Category: News

You’ve heard the stories, you’ve seen them training, you’ve been inspired and you’ve been confused. We take a closer look at some insights behind this motivated group of normal people who aspire to something extraordinary.

Early mornings are for sleeping; lying in bed, snoozing or just gradually waking from a good night’s sleep – well that’s normal in most households but if you are a triathlete then it is significantly different. Early mornings for triathletes are the time to get a run in, to do a session on the stationary trainer or churn out a few extra laps of the pool all before the start of the day. This is follow by a recovery drink, a stretching session or, on some occasions, a massage from your personal sports massage therapist. And that’s just before 7am when it’s time to get the kids to school and get ready for work.

If the workday is full, then the afternoons are carefully managed to ensure that there is time for an afternoon session possibly at the running track for some quality speed work, or a “brick” session, which includes a cycle, followed immediately by a run session. For some, it is intense intervals in the pool with the local swim squad where 12 year olds are swimming faster than most sea creatures. After one of these mentally and physically taxing sessions it’s time to hit the showers (after a recovery drink) so that there is time to inhale a plate of food (low fat, high protein) meal before doing a late evening session watching videos or re-runs of last years Top 10 races.

The common question as to “why” this is the standard practice for triathletes is yet to be answered and even those who do this on a daily basis don’t and can’t give consistent and rational answers. One must assume that the answer to this question is irrelevant as more and more people are adopting and embracing this new lifestyle in order to complete the personal quest know as a triathlon. In most cases, the elation of crossing the finish line has been what has inspired most to take up this challenge. For some, it has been a desire to make a change in their life habits but for most it is about finding out more about themselves while pushing themselves to their own limits.

Triathletes are young at heart, regardless of their age, because they are letting their inner-child free when they are swimming, cycling or running. There is no limit to the amount of fun you can have while enjoying these activities and if you throw a few good friends into the mix to join you in this adventure, then you have the perfect mix to appeal to each and every one of us. The cherry on the cake, however, has to be “the race” and the hurdle that lies in front of each triathlete. They aim to go further, faster or be better than they were last time. This strong motivation inspires them to train harder, learn more, spend more on products which will help them go faster, hire coaches, massage therapists or whatever it takes to conquer the course.

So who is the typical triathlete? They range from all ages, from all backgrounds and from all walks of life for the simple reason that no one was born proficient and efficient at all three sports implying that the playing field is relatively equal for all who are prepared to sacrifice some niceties in life to achieve. It could be your neighbour, your closest friend or the next sporting superstar who are attracted to this challenge. The desire to achieve seems to consume them all and motivates them to invest time and energy into their next challenge.

If you are considering becoming part of this sub-culture then prepare for a life changing experience. You will be fitter, healthier, happier and make a greater sense of self worth. People will admire you and respect your determination and courage. You will be richer in life but poorer in money as the costs escalate in direct proportion to triathlon gadgets you wish to acquire. Prepare for an amazing experience that will take you to places you didn’t dream of going, you will meet people you never knew existed, in the strangest places but you will all speak a common language, the language of “triathlon”. The stories will be bountiful and the opportunities to learn will never end. Prepare yourself for something special. Prepare to be a triathlete.

TriRock Durban will satisfy your race needs as an athlete and provide the ultimate race experience, from beginner to Pro. Visit www.trirock-durban.com for full details.

A little mud has never scared trail runners and the more than 800 runners who showed up for the second race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ certainly proved their mettle. Those brave souls who weren’t put of by the conditions were treated to a cold, wet and windy run and got to enjoy a muddy and slippery but, most of all, fun day on the trails.

Defending champion, Bernard Rukadza and local Durbanville resident, Liandi van der Westhuyzen both claimed their second victory in the Long Course Championship. Both have made their intentions in the Series clear and it’s going to take a massive effort from their closest rivals to take the Series from them after the halfway mark.

In the Short Course Challenge 13-year-old Mia Doyle from Somerset West continued to impress and claimed her second overall win of the Series. 16-year-old Dawood Goeieman from Brackenfell improved his third place at the first race of the Series and crossed the line first to set up an interesting duel in the rest of the Series between him, Riaan Wildskut and André Afrika.

A big thanks to sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, Protea Hotels and BOS Ice Tea for making the Series possible and to all the runners who joined us for a memorable and muddy day out!

For a full report on the event click here. Full results can be found here and more photos here.

The Series moves on to the Taal Monument and Paarl Nature Reserve this weekend and with sunny skies predicted and entries sold out already it’s bound to be another great day for trail running!

The Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ kicked off with a bang at the Paul Cluver Estate as more than 1000 runners came out to take on the epic trailS of Paul Cluver Estate during the weekend.

Robinson takes the GLB46 Ultra
On Saturday almost 100 runners took on this magnificent ultra that makes its way up and around the Groenlandberg. Will Robinson led throughout and won the 46km race in a time of 3:51:04 while Mags Haacke won the ladies race comfortably in a time of 4:52:29.

Rukadza stamps his authority
Things most definitely picked up speed on Sunday as more than 900 runners descended on the Paul Cluver Estate to take part in the first race of the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™.
Bernard Rukadza picked up where he left off in the summer Series and started strong in his bid to win his fifth straight Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™. He blitzed the 16km course in 1:08:59. Liandi van der Westhuyzen showed her class and took top spot in 1:27:47, almost four minutes ahead of her closest rival.

Exciting talent in the short course
It was business as usual for Riaan Wildskut as he wrapped up yet another short course victory with a blistering run. He came charging down the hill to finish the 9.1km course in only 34:07. One of the most exciting performances of the day had to have been that of 13-year-old, Mia Doyle who won the ladies’ short course in a magnificent time of 44:19.

The second race in the Series this Sunday at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve has also sold out and runners can expect another huge turnout and a fun day out.

A big thanks to all the runners who came out to Grabouw and of course to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS and Protea Hotels for their continued support. And a special thanks must go to the Paul Cluver Estate for opening their gates to the masses and hosting us at this beautiful property – such a privilege!

For the full race report, visit the website at www.trailseries.co.za. Follow us on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for any updates on this and other Spur Trail Series™ races.

For full results click here and for more photos click here.

After a hugely successful Series in Gauteng, the Spur Trail Series™ moves to the Western Cape as the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ kicks off this weekend at the Paul Cluver Estate in Grabouw. With all entries for race 1 sold out and some top runners signed up, the race and the Series promises to be a cracker.

Expect some fierce competition at the front of the Long Course Championship field between four-time Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ champion, Bernard Rukadza and regular podium finisher, Greg Goodall. Raydon Balie is making the step up from the Short Course Challenge to the Long Course Championship after winning the Challenge in 2013 and it will be interesting to see how his presence influences the finish times. In the ladies field Danette Smith is returning after winning the Spur Cape Summer Trail Series™ Championship earlier this year.

Riaan Wildskut returns to defend his Challenge Title and he’ll be hoping to stamp his authority on the short distances by making it three in a row.

While there will be some serious racing at the front of the field, the vast majority of the entrants will be there to enjoy a fun day on the trails and with spectacular venues like Paul Cluver Wine Estate, Tygerberg Nature Reserve, the Taal Monument and the Kogelberg Biosphere this is a definite for all participants.

The schedule for this year’s Spur Cape Winter Trail Series™ is as follows:

19 July: Spur GLB46 Ultra – Paul Cluver Estate, Grabouw
20 July: Race 1 – Paul Cluver Estate, Grabouw
27 July: Race 2 – Tygerberg Nature Reserve, Bellville
3 August: Race 3 – Taal Monument & Paarl Nature Reserve, Paarl
16 August: Race 4 & XL: Kogelberg Biosphere, Kleinmond

For more information and to enter online visit www.trailseries.co.za. Follow Wildrunner on Twitter @WildrunnerZA and like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trailseries for regular updates.

France has the Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc and Japan the Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji. Now South Africa has an event to match. Entries have already opened for the inaugural Ultra-Trail Cape Town, which at 100km with 4200m elevation gain and a cut-off time of 15 hours will be the most demanding race to happen in South Africa and one of the toughest in the world.

The race, which takes place on 25 October 2014, will cover the iconic Cape Town landmarks of Lions Head, Signal Hill, Table Mountain, Houtbay, Llandudno, the Constantia Winelands and Kirstenbosch Nature Reserve.

The mastermind of the Ultra-Trail Cape Town and Summit Events founder, Nic Bornman, started planning the event over two years ago while living in Hong Kong. Whilst therehe took part in and witnessed massive growth in the city’s vibrant ultra-trail running scene.

“Trail runners are always seeking to cover more distance and to push their endurancelevels,” explains Bornman. “As such, we believe that there is increasing emphasis on using trail running as a means of exploring and redefining what is possible for everyday people. Taking into account South Africa’s large community of runners who subscribe to this kind of thinking, there is a gaping hole locally when it comes to a large-scale Ultra-trail running event.”

“Cape Town is consistently voted in the top threeglobal destinations to visit and Table Mountain was recently inaugurated asone of the Natural Seven Wonders of the World, which is why it makes perfect sense to host what is anticipated to be South Africa’s largest Ultra-trail race in the Mother City.”

The event will be broken down into three separate races, of which the two longer events have been graded and fully recognised by the International Trail Running Association. They arethe main 100km Ultra-trail, the 62km Mountain-trail and the slightly more manageable 17km Urban-trail.

The Mountain-trail race at 62km is not quite as challenging as the 100km race, but will still be aimed at fit and experienced runnerswho are comfortable spending a significant amount of time on their feet. The route has a 2900m gain and covers the same route as the Ultra-trail, excluding the Houtbay/Llandudno loop.

Lastly, a 17km with a 900m gain, is the more manageable Urban-trail race, the route will cover some of Cape Town’s best known landmarks such as the Company Gardens, Greenmarket Square, the Bo-Kaap, Signal Hill, Lions Head and the lower contours of Table Mountain.

The start and finish point for all three races will be at Cape Town High School in the city centre.

“Cape Town is one of those unique cities where you cannot divorce the natural landscape from the urban environment,” says Bornman. “The route therefore weaves together Cape Town’s cultural, social and natural heritage. With the challenge of overcoming obstacles made up of the fabric of Cape Town’s iconic landscape, the stage is set for one of the world’s premier ultra-trails.”

For more info, check http://www.ultratrailcapetown.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/ultratrail.capetown

It was pretty much a solo run for Rene Kalmer as she took top honours in the Pietermaritzburg SPAR Women’s 10km today in a time of 34.13 on an icey winter’s morning in KZN’s Capital.

The field of 3800 participants braved the cold as the temperature plummeted to 2 degrees earlier this morning but had risen to about 5 degrees at the start of the race.

“This is the first time I have run this race in Pietermaritzburg, and I was happy with my performance. I felt very strong. The weather didn’t bother me – we are used to these temperatures in Johannesburg.” said Kalmer who sliced off 1 minute 11 seconds from last year’s winner Jenna Challenor’s time of 35.24.

Second and third place were owned by Nolene Conrad and Sithulisiwe Zhou both also running their debut Pietermaritzburg races.

Capetonian Nolene Conrad, who has been concentrating on her marathon running, sailed into the finish in second place in a time of 35.37. “I had a good race , but it was a bit of a difficult run with all the hills. My legs were really cold and only in the last three kilometres did I feel like I warmed up.”

Zimbabwean Sithulisiwe Zhou was over the moon with her third position in a time of 36.16. “It was fantastic.” she enthused, “I am training for the Mandela Marathon, so I am really pleased to have been able to run with such elite runners like Rene and Nolene .”

Going through the halfway mark, Kalmer looked at complete ease as she took the palm-lined avenue up the hill through Alexandra Park a good 20 seconds ahead of Conrad.

KZN’s Tanith Maxwell, running in and winning in her category (35-39), came in fourth.

“Once again there was a great spirit amongst the participants at this year’s race.” said Rob Philipson, MD SPAR KZN. “Despite the bitter cold, the mood was festive and fun-filled, clearly dispelling all myths about this being Sleepy Hollow.”

“We are encouraged that this race is growing in stature and we are attracting elite runners such as Rene, Nolene, Tanith and Sithulisiwe.” Philipson continued.

A sum of R10 200 raised from a percentage of the entry fees was donated to the race charity CHOC.

The next SPAR Women’s 10/5km in KZN will take place on Sunday August 24 in Durban and is part of the SPAR Grand Prix.

Results

10km
Open

1 Rene Kalmer (Modern Athlete) 34.13, 2 Nolene Conrad (Boxer AC) 35.37, 3 Sithulisiwe Zhou (Phantane) 36.16, 4 Tanith Maxwell (Boxer AC) 36.43, Keneilwe Sesing (Nedbank) 37.13

9-11
1 Thabelo Tshishonga 1.25.47, 2 Tasmiyah Essack 1.33.11, 3 Kendra Visagie 1.48.04

12-14
1 Kaydie Gouws 1.46.49, 2 Kate-Lyn Gouws 1.47.52, 3 Milan Comley 1.50.06

15 – 19
1 Nontlantla Gcinia 40.34, 2 Mbali Mtshali 40.37, 3 Nomusa Xaba 42.41

35 – 39
1 Tanith Maxwell (Boxer AC) 36.43, 2 Nonsikelelo Mbambo (Natal Carbineers) 41.37, 3 Michelle Ellis 44.05

40-49
1 Suzette Botha (Eskom) 38.36, 2 Janene Carey (Boxer AC) 39.21, 3 Marilise Vermaak 43.52

50 -59
1 Janine Engels (Westville Athletics) 44.23, 2 Jenny Taylor 54.27, 3 Trish Botton (Natal Carbineers) 1.00.09

60+
1 Judith Grove (Hilton Harriers) 49.53, 2 Jane Dickson 50.24, 3 Sandra Fismer (Hilton Harriers) 50.36

5km
1 Londeka Mweli 20.20, 2 Nombuso Ndamane 20.21, 3 Sinenhlanhla Zondi 20.33, 4 Fezeka Mchunu 20.47, 5 Sthandile Dladla 21.16

Race 3 of the Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ took place at the magnificent Segwati Game Ranch as more than 800 runners took advantage of a beautiful winter’s morning to get out and run wild.

The 12km long course Championship race was blitzed by Quintin Honey as he finished in only 47:55 to beat Kenyan-born, Samuel Ongaki by 92 seconds. In the ladies field another epic battle was fought between Marelise Retief, Takalani Ndundani and Anita O’Brian. O’Brian and Retief have both won one race in the Series and Ndundani took her turn this week, winning in a time of 59:41. Retief secured second and O’Brian took third place to leave the Series title wide open.

In the men’s short course Challenge race of 7.4km, Ryan Mathaba secured his third win on the bounce with a time of 29:15 to seal the overall men’s Open category while Penny Taylor made it a perfect 3 out of 3 with her win in a time of 36:13.

All three races of this year’s Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ have sold out and race 4 is no different with the last few entries going fast. It is set to be an epic finish at the Pelindaba Nature Reserve this Sunday and a fitting end to what has been a fantastic Series thus far.

A big thanks to all of you who ran and big thanks to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS Ice Tea and Protea Hotels for their amazing support and energy.

Click here to read the full race report, find full results here and more photos here.

George Claassen – #994

The Comrades Marathon Association has expressed its sadness at news of the death of George Claassen, the 1961 Comrades Marathon winner and a notable member of the Comrades Green Number Club. He was 97 years old.

During his Comrades running years – 1960 to 1977 – George had earned two Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronze medals to his name; claiming 3rd position in 1960 and his winning title in 1961.
Former CMA Chairman and Green Number Club Convener, Barry Varty reflects on news reports of George’s win at the 1961 Comrades Marathon. “George Claassen was greeted by Vic Clapham, founder of the Comrades Marathon, as he crossed the Finish Line. It was a great moment!”

Barry tells us that the Claassen Family has over the years made a significant contribution to the Comrades Marathon Association. He says, ‘George is the father of Wynand Claassen, the Springbok Rugby Captain from 1981 to 1984. Wynand was also involved in the restoration of Comrades House for the Official Opening in 1988. There is a plaque at Comrades House to this effect.’

On George’s death, Barry says, ‘Another great Comrades veteran fades in the light of the setting sun. Sadly his race is now over, and we on the road, don't say goodbye. We say “Carry on George, we'll catch you later.”’

George will be fondly remembered. The memorial service will be held at 11h00 on Monday, 23 June 2014 at the NG Kerk, Bloubergstrand.

*******

Graeme Fraser – #666

The Comrades Marathon Association is saddened by news of the death of Graeme Fraser, an ardent Comrades Marathon runner and long respected member of the Comrades Green Number Club.

Graeme passed away on Sunday, 15 June 2014 after a battle with a degenerative illness. He was 65 years old.

Graeme ran for the Hillcrest Villagers Athletics Club, was a top Comrades gold medalist, with 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals to his name between the years 1975 to 1988. He won third position in both 1982 and 1983.

He will be sincerely missed. The memorial service will be held at 14h00 on Thursday, 19 June 2014 at the Kloof Methodist Church – 4 Park Lane, off Village Road in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal.

The Spur Gauteng Winter Trail Series™ carried on in style as race 2 provided more top notch running on the banks of the magnificent Hennops River. Though temperatures were a little more forgiving than they were at the first race of the Series, it was still an icy morning but Gauteng trail runners came in their droves nonetheless.

After an exciting race 1 last week, the ante was raised with the addition of the 20km XL race in addition to a 12km Long Course Championship race and a 6.5km Short Course race.

In the XL race, it was 25-year-old, Cornel van Heerden who took the spoils by dominating the race to win by over 7 minutes while Nicolette Griffioen romped home in equally dominating fashion to take the win in a time of 02:00:55.

Edwin Sesipi continued where he left off last week and secured his second straight win in the Long Course Championship, winning in a time of 55:52 – more than 10 minutes ahead of his closest competition! The ladies Long Course Championship made for some close competition but Anita O'Brien managed to pip Takalani Ndudani to the finish line. She finished in 01:14:55, just over a minute ahead of Takalani.

In the Men’s Short Course Challenge Race Ryan Mathaba once again proved to have too much in the tank and ran home in a time of 00:29:53 while Penny Taylor retained top spot on the podium in a time of 00:35:39.

The next race of the Series at Segwati has already sold out and promises to bring more excitement as Series leaders can wrap up their wins there. A big thanks to all of you who ran and big thanks to our sponsors, Spur Steak Ranches, adidas, BOS Ice Tea and Protea Hotels for their amazing support and energy.

For a full race report click here, find full results here and more photos here.

We investigate the mystique behind this sport that has a classic sub-culture and yet captivates the imagination of the planet.

Most people don’t think they are in a position to finish an event that comprises three different sports, without resting, for various reasons. The motives that hold people back are personal and varied but the one truth is that we all aspire to complete a triathlon, or “to be a triathlete”. We look at some of the factors that have spawned the global growth in the sport over a relatively short period of time.

The long distance format of triathlon has its beginnings at the 1977 awards ceremony for the Oahu Perimeter Relay (Hawaii), in an attempt to see whom the fittest person was; swimmers, cyclists or runners. Combining all three disciplines into one would be the ultimate test for athletes; at least this was the thought of US Navy Commander John Collins back then. Little did he know that this would inspire millions to train on a daily basis with the goal of completing any one of a multitude of races around the globe consisting of a swim, a cycle and a run.

The heart wrenching stories

Was it Julie Moss crawling across the finish line in 1982 or was it Paula Newby-Fraser crawling just to finish after being dethroned as Queen of Kona? There have been epic race rivalries between great athletes across the globe, including the Dave Scott-Mark Allen rivalry all the way to today with the Javier Gomez-Alistair Brownlee rivalry on an Olympic stage which have inspired millions, but more realistically it has been the true heart wrenching stories of triumph over adversity which we have identified with and said “I too can do that.” Maybe the most significant of stories comes from those triathletes who have crossed the finish line with a physical or mental challenge that inspired us, knowing what courage and determination it took just to get to the start line, not the finish line.

Finding out what your limits are and then challenging yourself to push them further:
Humans are not all equal in their physical abilities but do have equal parts of courage, tenacity and determination. This mix of abilities is what results in the various places, positions and times it takes athletes to complete a similar challenge. The question each person has to deal with is what his or her personal potential limit, in terms of performance, is and then starts to work on making that a reality. This takes persistence and patience over a long period of time, very often the biggest motivating factor for triathletes, simply to find out just how far and fast they can go. Is there a limit, and if there is, can you go beyond it?

Iconic events

Challenges mapped out before us globally have inspired millions to train for and complete a triathlon. Iconic locations (Robben Island) or iconic mountain passes (Alp de Huez) host triathlons, or the distance itself (like Australian David Holleran who swam 26 miles, cycled 1242 miles and ran 310 miles) or amazing city venues (like Nice, Durban or New York) all add to the mystique of completing a triathlon. With a plethora of events worldwide athletes are spoilt for choice and the discerning triathlete is looking for an entire experience out of the event. Race Organisers have responded and the challenges range from tropical coastal festivals to mountain top altitude challenges. There is an event out there to inspire everyone.

Your own time

Training for three different disciplines in the sport requires time; time spent doing each sport and mastering the different skill sets. The juggling act of balancing the time spent on these 3 sports starts becoming an art in itself to produce the best result on race day. Every event done is a test of the training and analysis of the result will allow athletes to enhance, improve and focus on specifics. This keeps them motivated to race themselves and improve on their best, regardless of the level.

Connection with nature

Today’s busy lifestyles and workplaces create stressors beyond our abilities to cope and manage. So an opportunity to have time to do your sport, either alone or with friends, is an opportunity to connect with the outdoors, with nature and re-ignite the passion and fire in your soul to be healthy and happy with your life. Swimming, cycling and running is the perfect opportunity to be outdoors, connect with Mother Nature and enjoy the real beauty of the world. A swim in the ocean or a river satisfies the soul more than just training the physical body. The wind blowing in your face, full-speed down a mountain pass on a bicycle is a treat we all live for. Running through a forest, with freshly fallen leaves and moist underfoot is an experience that must be had by all.

But all of these can only be experienced if we take that first decision and leap of faith to “be a triathlete”. More often than not you join forces with a friend in an attempt to finish your first event or you are just simply inspired to achieve what many people dream of. The reason for the motivations are varied but the real goal is to get out there, be part of it and to simply to “Be a Triathlete.”

TriRock-Durban will satisfy your race needs as an athlete and provide the ultimate race experience, from beginner to Pro. Visit www.trirock-durban.com for full details.