cycle Kevin converts the Wike into a jogger by adding a front wheel to it. Team Garwood’s strongest discipline is running and they have managed to get their running times down to about 55 minutes for 10km. “Nicholas loves to encourage me and usually shouts, ‘Run faster Daddy!’ or ‘Go Daddy go!’ He is not scared and loves it. His mom is more nervous than us!’”

Cheryl says Nicholas always shouts at the finish line, “I did it! I did it!” He also gets very upset when they finish a race and there is no medal at the end. “A T-shirt just doesn’t do it for him.”

AN AWESOME JOURNEY
Their journey has been filled with obstacles but at the same time, it has been amazing and inspiring. “It’s phenomenal what it has done for Nicholas. We can see a change in his personality, his speech is more fluent and he has a memory of note,” says Cheryl.

One thing they have realised is that there is no need to limit their lives or what they can do. “Sport has enriched our lives tremendously. Parents of special needs children should not impose limits on themselves and hide their children away,” says Cheryl.

When they look at their son with his two deep dimples, they see nothing but love. “As parents we look at our son with all the obstacles he has to face; yet he has such strong faith. He is an example to us. We admire his spontaneity and determination. And he loves people! He talks to everybody and reaches out to them. We were in the supermarket once and he reached out to a strange woman, grabbed her hand and said, ‘I love you.’ That is just the way he is. One of the things that is heartbreaking is that he wants to help with everything, but he is just so limited in what he can do,” says Cheryl.

Competing together as father and son has strengthened the strong bond Kevin and Nicholas have always had. “The journey has been good for both of us. We have always been close, but this has enhanced our bond. I believe nothing is impossible. One should never give up hope or believing. Our strong love bond with Nicholas has carried us through.”

I have often heard people say that running is in the mind and every time I go out for a run, I try and remind myself of this. Of course, training your body has a lot to do with it too. After all, if running was only about mental strength, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to give Stephen Muzhingi a run (pardon the pun) for his money.

On my last real attempt at running, I had chafed the back of my foot. It was only when I gave the wound a few days to heal that I realised that this blister was not an ordinary, run of the millinconvenience. The gaping wound on the back of my heel had become infected and had begun to resemble something not
unlike the ugly-looking, cut off body parts in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

As a novice, I had no idea what to do with my disgusting flesh wound, until a fellow athlete told me about Merthiolate. I was told to spray this iodine-like concoction on my wound and within days, it would be gone. “It’s going to hurt,” my colleague warned me. Of course, being Little Miss Know It All, I was sure I was strong enough to endure a bit of a sting.

Spraying Merthiolate on an open sore can only be described in one word, and frankly, I’m too much of a lady to write that word down. Suffi ce it to say that the pain brought tears to my eyes, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut and count to ten before I was able to take a breath.

BACK UP AND RUNNING
It took two weeks for my heel to heal, but that was the last impediment to my running for the month. I rejoined the walking group in the morning, taking the initiative to run/walk rather than complacently follow the others, and had begun to look forward to my Sunday afternoon treadmill ritual at the gym. I went from 13 minutes on the treadmill to 20. When those 20 minutes began to feel comfortable, I stepped up the incline of the treadmill. When the incline felt comfortable, I began to increase the speed. It was with joy and astonishment that I began to notice how much better my running had become, and not just on the treadmill either.

I had done two more time trials since my first. With the second, I had improved my time by 1:20 and in the third, I had improved again by 30 seconds. Although these improvements were landmarks for me, my worries about the 2010 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge were beginning to escalate. I had taken my pace down to almost 7km/h, but knew that I would have to push harder than ever before to achieve the goal I had set.

It’s a new year with new hopes and dreams for most of us, be it a personal best at a certain race, a first ever Comrades, or just losing a few kilograms. Modern Athlete spoke to four athletes about their hopes and dreams for 2010.

Dream: THE BAY TO BAY CHALLENGE 30KM
Name: Karen Ervens
Age: 45

Karen was involved in a car accident in Plumstead, Cape Town in March 2008, which resulted in three months total memory loss, including loss of smell, taste and balance. Towards the end of December 2008, Karen, who describes herself as a plodder, joined a 10km-in-12 weeks Optifit programme through the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA), as she believed it would help her regain fitness and provide her with the best health advice.

She still battled to balance when she started and it was not always an easy time – many days fellow runners ran next to her to help her stay upright – but she persevered and ran her first 10km race in Belville. Through further SSISA programmes, she has since managed to complete the Knysna, Gun Run, Grape Run, Landmarks and Winelands Half Marathons. Today she still battles a little with her balance and memory, but she believes that with time she will recover fully. Karen’s biggest dream for 2010 is
completing the Bay to Bay Challenge 30km in January.

How are you planning to achieve it?
They say that running is mostly a mental thing. Mentally I think I am up to it, but I need to get distance on my legs and also strengthen them. I have a very good biokineticist (Andrew Gray) who is helping me and I ask a lot of questions and get advice from experienced people such as Kathy McQuaide-Little and
Franciska Venter from the SSISA.

Do you see any obstacles in your way?
Hopefully not, but in running one can pick up injuries very easily. I am going to try and use any obstacles as challenges!

What might be the hardest part of the journey?
Self-belief. Running is something that nobody else can do for you. I know that if I stay positive and surround myself with knowledgeable and experienced people, and listen to advice, I should achieve my goal. I also know if I don’t succeed the fi rst time, I need to use it as a learning curve. I am afraid of
letting myself down as well as the people who have helped and encouraged me.

What is the most exciting part of your journey?
I am excited about how far I’ve come since January last year. If somebody had told me I’d be running 10km by March and 21km by July, I would have thought they were completely insane. I know that if I put my mind to it, I can achieve anything. 2010 is going to be a year of both mental and physical challenges and I am looking forward to it.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Partly from my past experiences; I have broken my neck twice and that gave me a lot of time to take a good look at my life. It is the only life I have and I need to make the most of it. I’ve learnt to learn from my past mistakes, take the good from them and discard the rest. Carrying baggage weighs you down. I also get my inspiration from my running group and mentors. There are some inspirational words that stick in my mind; Kathy McQuaide-Little once said, “We all create our own glass ceilings; nobody can break these but ourselves. It is up to us to break them and continue breaking them.”

What else are you looking forward to in 2010?
To continue learning about myself and what I am capable of. I also look forward to keep surrounding myself with positive like-minded people and to continue being blessed with a great group of friends.




Dream: TO COMPETE IN THE 2010 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CANADA
Name: Werner Pretorius
Age: 17

Werner, a schoolboy from Afrikaans Ho?r Seunskool in Pretoria, has always been sporty and has excelled at gymnastics, cricket, rugby and athletics. He had to make a choice as to where his heart lies and athletics came out tops. Werner’s highlight of his young career came in 2008 when he was the top junior hurdler in South Africa. Last year he was a member of the u/17 World Youth Team competing in Italy. Werner has his heart set on competing at the World Junior Championships in Canada in July and hopes that a good performance will enable him to qualify for a bursary to study and compete in America.

How are you planning to achieve your goal?
Training and more training! Also, I will have to work hard at my technique and speed and give 110% at every training session. I recently started changing my diet and I am trying to cut out sweets!

Do you see any obstacles in your way?
I prefer to see obstacles as challenges. It is not the worst thing if I have to miss a few parties because I have to train; there will be others in future. To reach the top one has to sacrifi ce; at the end of the day it is worth it.

What might be the hardest part of the journey?
I need to try and stay injury-free. Last year I had a lot of injuries and it had a big infl uence on my training programme. I am not really scared of anything because I know if you work hard you will be rewarded. I also know disappointments are part of life, they build character and one just has to get back up and not give up when things don’t work out as planned.

And the most exciting?
Competing overseas again will be an amazing experience. And for the first time since primary school I have also started sprinting 100m again.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
From my mom, Christa, my coach, Irma Reyneke, and God, who blessed me with this wonderful talent. When I want to give up I think of these inspirational words: ‘Quitters never win and winners never quit.’

What else are you looking forward to in 2010?
To doing well at school and to qualifying for a bursary to study in America. And of course to going to school with my own little car…  after I get my driver’s license, of course!

Werner’s coach, Irma (a former 400m and 400m hurdles Springbok) says he has all the qualities (physical and emotional) to become a champion. Her dream for him is to become SA Champion in the 110m hurdles and to compete at the World Championships in Canada. “Werner is such a special boy. He is prepared to work hard, never misses a training session, and above all he always stays humble”




Dream: JOHAN: TO RUN MY FIRST EVER COMRADES.
MARTIE: I WOULD LOVE TO ACHIEVE MY GOAL WEIGHT OF 80KG. I ALSO WANT
TO COMPETE IN MORE 10KM RACES.
Name: Johan and Martie van Gass
Age: Johan (43), Martie (39)

Johan who lives in Pretoria weighed 122.8kg in September 2008, and was battling with dangerously high blood pressure levels when he decided he’d had enough. Initially he tried all the wrong ways to lose weight –slimming tablets even landed him in hospital due to dehydration. He eventually started reading
about healthy eating habits and joined the gym. The weight started coming off! Johan got tired of the overcrowded gym and joined Run/Walk for Life. After the first week, he completed his first 8km race. Today Johan trains four days a week and runs a road race every Saturday. On Sundays he competes in mountain bike races and has just completed his fi rst 94.7 mountain bike race.




Martie weighed 144.8kg in September 2008. She decided to join her husband on his weightloss and fitness programme and has lost 50kg up to now. She has completed numerous 5km walks and one 10km walk. Today she trains three times a week and competes in 5km walks on the weekends.

Johan’s biggest dream is to finish Comrades 2010 and Martie is looking forward to losing another 15kg and competing in more 10km races.

How are you planning to achieve it?
J: I want to prove to myself that I have the endurance to finish a race as big as the Comrades. I am following the Comrades training programme, which I adapted a bit to suit myself. I also cycle to
strengthen my legs and from January I will be going to gym.
M: I am going to learn how to cycle so I can add this to my training programme.

Do you see any obstacles in your way?
J: There is only one obstacle and that is what one places in one’s own way. I am not planning on doing anything that will hinder me from achieving my dream. I have learnt not to put too much pressure on myself because then you don’t listen to your own body and you don’t rest when necessary. I take each
day as it comes and enjoy what I do. Too much, too fast, too soon are such true words.
M: One just has to deal with whatever comes your way and trust in God and your own ability. It is normal to be worried about falling back into your old ways, but luckily I have Johan who helps and supports me so much. If it weren’t for him I would not have made it.

What might be the hardest part of the journey?
J: I am battling with an injury. To get rid of it is going to be hard.
M: I am battling to get rid of the last few kilograms.

My body has become so used to my exercise programme, but I am planning to train more! And the most exciting?
J: We recently bought a Run/Walk for Life franchise. We are excited about helping others who are where we were.
M: I have encouraged some of my colleagues at work to lose weight and start exercising.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
J: My wife! Even if I am the worst sportsman, my wife will always make me feel as if I am a champion. That’s why I run each and every race just for her. I also always remember where I came from.
M: Johan is my biggest inspiration. He has helped me through each and every step of my weight-loss.
On the days that I feel fat and ugly, he always makes me feel better. I can also walk into shops and
look at all the beautiful clothes that I can wear.

What else are you looking forward to in 2010?
J: My wife is going to start cycling; perhaps in 2011 we could do the Cape Epic together!
M: I am looking forward to a healthy year and to live each day fully, inspiring others.




Dream: TO COMPLETE A HALF MARATHON
Name: Isabel Bekker
Age: 38
Isabel, a mother of two from Edenvale, joined Run/Walk for Life in 2001 after a colleague had an osteoporosis scare. The incident made her realise how important it was to be fit and active. The walking sessions started boring her, though, so one day she started jogging. Later, when she started working in Sandton, her running career came to a halt for five years because she got home too late to run. She eventually left that job and started running again. In 2008 she completed a few races and in April last
year, she ran her longest race to date, the Colgate 15km.

How are you planning to achieve it?
Training hard, increasing my distance and losing the last stubborn 6kg! I have not decided which half marathon to run, but it will be in the fi rst half of the year.

Do you see any obstacles in your way?
Defi nitely the winter months. I had a bad winter last year and stopped running for four months. When I came back I struggled to complete even 500m. Only three months later was I able to run the Irene 10km. What often makes me think that I might not accomplish my dream is the battle in my mind. My legs say they can do the mileage while my mind tells me that my body can’t. I need to overcome that and focus on the finishing line instead of the entire race.

What might be the hardest part of the journey?
The hardest part for me is juggling my life as a wife, mother and full-time worker while trying to put in
the distance and training needed to achieve my goal. If it wasn’t for my husband Ron’s support, there is no way I could have accomplished what I have so far. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful family who don’t care what my time was and children who walk around with my medals around their necks. They make me feel like a hero and that is the type of role model one aspires to be for one’s children.

And the most exciting?
Ticking ‘completing a half marathon’ off my to-do list of life.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from success stories of people who were not natural runners all their lives, people who worked hard to get where they are and understand the battles that I go through as a novice. There
are athletes who do way more mileage than I ever have, but still take the time to chat to me and offer advice and motivation. To me they are truly inspirational and they instil confi dence in my abilities. I  believe in these words: ‘If you can dream it, you can do it.’

What else are you looking forward to in 2010?
I am looking forward to the Soccer World Cup! Viva Espa?a!

When Mike Moloney saw the front cover of the October edition of Modern Athlete, he immediately recognised the photograph in the background as the start of the 1946 Jackie Gibson Marathon, with his father, Gerald, in the small group of runners. That photograph took him back to the good old days of South African running, just after the Second World War, when long distance runners were still considered a bit crazy and the Comrades Marathon was only run by a handful of hardy characters. He decided to share the trip down memory lane with us.

At the cessation of hostilities in 1945, returning ex-servicemen began to pick up their lives, which had been interrupted by six years of war. Most were demobilised with a brown doublebreasted suit, five pounds Stirling and very little else. Jobs had to be found, families regrouped and relationships restarted. Some found it easier than others, but for most, it was a time of financial struggle in an economy suddenly filled with job seekers.

My father was one of these men. A member of the South African Air Force in the Abyssinian and North African Campaigns, he was demobilised in poor health, a victim of malaria and the many diseases  particular to Libya and Egypt, where he and the Afrika Korps chased each other backwards and forwards across the Western Desert. When his squadron was deployed to Italy, he spent many months in recovery in Palestine before being returned to South Africa. Back home, he was lucky enough to get his pre-war job back, albeit at a very poor salary, a common problem with ex-servicemen at the time. While ‘up North’, the Union government had contributed to the family’s living expenses, which included the house in which we lived, and we were able to get going again in civilian life.

My father had been a member of Germiston Callies before the war and, as a track athlete, had specialised in the mile and three-mile events. As a miler, he was running times around 4:09, a few seconds outside the World Record, which was set at 4:06.4 by Sydney Wooderson of the United Kingdom. Callies had all but closed down during the war so, with Fred Morrison and Cecil McLean, he set about getting the club back on its feet.

They ran everything from one-mile to marathon, as there were so few members, but the club slowly began to grow. Having lost the speed which had brought him world-class times before the war, he began concentrating on longer distances and, eventually, the Comrades Marathon.

Apart from a few runners who excelled at long distances, the Callies runners ran cross-country in the winter and track in the summer, with the odd marathon when it came up. They did no special training for the long road races and got by on talent and the ‘Corpse Reviver’, a drink devised by Wally Hayward, Alan Ferguson and the rest of the ‘hard boys’ of athletics. It was a mixture of lemon squash, castor sugar, salt and other secret ingredients favoured by each individual runner. Looking at it now with the benefi t of 50 years of research and not-so-subtle marketing, it seems a little crude, but it worked pretty well then in the absence of any commercial offerings.

No one was commercially interested in the few marathon runners who were considered to be completely daft by the general public. However, the Comrades Marathon was reasonably well-known and the runners held in quite high regard. I was ’the boy‘ in primary school, as “his dad runs Comrades!” After
each Comrades, I’d get quite a few, “How did your father do?” queries from classmates. Well, to use a colloquialism, he did pretty damn good.

FIRST GOLD
My father’s first run was in 1947, but I don’t remember much about it – I was six years old, so that’s not surprising. The details have been gleaned from various sources and discussions with people who were involved, so inaccuracies, for which I don’t apologise, may have crept in. Of the 47 entries, only 23 would be classifi ed as fi nishers. With small fields like this, it was possible for a runner to run for hours without seeing another competitor. The only link a runner had with the race was the public at the
side of the road, of which there were few, and his second. No marshals, except at the start and the finish, no seconding tables, no distance markers, just the endless undulating road ahead, stretching on and on. Even the leader could have run much of the race alone.

In a race like Comrades in the early days, the role of the second could not be overemphasised. A good second would support the runner throughout the race, not only with water and Corpse Reviver, but also morally and physically. It meant that seconds sometimes had to run quite long distances with the runner and then back to the car, drive past the runner and wait for him to come along about half an hour later. He had to help the runner through bad patches and keep going all day. Without seconds, no runner could hope for a trouble-free run, let alone to do well. The 1947 race was a ‘down’ run, the first in eight years. Hardy Ballington dominated from early on and my dad went through Drummond in 11th place,
running with his Callies team mates Carl Pace and Eddie Hofmeyr. As members of the Callies Gunga Din team, they ran together for 60km before Hofmeyr pulled away to finish third behind winner Ballington, with Reg Allison the second gold. Next came LA Nel of Durban and then my dad in fi fth place for the first of his gold medals. Along with Hofmeyr, Pace and Fred Morrison in eighth place, the Callies team scooped the coveted Gunga Din Trophy, which stood in our lounge for three months, shared by the four team members. Now that doesn’t happen these days! Callies had done extremely well winning the  Gunga Din Trophy so soon after being re-established and the mood among the members was buoyant.

PEDAL POWER
By now, we had moved from our house in Primrose to a mine house a hundred metres or so from Geldenhuis railway station. My dad was still working at the Rose Deep Mine between Primrose and Germiston, and not owning a car, he had no option but to ride to work on his ‘trapfiets’. On with the bicycle clips, sports jacket buttoned up, and he’d be off at the crack of dawn to get to work by eight o’clock. His bike was nothing like the current offerings. No lightweight frames with adjustable  suspension and disc brakes. No Shimano multi-speed hubs, just a solid, 29-inch, single speed bicycle with a saddle and handlebars seemingly fabricated from cast iron tubing fi lled with lead. To brake,
you turned the pedals backwards. It was really hard work.

I started school at the beginning of 1948. I was enrolled at Primrose English Medium Primary School, which meant that my dad had to drop me off at school. Not having a car meant it had to be done on the bicycle. At seven in the morning, my dad would arrange a pillow on the crossbar, I’d climb on and we’d be on our way. A short dirt section and we’d be on tar, uphill all the way to the school in Primrose. By the time we got to school, my bum was deeply grooved by the unrelenting crossbar, which had, by some
miracle, forced its way through the pillow. My dad then had to ride all the way back to the Rose Deep Mine offices to start his day’s work.

At lunchtime, he’d have to ride back to school, pick me up and ride back home again. Fortunately, it was now mostly downhill but I was always relieved to hear the gravel of the dirt road crunching under the tyres. For me, it meant that the ordeal was over, but for my dad, it was only half done. He still had to ride back to work and all the way back home at the end of the day. All in all, he rode 180km in the six days of his work week. This probably made him one of the fi rst cross-trainers in South Africa and must have helped boost his fitness. A lot of people rode bicycles after the war, as few of them could afford cars.

When it rained, my dad had to enrol the help of his friend, Ross Baird, who had an MG TC, to take me home from school. Ross had been an armoured car commander in North Africa. His war ended when an enemy shell penetrated the armour and bounced around the interior, killing his crew and taking his right elbow, part of his hand and three of his fi ngers before running out of energy. Three of us jammed into the tiny MG with rain leaking through holes in the canvas top was almost as much of an ordeal as the bicycle ride, but at least it was quick.

SPRINT FINISH
The 1948 Comrades was an ‘up’ run and the Callies team was expected to do well again. My dad was tipped to give the favourite, 21-year-old Reg Allison, some competition. 45 runners lined up at the start and my dad ran all the way to Camperdown with team mate George Burdett, who later won the Jackie
Gibson Marathon and the Pieter Korkie Ultra Marathon. As they left Camperdown, George felt strong and pulled away. The heat was incredible and was taking its toll on the runners, with many falling by the wayside. As they approached Maritzburg, my dad lost sight of Burdett and without the companionship, his pace started to slow. With about a mile to go, he spotted Burdett’s second at the roadside and asked
how George was doing. “Oh, George has finished”, he said.

Tired and extremely hot, my dad decided to stop at a garage and have a splashdown at the tap. He knew he was well ahead of the next runner and couldn’t be caught. A minute or so later, he was on the road again and as he entered the stadium, to his surprise, he saw George staggering towards the finish line, totally exhausted. He accelerated to as close to a sprint as anyone can manage at the end of Comrades and rapidly closed the gap to what could be third place. Unfortunately, the frantic encouragement of the large crowd in the stadium failed to help him past Burdett and he finished two seconds behind in a close fourth.

Reg Allison, the pre-race favourite, didn’t win. Old-timer and 1938 winner, WER Savage did, with Allison second, George Burdett third and my dad fourth. And that was it. Fourth spot for his second gold medal and his name on the Gunga Din Trophy again, giving Callies their second team win in as many years. All in all a sterling effort all round.

LONG ROAD
The Comrades experience in the 40s was very different to today. It wasn’t easy to get time off work and runners needing to travel to the race had to ‘make a plan’. As most people worked on Saturday mornings as a matter of course, there wasn’t much weekend time for a trip to Durbs and back. Staying in hotels was out of reach fi nancially for most runners and accepting assistance or sponsorship was death to anyone’s sporting aspirations, Wally Hayward being the best-known sufferer of the amateurism rule.

My dad hadn’t planned to run in 1949 as he was concentrating on cross-country and six-mile track races. These plans fell apart when, three weeks before Comrades, a knock on the door revealed Fred Morrison in a mild panic. One of the Callies team members had pulled out and the team was short of a runner good enough to contend for the Gunga Din. Fred could be very persuasive and, for the next three weeks, he dragged my dad mile after mile around the hills of Bedfordview. Fred managed to get him entered and, on top of all this, made him team captain.

On the weekend of the race, my dad got home from work on Saturday at one-thirty, had a hasty lunch and packed his running shorts, Callies vest and canvas takkies in a small brown suitcase he used to carry his sports gear in. Add a towel, toothbrush and toothpaste and he was ready for Comrades. At three, Fred, who wasn’t running that year, arrived in his 1948 Hudson with three other team members, loaded up my dad and headed for Pietermaritzburg, a journey of ten hours in those pre-freeway days. Had it been an ‘up’ run, the trip would have taken another hour and a half, winding down the Comrades route in the dark to the start in Durban.

They arrived at one o’clock the morning of the race and tried to get a few hours of sleep, jammed five in the car, before lining up at the start at six on Sunday morning. Despite all the drama and lack of training, my dad had a great run, one of those blinders that come far too infrequently, when you just don’t get
tired. Apart from an hour-long dice with Morris Alexander for the cuckoo clock, the prize for fourth place, which Alexander had been instructed by his wife to win, he had an uneventful run. He looked so good after a wash and change that he was asked why he didn’t run. Perhaps there’s some benefit to being undertrained…

The race was won by Reg Allison, the previous year’s runner-up, with J Ballington second, Alan Ferguson third, Alexander fourth and my dad fifth. Callies won the team prize again and the Gunga Din Shield stood in our lounge for another three months, sadly for the last time.

After the prizegiving, they jammed themselves back into the Hudson and set off into the sunset for another ten hours driving through the night, four stiff, cramping runners trying desperately to find a comfortable position in the car. They arrived back on the Reef at fi ve on Monday morning without any sleep, just in time to stagger off to work. Marathon runners have always been a tough bunch, considered the hard men of athletics, but in those frugal post-war times, they had to be just that much tougher. Today’s runners take for granted being able to take a few days leave, spend them in a hotel with the family and run Comrades with seconding tables every few kilometers. Comrades will always be tough, no matter how you run it.

SUPER-DAD
In 1950, my dad was running track and cross-country in the winter. He also ran whatever marathon came up, but it was mostly track and cross-country. For this, his training was running around the hills of Bedfordview a few times a week. In February, his leave came up and we planned to go on holiday to East London, where he had spent much of his youth. The SA Track Championships were being held in Bloemfontein at the same time and he had entered to run the six-mile race. We were stopping overnight in Bloem anyway, so why not have a go at the SA Championships?

My Dad had by now managed to buy a car. It was a 1948 Dodge Special Deluxe bought from Sidney Clow in Germiston. He’d ordered it in 1948 and had to wait a year for it as there was a long waiting list and, as can be imagined, it changed our lives.

We loaded our holiday ‘gereedskap’ into the boot and headed for Bloem and the SA Champs. I don’t remember the trip or the holiday, but I clearly remember sitting in the stands watching the race. I was sure he was going to win – he was my dad, after all. There were about 15 runners in the field and they ran the 24 laps in the blistering heat, in takkies and on a hard, cinder surface. My dad finished in the middle of the fi eld, which was pretty good, considering his best years were behind him. Sadly, the
speed that had taken him to within seconds of the world one-mile record was gone.

I don’t remember him ever doing any speed training. The fartlek training system was just taking hold but coaches were unheard of for even top athletes like my dad. Runners just did what they thought was best for them, based on what they’d read about in imported publications or what they’d heard from runners
competing overseas.

LAST RUN
Soon Comrades came along and ‘us kids’ stayed with my grandmother while ma and pa trundled off to Durban in the blue Dodge. My mother didn’t drive and a second had been arranged for my dad. The poor bloke didn’t know what he was in for. He reported for duty in a brown suit and stout brogues, believing he was to drive the car and, standing on the side of the road, hand my dad a drink every now and then. Well, he was right about driving the car.

It was an ‘up’ run, attracting a fi eld of 29 runners. A notable entrant was veteran Wally Hayward, back in the race after his win at 21 in 1930, to begin a remarkable comeback. But Wally was a remarkable person, as anyone familiar with South African distance running will know. Endowed with exceptional talent and a physique seemingly unaffected by age, he was a quiet, unassuming and modest man, always
approachable and willing to assist anyone who asked for his help.

The race was run in hot and windy conditions, making the going tough. Wally was in the lead at Hillcrest and, battling a strong headwind, broke the tape in Maritzburg in 6:46, only the fifth runner to break seven hours for the up run. My dad came in 11th, the fi rst time outside the gold medal positions, after having
run most of the way with the Callies Gunga Din team. Callies lost the Gunga Din to Collegians and five years would pass before they won it again. My dad’s second ended the day in much worse condition than the runners, having run with the Callies team at race pace at least ten times while handing out drinks, which, for a non-runner, was a pretty good effort.

It was my dad’s last Comrades and he slowly withdrew from competitive athletics. He maintained his association with Callies for many years while tennis became his competitive sport. Never one to blow his own trumpet, he rarely spoke about his achievements. When we went to the coast on holiday and got to the last part, which was the Comrades course, he’d say, “Still running,” once or twice and that was it. Now whenever I drive between Maritzburg and Durban, I think of that. Still running.

Many towns around South Africa hold an annual festival to celebrate whatever that town or area is famous for, be it wine, witblits, oysters, olives, sweet potatoes or the performing arts. Here’s a list of great festivals that offer an extra incentive to all Modern Athletes – a running race as part of the festival. Keep your diary handy while reading this article, because you’re sure to start making plans.

MARULA FESTIVAL
Marula Festival Half Marathon, Phalaborwa, Limpopo, 27 February

The Festival: Throughout Southern Africa, the ripening of the marula fruit from December to March is celebrated with the Feast of First Fruits. The three-day party celebrates the legendary marula tree and its fruit – from its use as a place of worship and the magical healing qualities of its bark, leaves, nuts and fruit, to it being used as a food source and to make delicious traditional beer.

The Race: The absolute essential piece of advice for this race is that you should wait until after the run to join the Feast of First Fruits, because running after a few glasses of marula beer is not recommended!



KLEIN KAROO NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL KKNK
Half Marathon & 10km, Oudtshoorn, South Western Districts, 10 April

The Festival: The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn features both well-known and young up-and-coming artists in dance and theatre. Started as an Afrikaans alternative to the mainly English National Arts Festival, KKNK has 200 different acts on three different stages.

The Race: This interesting race is fl at and very scenic. Starting at the Wesbank Laerskool in Park Way, the route goes past the old Ostrich Palaces, through Oudtshoorn and its surrounding areas. www.kknk.co.za



PRINCE ALBERT OLIVE FESTIVAL
Prince Albert Olive Festival Half Marathon & 10km, Prince Albert, South Western Districts, 1 May

The Festival: Head to the Great Karoo for a weekend of great music, great food, great wine and great olives. The Karoo night skies are a wonder not to be missed – the stars literally reach out and touch your eyes, so go on a stargazing tour with local experts or just stand and marvel while you enjoy the serenity. Stress is not an option here!

The Race: The event is run through the historic and beautiful Karoo town of Prince Albert. You will be treated to the scenic splendour of the Swartberg Mountains from a vantage point before turning for the run back along the main street.



NAPIER SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL
Napier Half Marathon, Napier, Boland, 19 June

The Festival: Not much info is available, but if you’re into sweet potatoes, let’s just say that this is the place to be. From a running perspective, this festival and race always used to coincide with the Comrades Marathon, so it remained a hidden gem. No excuses now that Comrades has moved to May – get there this year!

The Race: This tough, hilly course starts off deceptively with an easy 2km downhill canter through the village, before heading out onto farmlands. Around 6km, the course becomes a gravel road passing fields of giant Proteas. The hard work only begins after halfway with a continuous 5km climb through
plantations of barley, wheat, oats and canola to the highest point at 16km. This is a good time to breathe deeply and enjoy the scenery before a pleasant jog back to Napier. Beware the fi nal sting in this
beauty’s tail…



BASTILLE FESTIVAL
Bastille Festival Freedom Run Half Marathon & 16km Long Walk, Franschhoek, Boland, 10 July

The Festival: Award-winning chefs and winemakers set up stalls in the town centre, offering delicious
fare from local and imported cheeses to handmade chocolates and salmon trout from the valley,
complemented by Franschhoek’s fi ne wines. The town’s restaurants, craft shops, galleries, boutiques
and food shops will be offering specials and guests will also be able to try their hand at boules, listen
to musicians or shop up a storm at market stalls.

The Race: Franschhoek is a truly stunning venue for a race, surrounded by vineyards and mountains. The flat route is half on tar, half on gravel, starting and fi nishing at the Huguenot Monument. This is one of those races where you really should slow down to enjoy the view! www.franschhoek.org.za



KNYSNA OYSTER FESTIVAL
Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon & Half Marathon, Knysna, South Western Districts, 10 July

The Festival: The coastal town of Knysna is famous for its oysters, and increasingly famous for the July festival that celebrates them. In addition to oyster braais, oyster tasting, oyster-eating competitions and other molluscular activities, there’s live entertainment, and lots of sporting events – cycling, running, triathlon, canoeing, downhill racing, and more. The organisers promise something for everyone – for food fundis, art and music lovers, outdoor and sporty types, for the adults and the kiddies.

The Race: This a mean marathon in terms of hills, but the spectacular route through the forest more than makes up for it. Listen out for the call of the Loerie birds as you trundle along. The half is the bigger race, though, attracting thousands of temp licence newcomers each year. Just dress warmly at the start in the forest, because it is f-f-freezing! www.oysterfestival.co.za



NEWTON GARIEP FESTIVAL
Netwon Gariep Festival Half Marathon & 10km, Kimberley, Griqualand West, 4 September

The Festival: The Gariep Kunstefees (arts festival) has an impressive line-up of local musicians, a film festival showcasing South Africa’s new fi lmmakers, as well as art exhibitions and children’s theatre.

The Race: Running events in Kimberley are usually fairly small by the standards of Johannesburg or and a pleasant ‘local is lekker’ approach. www.gariepfees.co.za



WHALE FESTIVAL
Whale Festival Half Marathon, Hermanus, Boland, 25 September

The Festival: Every year, southern right whales travel thousands of miles to the Cape south coast to mate and calve in Walker Bay. Join the villagers of Hermanus for an entertainment-packed festival in the town with the best land-based whale watching in the world. Watching a whale breach – when it comes up nose first, lifts high out of the water and fl ops back again, causing a huge splash – is truly unforgettable.

The Race: It starts with a short hill in the first kilometre, then fl attens out as you run through town to the new harbour and onto the coastal road where there are a number of testing pulls. The toughest hill is found near the 18km mark – short, but steep. This is a scenic event, especially the section along the
seaside pathway. www.whalefestival.co.za



DIE BURGER RITTLEFEES
Olifantsrivier Rittlefees Half Marathon, Vredendal, Western Province, 30 October

The Festival: Vredendal is home to the annual ‘Rittelfees’, a three-day Afrikaans music festival with seven stages and over one hundred great artists performing, plus arts and crafts, sporting events, exhibitions and food stalls. Vredendal is a scenic three-hour drive up the West Coast N7 highway from Cape Town.

The Race: Overall this ranks as a moderately challenging course, run mostly on tar but with a short 4km gravel section. There is also a fun relay event for teams and schools. www.rittelfees.co.za



FICKSBERG CHERRY FESTIVAL
Kersie Bergwedloop 23km, Ficksburg, Free State, 20 November

The Festival: First held in 1969, the week-long Cherry Festival is the oldest crop festival in South Africa, and attracts around 20 000 visitors to this small eastern Free State town each year. The scenery is magnifi cent, and the festival offers cherry and asparagus tasting, tours, picnics, music and beauty pageants.

The Race: Any mountain race presents its own challenge, and this race is no different. The first 13km will prove challenging, but this route is known are well worth the effort. This event could win the prize for the most picturesque race in the country. It is held at the same time as the cherry crops.  www.cherryfestival.co.za



THE BIG BLUE FESTIVAL
Various races, Kleinmond, Boland, December 2010 to January 2011

The Festival: It started off as a small festival to complement the multi-sport Totalsports Challenge, but has grown into a month-long celebration of summer, sun and sea. The festival takes it name from the Blue Flag status of Kleinmond’s pristine main beach. The festivities feature some of SA’s most popular musicians as well as a variety of family and fun activities, craft, food and wine stalls, exhibitions and sporting events.

The Races: Choose between the Big Blue Hangklip Half Marathon, four 10km races that make up the Big Blue Summer Series, an XTERRA off-road triathlon and trail run, and the big fi nale, the Totalsports Challenge. Plenty of running here! www.thebigblue.co.za

Have you forgotten why you run? Has running become more stress than relaxation? Then read on. Natasha Papini, a 21-year-old university graduate from Durban North has just completed her very first 15km road race, loves all things running and shared her newfound passion with Modern Athlete. Natasha’s running journey might remind you why you fell in love with running as well.

When her alarm clock goes off at 4:30 every morning, many youngsters her age are only going to bed after a night of partying. But Natasha Papini laces up her running shoes and hops in the car with her mom to meet up with their running group for a 10km run. For Natasha, running has become a way of life. “I love to run with people who are sometimes double my age! They give me a different perspective on life and they make the run so much more fun; from the ladies gossiping to the guys joking, all of them insisting I cover my ears. The running family is one of the many reasons why I get up in the morning; there is never a dull moment.”

Natasha is no different to other youngsters; she loves to party with her friends, but these days she has found a balance which allows her to make running a part of who she is. She has always been sporty, achieving KZN colours in fi gure skating, but she had to give it up when academics demanded more time. So she joined a gym, but eventually got bored of seeing the same interior of the same building every day.

IN HER MOM’S FOOTSTEPS
Then Natasha’s mom, Daniela, suggested running. “My mom is such an avid and amazing runner. She is the youngest 49-year-old I know and I can only wish that I will be as young at heart as she is when I am her age.”

Natasha started running on the treadmill before progressing to short 20-minute runs on the road and later easy 5km runs with her mom. Daniela encouraged her daughter to run with Regent Harriers, a group of up to 550 runners who run in Durban North most mornings. The runs not only made her fit and strong, they got her so hooked on running that she even added longer distance runs as well as quality track sessions to her training programme. She now manages 10km runs on Tuesdays and Fridays, a 15km run on Wednesdays and 60 minutes of track on Thursdays. Depending on her ’partying schedule’, she tries to run between 15km and 22km on the weekends.

And through it all, mom Daniela has been her support. “My mom has always been there to keep me company and focused,” says Natasha about her mom, who has run Comrades, Mont-Aux-Sources and Two Oceans. “I am really lucky to have my mom as a running partner. She inspires me to always work hard, not just in running but in all I do, to never give up, because what goes up must eventually come down; also with regards to all the uphills in life.”

EXHILARATION
Natasha says it is difficult to highlight just one thing she loves about running. “There are so many different aspects of running that I love, but if I had to choose, it would be the way running makes me feel after I have finished. I feel exhilarated. There is also something about running early in the morning that just makes the rest of my day so much better. I get to clear my head before my day starts and I also get to start my day so pumped on endorphins that I feel I can tackle absolutely anything,” says Natasha, who reads every single running magazine she can find. Even shopping has taken on a whole new meaning; these days she loves to shop for new running clothes. “It honestly feels as if new running shorts will make me run faster.”

It is the running community that truly keeps her inspired. “Running makes me feel part of a community other than that of family and friends. The running community is so supportive and you will always find someone willing to help you or nudge you up that last hill. There are not a lot of sports where you will find a group of individuals who get as close as the running family does.”

Occasionally she battles to get out of bed, especially on rainy days, but once up she never regrets it. “It’s a small sacrifice I am willing to make. Most of my friends think that I am crazy, but they will only really understand what I am talking about once they have experienced it for themselves.”

Natasha has convinced a couple of her friends to occasionally run with her, but says it is hard for  youngsters these days to start running. “People my age are still learning to juggle their studies, work and their social life, but we eventually learn!” She believes more can be done, especially at university level, to get youngsters involved. “Running clubs at universities often focus on elite youngsters who have been running since school days. They should offer a more social club where youngsters can socialise and get fit at the same time.”

FIRST RACE
Natasha recently completed her first race, the Stella 15km, in a time of 1:18. She was nervous at the start and thought other runners would run over her when the gun went off, but at the finish line there was no one prouder than Natasha, her mom and running friends. “I was extremely proud of myself. My mom and many of the runners I run with were really supportive and proud of my results, which made it so much more rewarding. It was also nice knowing that all those early mornings and hard work paid off.”

ROLE MODELS
“I prefer to look at people I know when it comes to role models. I can truly relate to them and say that I know what kind of a person they are, what their fears and goals are and what their failures and achievements are. My mom inspires me. I would be over the moon if I could accomplish even half of what she has.”

As for the future, Natasha plans to do many more 10km and 15km races, as well as the Two Oceans Half Marathon and eventually more adventurous races. In the meantime, she keeps on believing in herself and her newfound running ability. “Through running I have learned the mind is an extremely powerful tool, and if you know how to use it to your advantage, the possibilities are endless.”

When two young athletes merge not just their love for running but their love for each other, the proverbial sky is the limit. Especially when both are truly gifted athletes with the potential to one day go to the Olympic Games – and especially when they will do anything to help each other achieve their running goals.

While looking for articles about inspiring South African runners for this edition, I put out the call to a few of my contacts in the club and provincial structures to ask for suggestions about good stories that our readers would be interested in hearing. One of the suggestions I received was to interview two young runners from Celtic Harriers in Cape Town, Anthony Godongwana (25) and Thozama April (24), who share a most inspirational bond that goes far beyond just being running mates.

I soon found myself driving to the Khayelitsha Stadium on a Sunday afternoon to meet up with this inspirational couple, who met through running when both were juniors running for the Atlantic Athletic Club (AAC) and were selected to represent Western Province. Both are elite athletes who regularly win races or fi nish in podium positions in the Cape, and both have received provincial colours on numerous occasions, across all the running disciplines. Both have also enjoyed success at a national level, being selected for national training squads or representing South Africa – and both have big plans for their running careers.

But it is their approach to getting there that is so inspirational. You see, while Anthony is unemployed, he regularly earns money by racing road races. That money doesn’t just get spent, though – much of it goes towards Thozama’s ongoing studies in sports management and personal training, either to pay for studies directly or to help with transport costs to get to classes and pay for lunches during the days spent in class.

LEARNING CURVE
Thozama has already finished two years of her sports management diploma through Northlink College in Panorama, but put it aside in 2009 to do a personal training course at FET Principals in Tokai, thanks to a bursary she was awarded by Body Excel. The problem is that living in Khayelitsha and travelling to Panorama and Tokai for classes takes some doing…

“Transport was hectic! I took the bus each day, so had to wake up at five in the morning to be able to catch the bus at 6:30. Classes would start at eight, and sometimes I would be late because the bus was late. And when it was raining, I had to stand and wait at the bus stop too,” says Thozama. “She had to take the bus, because the taxis cost too much,” adds Anthony. “The bus costs about R265 per month, where the taxis are about R25, R26 per day!”

Thozama’s plan was to go back to College in 2010 and finish her diploma, then to do her honours as well, but that has changed thanks to her selection for the SA national cross-country training squad, which will be getting together in December/January to train in Pretoria. She and Anthony will be going up for two months, and then plan to stay on, with her enrolling in Pretoria University to continue her studies through the High Performance Centre.

EARLY YEARS
Anthony was born in the Transkei and moved to Cape Town when he was young, along with his mother, brother and sister. Thozama was born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town when she was nine years old to live with her grandparents and help with the family. She has two sisters and a brother, with her mother and one sister now back in Queenstown. It was thus her grandmother who watched over her early running career.

“When I started running, my grandmother didn’t want me to run – she was worried about my safety because I was getting back late from training, and it’s not safe for young girls to be out alone. But Anthony would pick me up at home to go to training and take me home again afterwards, and we would meet after school to train together. Luckily, after seeing my potential, my grandmother let me run.”

“Anthony has really helped me so much. He helped me write my training programme, and it’s thanks to him that I have run 35 minutes for 10km. Also, my grandmother is a pensioner, so we couldn’t always afford lunch, and Anthony helped me with money, and also gave me money towards school and college.”

When asked if it is diffi cult for young black girls to get into sport, Thozama says, “Our parents don’t encourage kids to do sport, and they don’t support the kids by coming to watch them play or run. My friends that I grew up with don’t do sport. Some are working while some are just doing nothing, and they’re not in shape because they just watch TV. That’s not right.”

Another obstacle is the traditional view that girls should not be playing sport; they should be at home, getting ready to raise a family and do the cooking… but Anthony doesn’t buy into that. “I am happy that Thozama runs. We met through running and we love running together – and she is doing so well.”

BREAKTHROUGH YEAR
This past year has been a great one for Thozama. Not only did she run new PBs in the SA 10km and 21km Champs, she also fi nished seventh in the overall points standings for the Spar Ladies’ Series Grand Prix, which was a big focus of her year, seeing her travel to the Spar races around the country to rack up the points.

Her other focus was cross-country – she fi nished eighth in the SA Champs and was selected for the national training squad. “I was challenging for third during the race, but the altitude affected me and I dropped back to eighth,” she says. Now she is preparing for the interprovincial cross-country meet in January, aiming to make the top six so she will crack the final nod for the World Champs squad, which will be announced after the race. Anthony will also be running in the meet, but as an individual entry.

Balancing all the big races in 2009 was challenging, though. For example, in September she ran the SA 10km Champs race in Stellenbosch one Saturday morning, finishing 12th, then flew up to Gauteng the same day so she could run the Pretoria leg of the Spar Ladies Series, finishing 11th. That same month saw her running in the SA Cross-Country Champs. Talk about a hectic programme.

HIS STORY
While this past year has largely been about Thozama’s running, Anthony has also been in good form, regularly finishing on the podium. He’s so humble though, that I almost finished the interview without him mentioning anything about his running, or his SA record, or training in Kenya as part of an SA development squad… So I sat him down again and got him to tell me more about his running.

He burst onto the scene in 2001 while running for Midas Spartans (1999-2000) and then for AAC, making the Western Province Youth team for the 2001 SA Champs in Bellville, running the 2000 steeplechase and the 3000m. In the steeplechase final, he broke the national Youth record, winning in 5:52 (and also claimed fi fth position in the 3000). That win saw him selected for the SA team for the Southern Region Champs in Mauritius later that year, where he finished second. Next he was off to Hungary for the World Youth Champs, where he fi nished eighth and set another SA record (5:45).

In 2002 he moved up to the 3000m steeplechase, winning the SA Junior Champs, which saw him selected for the World Junior Champs in Jamaica, where he finished tenth in his heat and didn’t make the final. Then in 2003 Anthony achieved further success, fi nishing eighth in the 8km senior race at the SA
Cross-Country Champs in Bloemfontein. This performance, along with his good showing in the ABSA Series track meets, saw him added to the 4km team for the World Cross-Country Champs in Switzerland, where he fi nished 78th.

Then in 2004, having moved to Celtic Harriers, Anthony was picked to go to Kenya along with a group of fi ve other young, promising steeplechasers, to train with the best track athletes in Kenya.  Unfortunately, things went a bit awry after that. In accordance with his Xhosa culture, he had to undergo
initiation rites and spent six weeks in the bush in Transkei, which badly affected his running.

He says he feels he was discarded by ASA when his times dropped a bit and adds that repeated requests for help with training kit and shoes fell on deaf ears. Since then he has made the Western Province squad each year, but has enjoyed no further national success.

HER STORY
Thozama’s athletic career began in school when she realised she had athletic potential, participating in the 800m and 1500m on the track and in local fun runs. She initially ran for New Balance Khayelitsha for two years, then moved to AAC for two years, where she met Anthony. They then moved to Celtics together in 2004.

In 2005 Thozama made the Western Province track and field team for the SA Champs in Durban. She finished eighth in the 5000m, but admits that she wasn’t in top shape and could have done better. The same year she went to the SA Cross-Country Champs in Bloemfontein and fi nished in the top ten for the 8km. She also went to the SA 10km Champs in Durban and made the top 20.

In 2006 she represented Western Province in the SA 21km Champs in Durban, fi nishing 16th, and went with her College team to the SASSU national track and fi eld champs, also in Durban, where she won the 5000m. That saw her selected for the national student squad for the Southern African University
Champs in Pretoria, where she fi nished third in the 5000m. Later that year, she ran in the SASSU Cross-Country Champs in Pretoria and fi nished sixth, winning selection to the SASSU national squad
due to go to Russia, but unfortunately couldn’t go because her College didn’t have the funds to send her.

Since then she has made the Western Province squads each year for track, road and cross-country, but 2009 has really been her year, with PB times in the SA 10km and 21km champs and selection to the national training squad for cross-country.

FUTURE PLANS
Besides moving to Pretoria so Thozama can further her studies and concentrate on making the World Champs team for cross-country, the couple have clear goals for their running. Anthony recently took a stab at the marathon distance, running 2:24 in the Puma Peninsula Marathon, and sees the marathon
as his future.

“I believe I can run sub-2:10. I ran 2:24 into a strong wind, without doing anything longer than an hour in training runs. I just wanted to see if I could run marathons. I plan to move up to 42km in about two years, when I’m 28, and my goal is to run for South Africa in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games marathons. But for now I’m going to concentrate on track and cross-country.”

Thozama is also focusing on track and cross-country, with the World Cross-Country Champs her big, immediate goal. However, she also wants to go back to the track to concentrate on the 5000m and try to break the 15-minute barrier, and make the SA team for the World Champs, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.

And what of their future together? Well, they’ve been dating for ten years and when asked about marriage plans, the couple both giggle delightfully and shyly answer that they’re thinking about tying the knot in 2012. No doubt they’ll still be running together long after that as well.

HUMBLE THANKS
At the end of the interview, I asked the couple if they had anything else they wanted to add to their story. Typical of their humble nature, they both immediately said they wanted to thank everybody that has helped them get this far. “Firstly, I want to thank God for giving me my talent,” said Thozama. “And I want to thank Gill Taylor at Sports Science – she helped me a lot last year when I was struggling with my iron levels. And Patrick Cox of Celtics and Desmond Zibi in Port Elizabeth, who are our two training advisors. But most of all I want to thank Anthony for everything he does for me.”

Anthony simply smiled shyly at Thozama, put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her closer and canted his head towards hers, as I pointed my camera at them for a few pics for the article. This is a couple very much in love.