Cian Oldknow hasn’t had the start to 2025 that she had hoped, a bone injury has put her running to a halt. With six weeks off to reflect, within injury, Cian has discovered a quiet strength, and how resting and not running is sometimes the best path forward.
We get to know the man behind the name, Crazy Legs, our March cover star Ipeleng Khunou. Born with a condition that affected his mobility, from a young age Ipeleng has always had the attitude of never say never. Our Roving Cow Richard Laskey met him a year ago at the Run Your City Tshwane, and now finally we get to bring his story to life.
A social running crew based in Durban, Izitebele is a crew that believes you should never run alone. Founded in 2021 post the COVID pandemic as a space for runners to train together, it started with four but has grown to over 150 dedicated members. We look at this Run Crew and what they bring to the KZN running scene.
Christopher-Luke Peers had a severe stroke in 2023, waking up with half his body paralysed, he thought his life was over. But with a quiet determination, he came back, learning to walk, speak, and even how to use a spoon. Fast forward a year, Christopher finished half Ironman! This year he has doubled the stakes going further than he ever thought possible.
adidas is excited to announce the release of the first episode of their brand campaign, ‘Plus One Effect’. The six-part series explores the stories of distinguished athletes and the vital role of their ‘Plus Ones’, the supporters who shaped their journeys from the sideline. Their presence changes the game, turning doubt into confidence and pressure into joy.
Building onto the success of the 2024 ‘You Got This’ launch, the 2025 campaign highlights the power of encouragement, revealing that 4 in 5 athletes face unhelpful sideline behavior, which can lead them to leave sports. Rooted in the universal truth that every athlete needs someone in their corner, the campaign highlights how a strong support system can be the difference between success and self-doubt. As one of South Africa’s most celebrated long-distance runners, Gerda’s story is deeply rooted in the local running community. With five consecutive victories at the Two Oceans Marathon, Gerda is ready to chase her sixth, backed by the unwavering support of those who believe in her. While her determination and training have shaped her success, her story proves that behind every athlete, there’s a ‘Plus One’ cheering them on.
Gerda’s journey is one of resilience, dedication, and an unshakable belief in what’s possible – one she hasn’t taken alone. At the heart of her success is her husband, Duncan Ross, who has been by her side every step of the way. From handling race-day logistics and refining training plans to pacing her runs by cycling alongside her, assisting with nutrition and hydration, and keeping her motivated during the long miles, his support has been instrumental to her journey.
Gerda is celebrated as a three-time Comrades Marathon champion, five-time Two Oceans Marathon winner, course record holder, and two-time Olympian (Marathon – 2021/2024). Yet, behind her remarkable achievements, Duncan’s invaluable role often goes unnoticed. She attributes much of her success to the constant belief and encouragement from those working behind the scenes, demonstrating that a strong support system drives every record-breaking performance. “Running has been a journey we’ve embarked on together. From my early days as a social runner to making the leap into professional running, Duncan has been by my side through it all,” says Gerda Steyn. “The highs in this sport are incredible, but the lows can be tough. Having Duncan there through every triumph and setback has made all the difference.”
Gerda is not just running for her sixth title; she is running to inspire. She trusts in the adidas Adizero Pro 4, the world’s most winning marathon shoe, engineered for speed and peak performance, giving her the confidence to push beyond limits.
‘Plus One’ is more than an adidas global campaign; it’s a tribute to the people who make every win possible. adidas aims to spark a global movement of positivity, reminding every athlete that belief starts from the sidelines. After all, we all need someone to make us believe… you got this!
For more information on the adidas ‘You Got This’ campaign visit https://www.adidas.co.za/yougotthis.html. To watch Gerda and Duncan’s story, visit https://www.youtube.com/@adidas/.
Last month we ran a feature on Erin losing her leg to lupus, and her inspirational entry into running. Speaking to Erin afterwards we realised there was a lot more to tell, and the best way to do that is to give Erin her own column. So expect more inspiration every month from Erin herself.
Hey Athletes… fancy putting that endurance to the test in a whole new way?
Introducing: Deadly Dozen. South Africa’s exciting new fitness racing event is heading to Johannesburg on Saturday, 3 May 2025, at the Ruimsig Athletic Stadium — and trust us, you’ve never raced like this before.
Here’s the breakdown: 4.8KM of running journeys. 12 killer workout labours in between. One seriously electric atmosphere that’ll leave your legs burning and your endorphins soaring.
Each labour is designed to test a different aspect of your fitness — from leg burning lounges, burpee broad jumps, and killer bear crawls, to overhead carries, devil presses, and more. You’ll be sprinting, sweating, and shouting “what the hell was that?” with the best of them — and loving every second.
Why should YOU take this on?
Whether you’re a seasoned road warrior, a trail junkie, or just someone who loves a good old-fashioned “sufferfest” with friends — Deadly Dozen is calling.
You’ll walk away with:
More than 80% of tickets are already gone, and waves are filling fast — so don’t snooze on this one!
JOIN THE FITNESS RACING REVOLUTION:
ENTER NOW
on webtickets:
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1564754406
More info: www.deadlydozen.co.za
Deadly Dozen isn’t just a race. It’s a full-send, full-body, full-beast experience. Come for the run. Stay for the burn. Leave with the stories.
We’ll see you at the start line in Jozi.
The inaugural Track+Field series is expected to close in spectacular fashion this week when the National Final is held at the University of Johannesburg Athletics Stadium on Thursday and Friday.
The memorable opening campaign saw over 4 100 athletes from 240 schools across the country competing at nine provincial events over the last two months.
These meetings provided a rare opportunity for some of South Africa’s smaller athletics schools to compete against the nation’s top institutions, while also giving young athletes a chance to showcase their talent.
With the top boys and schools at each provincial leg qualifying for the two-day T+F National Final, the best track and field schools in the country will now be crowned at the National Final.
Over 500 athletes from 17 different schools will turn out at UJ Stadium.
“We are thrilled to be able to crown the first T+F national champions, and we are expecting a close competition between South Africa’s top track and field schools,” said T+F series co-founder and former Olympic sprinter Mathew Quinn.
“This series has unearthed some incredible talent around the country, and we are looking forward to giving the best performing schools an opportunity to compete against each other in the search for the overall T+F champions.”
The National Final of the T+F series – a joint venture between SuperSport, SA Schools Athletics and Athletics South Africa – will be broadcasted live on SuperSport Variety 4 (channel 209) and the SuperSport Schools app.
The competition will be held between 3.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday, 10 April and between 1.30pm and 6pm on Friday, 11 April.
The programme will feature 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and relay races, as well as long jump, shot put and javelin throw contests.
Participating schools, T+F National Final
Hoërskool Diamantveld
Capricorn High School
Vryburg High School
TuksSport High School
Rand Park High School
Hoërskool Voortrekker
Queen’s College
Cambridge High School
Rob Ferreira High School
Penryn College
Maritzburg College
Hoërskool Suid Natal
Hilton College
St Anne’s Diocesan College
Bergvliet High School
Hoërskool Stellenbosch
Barkly East High School
Champions, Rory has an important message for all of you, we have all done it, run that race we shouldn’t for one reason or another. His story serves as a warning to all of you, as much as you think you can, sometimes you shouldn’t.
Akani Simbine finally has an individual medal from a major championship.
That’s after the 31-year-old stormed to third place in the 60m final at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China on Friday.
The Pretoria sprinter was, of course, the protagonist in leading the South African team to a 4x100m relay silver medal at last year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
But, after coming so close at various major championships over the last decade, Friday’s performance saw Akani securing his first-ever individual podium place at a global event.
Britain’s Jeremiah Azu equalled his personal best to take the gold in a time of 6.49 seconds with Australian Lachlan Kennedy second by just one-hundredth of a second and Akani third in 6.54.
This is the first time Akani has competed at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, having only run one race indoors in the build-up to the event.
“It’s really good to get the medal as this is my first indoor championship ever in my life,” said an ecstatic Akani afterwards. “Coming in, running and getting a medal, I cannot ask for anything more.
“I came with no expectations, only trying to see how far I can get in this run. I had never done this before, it’s all different, it’s all new.”
He added that there is still work plenty of work to be done ahead of the outdoor season.
“Confidence-wise, this is bringing me up, but also, there is something I need to further work on, like the first 10 metres in the beginning of the race, and that would leave me less work to do at the end. I am now looking forward to the season and growing in the season and getting better.”
Earlier in the day, Prudence Sekgodiso ran a controlled race to claim victory in her 800m heat, winning in a time of 2:03.89.
That saw the 23-year-old Olympic finalist qualifying sixth fastest for the semifinals which are scheduled for the early hours of Saturday morning, South African time. The final will be contested on Sunday afternoon.
Just two other South Africans are competing in Nanjing. Cheswill Johnson will be in action in the long jump and Chris van Niekerk in the shot put – both on Sunday.