Category: Racing

Married life is definitely treating Conrad Stoltz
well! He is usually a little late for most of his races, but pitched up on time
at Buffelspoort before winning the event in a time of 2:20:08. He described the
event as a fun season-opener. “It was really scenic with a great atmosphere. I
had a good swim and made my attack on the mountain bike. I enjoyed this leg as
it featured a bit of everything. The run was tough with some big hills, this
combined with the heat and humidity on the day made it quite a challenge. I
take my hat off to all XTERRA warriors that raced longer than three hours. It’s
a long day out there.” Dan Hugo came in second, while Stuart Marais finished
third.

“I am really happy to start the season off on a good
foot and am looking forward to XTERRA Grabouw,” says Conrad. “I am thankful to
my wife, Liezel, as she helps and supports me on every level. I’m usually late
for my races, but this morning I was on time! I could relax and take it easy
before the start, all thanks to her. Married life really is better than
anything I thought possible.”

MORE
COMPETITIVE

Carla Van Huyssteen won the women’s race in 2:52:55
and was really pleased by the growth in the individual women’s category of the
event. “Every year I wish that the competition would become stronger, and when
it does, I’m forced to push myself even harder. XTERRA Buffelspoort is always
tougher than I’ve prepared myself for mentally. This year’s event was no
different. My wetsuit tore during the swim, resulting in some time lost and me
having to push extra hard on the bike. As a result I almost blew on the run!”

“I am happy with my result, though, and really enjoyed
the race. XTERRA SA truly is a great event with a vibe that is just as good, if
not better, than any overseas XTERRA,” says Carla, who walked off with her
third consecutive win at XTERRA Buffelspoort. Susan Sloan came in second, while
Sylvia van Tromp finished third.

The TOTALSPORTS XTERRA FULL consisted of a 1.5km swim,
27km mountain bike and 12.6km trail run, while the LITE event consisted of a
400m swim, 17km mountain bike and 6.3km trail run.

When most of
us think about racing car drivers, we imagine them getting behind and the wheel
not doing much else. “Racing is hard on the body. You have to be physically and
mentally strong,” says Giniel, who competed in his first race on Killarney
raceway in Cape Town back in 1989. Shortly after that, he joined a racing club
and participated in countless group races.

Giniel made
the switch to off-road racing in 2001 when Nissan decided to punt its off-road
4×4 vehicles. He decided to take his driving to a new level and his talent
showed with a national off-road championship win. After his switch, Giniel’s
talent proved its worth with an immense win at the Moroccan Rally in 2006 as
well as top 10 finishes in the Dakar from 2003 to 2006.

THE GREATEST VICTORY

In 2009, Giniel
won the Dakar Rally, which he calls “the toughest race in the world,” with
co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz and his then partnership with Volkswagen. “A lot
of things can or won’t go your way,” says Giniel who felt relieved to win after
coming second two years earlier. “It was an incredible, indescribable feeling. The
race was special,” says Giniel.

He placed
third in this year’s Dakar with his new Toyota partnership. The rally took
place in the sandy hills of Argentina, Chile and Peru, and he praises the
beauty of the race: “It’s stunning and there are some tricky dunes in Peru, but
it’s always a highlight.”

BODY AND MIND CONNECTION

While a
sportsman or runner practices to become better at what they do, Giniel explains
that’s it a little different for a racing driver. “You have to practice, but I
can’t drive every day because it’s expensive, so I keep my fitness up so I can
always be tough.”

Giniel
often runs and goes mountain biking to keep his body in good condition. He
feels that physical strength ties closely to mental concentration, and both attributes
are needed when you’re driving for up to six hours a day. “When you’re fit, you
won’t get tired. When your heart rate is up past 170 beats per minute while
driving, you do feel it in your body. Therefore, it is so important to work out
and eat healthily.”

LOOKING AHEAD

While
Giniel enjoys the travelling experience, he describes his worst experience on
route in the 2006 Dakar Rally. “On the Morocco border, there were some corrupt
government officials holding AK-47’s and we had to pay them a few to get past.
It’s not cool looking down the barrel of a gun!”

But this
does not mean Giniel is ready to retire. With a third place finish in the Dakar
this year, Giniel wants another win in the rally in the years to come. He is
confident with his new partnership with Toyota and is eager to pursue more wins
with the franchise. “I want more on the cards and I want to keep building
myself up, and that starts with keeping fit for the tough times.”

February
spells Marathon month and this means during the course of February you need to
get a qualifying marathon done. In our full training programme (published in
the December edition of Modern Athlete),
we advised Gauteng runners to take part in the Pick n Pay Marathon on 12
February. However, if you live anywhere else, you can juggle the programme to
suit your needs. You may wish to pick up a marathon later in the month or in
the first week of March. Remember, the programme is not meant to be rigid – adjust
it as you see fit.

Something
that often troubles runners early in the year is the worry of being able to get
through this first really long run. By now, many runners have finished their
first 21km, which is followed by panic as 42km seems so far! You need not
worry, the extra distance built into the training programme every Sunday slowly
conditions your body to take on the marathon distance and then beyond.

It
is quite remarkable how your body responds. Your long slow distance weekend
runs create a base that allows you to tackle increased training and those long ultra-marathons.
The most important tip for this month is not to miss any runs. Stick to the
programme and you’ll be amazed at how good you start to feel.

 See
you on the road!

Last year Modern Athlete started a unique
triathlon challenge, daring 10 novice triathletes to take on the Spec-Savers
Ironman 70.3 South Africa on 22 January in Buffalo City.
We were overwhelmed by applications and eventually chose 10 worthy candidates. Under
the watchful eye of coach Derick Marcisz, they started their journey in
October. They were all individually coached and supplied with awesome triathlon
gear and services from the best sporting sponsors in the business.

Finally,
race day came, and nine out of the 10 team members had made it to the starting
line. (The tenth member experienced a family illness during the journey and
withdrew.) This is their experience.

BORIS KONJAR

Swim: 55:28 Bike: 3:02 Run: 2:17 TOTAL: 6:33

Race day was
a mix of nerves, excitement, anticipation, joy, anguish… all before I got out
of bed! The first part of the swim went according to plan, but by the third
buoy I got caught by the next wave of swimmers and havoc followed, but I
managed to make the cut-off.

The bike
leg went very well, but the run started badly and I walked a lot on the first
10km loop. I only settled into a rhythm in the second half. The crowd was
inspiring. Running towards the red carpet was an experience that left me lost
for words. This guy that started out never having learnt to swim and a novice
runner was a 70.3 finisher! Seeing Leana, the tears streamed for both of us. Next
step: Full Iron Man…

NEIL POTGIETER

Swim: 44:25 Bike: 3:43 Run: 2:42 TOTAL: 7:25

The adrenaline
was pumping and chaos followed in the swim! After losing my goggles at the
second turning point, it was head down and swim. Nobody was joking when they
said that this is one of, if not the hardest bike routes on the 70.3 calendar.
“Rest when you can and spin on the uphills” is the advice that got me through.
Now only the run stood between me and my medal.

Crossing
the red carpet, I realised that I started this journey to prove to others what
I am capable of, but in completing 70.3, I proved to myself what I am capable
of. I truly achieved the Ironman mantra of “Anything is Possible.” The best
feeling is knowing I will be back next year.

HELENA CHAMBERLAIN

Swim: 1:00 (DNF)

My journey was
an unforgettable experience! Thanks to Modern
Athlete and Derick for making my dream come true and to my family, friends
and colleagues for all your support and encouragement. Race day was tough, but
I enjoyed every moment! The biggest victory for me was overcoming my fear of
open water swimming. After nearly drowning in the sea earlier in my life, I
never thought I would be able to swim 1.9km. Unfortunately, cramping calves hampered
my cycling and I missed the cut-off by seven minutes. Although disappointed, I
am still proud of what I achieved. I DARED to TRI and I will be back in 2013.

ANDILE HLELA

Swim: 1:15 (DNF)

Race day would
not have happened had it not been for the encouragement I received from family,
team mates and everyone that rooted for me. The day before race day I was so
preoccupied with how I would do on the swim that I battled to sleep. I was not
prepared for the overwhelming congestion at the buoys, but fortunately I managed
to swim the whole distance! When I finally felt dry land, I was so excited, but
was then told that I had missed the cut-off time off by just five minutes! I have
come a long way from not being able to finish one lap in a pool. I am proud of
this, but disappointed that I did not finish the whole event. Next year I will
make my team mates proud.

SARAH JANE HORSCROFT

Swim: 43:56 Bike: 3:43 Run: 2:07 TOTAL: 6:58

I loved the
swim and left the water feeling energised. Cycling is my weakest leg and I constantly
found myself wondering if the next hill would be the one that I couldn’t get up,
but that hill never appeared. I felt great for the first half of the run, and
then realised that I could perhaps break seven hours. For the last three kays I
was using every cell in my body to keep it moving forward, and it paid off!

The whole
DARE TO TRI experience is something I will always treasure, and this average,
middle-aged Madam Dough is fitter than she has been in 25 years. Thank you Modern Athlete, Derick and Michelle,
thank you to my family for your support and patience, thank you to the rest of
the team who made group training sessions such fun, and thank you to all the
sponsors.

KERRYN TRIM

Swim: 50:15 Bike: 4:07 Run: 2:37 TOTAL: 7:56

I was
surprisingly calm and keen to get started. Having my sister there to watch was
a great motivator. The swim felt tougher and longer than it was. Although the
water was fairly flat, my goggles were leaking, and bobbing up and down made me
nauseous. I will never forget my elation when my feet hit that beach.

I
underestimated how tough the cycle would be. The salt water had made me ill, so
I slowed down and couldn’t eat or drink much. But I made the bike cut-off –
just! On the run, the spectators were uplifting and with 2km to go I picked up
the pace and finished with a smile. I was very privileged to have a fantastic
team to train with and a great coach to advise and reassure me. I will be back
next year. Thanks Modern Athlete!

CHRISTELLE VAN ROOYEN

Swim: 49:18 (DNF)

I woke up
on race morning to whatever nerves I didn’t have the night before! Saying good
bye to Johan, the tears started. The swim was amazing and before I knew it, my
feet could touch the sand again. But by the 20km mark on the bike I had stomach
cramps, and I think I may have swallowed too much sea water. When I got to
halfway it took all my willpower to decide that my health was more important,
but I will be back next year to finish what I started.

MACH? BOOYSEN

Swim: 53:20 (DNF)

Race
morning was a mixture of excitement and fear. The sea swim turned out not so
bad, and once my feet felt the shore, I was ready for action. I started my bike
ride slowly, gradually building up the pace. Unfortunately, I had a problem
with the bike and ended up missing the cut-off by two minutes! The overall
experience was awesome and East London definitely
has not seen the last of me! To the DARE TO TRI family, you made the experience
so much more than I could ever have hoped for. To Derick and Michelle, a
special thank you for a life-changing experience!

JOHAN VAN ROOYEN

Swim: 37:56 Bike: 3:02 Run: 2:26 TOTAL: 6:24

I got
nervous when the National Anthem played, but the swim was great – I started
almost at the back, but passed so many swimmers. (Thanks, Georgie!) I held back
a bit on the bike to ensure that I saved my legs for the run. As I had battled
with ITB and my longest training run was 12km, I was concerned that I would
struggle on the run. I started slowly but managed to settle into a rhythm,
running from water point to water point. The crowds were amazing and the last
5km it was as if the finish line was calling me.

A sense of
relief and sadness came over me as I ran over the finish line; relief that I
had managed to finish, but sadness that our journey had come to an end. The
full distance is waiting for me in April! Thank you to Modern Athlete, you made sure that I have memories and friends that
I would never have had otherwise.

COACH’S CORNER

A final
word from the coach, who also took on the challenge.

DERICK MARCISZ

It was an
absolute privilege to share the training and race with the DARE TO TRI team,
who all passed with flying colours – even those that could not finish! ALL nine
starters made it through a 1.9km sea swim and that alone is a fantastic
achievement.

?        
Andile: You showed courage beyond words on the swim – you
WILL finish a 70.3 in the future.

?        
Mach?: You have a lot a potential, and were so close on
the bike cut-off that a finish easily awaits you next year.

?        
Helena: I was worried about your swim, but well done, and with regular riding you
will finish easily next year.

?        
Christelle: I know you have the determination that will get you
that medal next year.

?        
Neil: You are truly an IRONMAN! I hope
this inspires you to continue with the sport.

?        
Kerryn: Your determination on the run shows you never give
up, and your smile in the last kay was terrific!

?        
Sarah-jane: What an awesome run. A really great overall
performance backed up by consistent training.

?        
Boris: The Joker of the pack proved that cyclists can
learn to run and swim. Top performance!

?        
Johan: With limited running your swimming and cycling saw
you through. A full Ironman awaits!

Keep an eye
on Modern Athlete for more exciting
projects leading up to Ironman 70.3 in 2013!

ENTRIES UPDATE

Half and Trail Entries Blitz, Ultra
Filling up Steadily

Entries for
the 2012 Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon closed in a record time of nine
days in November, despite the entry limit being extended to 16 000, which will
make this the biggest field in the half marathon’s history, and the biggest
half in South Africa by far. Just over half the entrants are women (8 380) and
8 280 of the runners will be running the half for the first time, while 80
runners will be running their tenth race. Over 10 000 are unlicensed and do not
belong to a club. The first 10km of the 21km route have been changed to
alleviate the congestion at the start and clear the road for the ultra, so
runners will now make their way to the M3, up Edinburgh Drive and back onto the
old route in Constantia.

Selling out
even faster, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Trail Run entries were all snapped up
within three hours of going on sale in mid-January. The trail runs will take
place on Friday 6 April, the day before the main road races, and runners will
be lining up for either an easier 10km or a more technical 22km. Both routes
start from the University of Cape Town (UCT) grounds and take runners along the
lower slopes of Devil’s Peak.

At the time
of writing, just over 2 900 entries had been received for the 56km Old Mutual
Two Oceans Marathon, with the bulk of entries expected during February, when most
qualifying marathons take place. The qualifying window is 1 September 2011 to 7
March, and online entries close on 7
March (or when the 11 000 mark is reached). Alternatively, postal entries
need to reach the Two Oceans Marathon office by 29 February at the latest.
South African entrants wanting to run the ultra marathon must belong to a
registered running club and have a valid provincial licence number.

Participants
can enter online at www.twooceansmarathon.org.za or download an entry form from
the website. Runners will also be able to downgrade, upgrade, substitute or do
seeding changes online from 1 February to 7 March.

IAU GOLD LABEL STATUS

The Old
Mutual Two Oceans Marathon was recently granted International Association of
Ultrarunners (IAU) Gold Label status, which is really exciting, as it gives the
ultra, and ultimately the entire event, more prestige on the global stage. It
also means that the ultra becomes a selection race for the World Trophy 50km
Final later in the year.

CALL A MEDIC

Thank you to all entrants who completed the online
medical questionnaire as part of registration. This information is extremely
useful to the race medical team in planning a safe race. The team will also be
available at the pre-race Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon Expo to further assist
athletes to reduce the risk of injury or medical complications while
exercising.

ASK THE
COACH

If you’re looking for advice and training programmes
to help you run the Two Oceans, the Old Mutual Virtual Coach, Norrie
Williamson, has put together various training programmes to suit everyone, no
matter what your goal, and you will find them at www.oldmutual.co.za/twooceansmarathon.

FROM OUR SPONSORS

?        
SUNSET CONCERT FUN: The Old Mutual Summer
Sunset Concerts at Kirstenbosch from now until April are part of a series of
outdoor live music concerts, featuring some of the hottest South African acts.
From jazz, R&B, hip hop and folk, to rock and big band swing, the concerts
appeal to all ages and tastes. Visit www.dogreatthings.co.za/kirstenbosch
for the full line up.

?        
JOIN THE TOUR GROUP: Penthouse Travel
Sporting Tours is the event’s official travel partner and has been providing
attractive travel packages to runners since 1984. Stress-free travel packages
including flights, accommodation, airport and race transfers, and more, from R3
970 per person sharing. To find out more, visit www.runningtours.co.za
or contact Marie Howarth on (021) 976 8110 or e-mail [email protected].

CATCH US ONLINE

Remember to visit www.twooceansmarathon.org.za
for all the latest race information or follow us on Facebook
at facebook.com/TwoOceansMarathon and Twitter
@2OceansMarathon.

At primary
school, Simone du Toit’s teachers chose her to try out at shot put due to her
being a “big girl.” She stepped up and the shot landed on the furthest end of
the throwing arc. At the age of 13, she picked up a world record for her age
category, then in high school, Simone tried her hand at discus and found a similar
ability, and soon she was travelling the world to compete. That saw her bring
home a gold medal and world title in the shot and a silver medal in the discus
from the 2005 World Youth Champs in Marrakech. She also claimed the SA Youth
(under-18) records for both disciplines, as well as the SA Junior (under-20) record
for the discus and second on the list for shot put.

AMERICAN DREAM

Simone says
it has been her dream to compete in the Olympics since primary school, but in 2008
her Beijing dreams
were dashed after falling ill due. “I was angry because I had been training, so
I decided I needed a change, and I needed to go to America and compete there,”
explains Simone.

She packed
her bags and that August, Simone enrolled at Southern Methodist University
(SMU) in Texas
to study marketing and advertising. She joined the track and field team and
began competing on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
circuit, attending several athletic meets a week across the USA. The facilities and high
standard of competition suited Simone. “The NCAA gave me a stepping stone to
compete on the world circuit. The best junior athletes from all over the world come,
and they create the environment for you to accelerate.”

NEW WAY OF LIFE

It was the move to the States
that necessitated a new diet and training programme. From being 102kg on
arrival at SMU, Simone learnt a new way of living. “As an athlete you have to eat,
drink and sleep differently,” she says, and she began training seven hours a
day. This saw her lose 50kg and improve her technique markedly. “I started to
learn the shot put spin and rotational technique. It took two years to learn
properly, but it helped my game,” says Simone.

She has gone on to record the furthest
or second-furthest throws in NCAA competition for the past few years, and she qualified for the 2011 IAAF World
Championships in Daegu, South Korea. “The
lifestyle changes were hard, but when you see your own results, it is a
bottomless pit of inspiration,” explains Simone.

RUNNING THERAPY

Simone has used running in her
training regime, particularly sprint shuttles for the explosive power surges
she needs when competing, She also runs longer distances everyday to clear her
head. “Running has been the best therapy and I run everyday as soon as I wake
up. You feel better and nothing beats that endorphin rush.”

Nutrition-wise, Simone controls
her portions. “I see myself as a red Ferrari and I fill myself up with petrol
to push as far as I can go. I used to feel like a bus – slow and passive – but
now I’m not going to put bad petrol into me. The body is too precious,” she
says.

GIVING BACK

Simone came back to South Africa at the end of 2011 and is now
working at the University
of Johannesburg as a sports
marketer. She also works as a personal trainer, writes diets and exercise
programmes, and organises shot put clinics at schools. She won’t be competing
in this year’s Olympics due to a knee injury, but says she is not as devastated
as she was in 2008. Now, she realises that one creates your own path for
success. “All you have to do is find something that makes you smile – that is
how you see your own true potential.”

She says she noticed how her complete
physical change affected people around her. “I knew from an athletics
perspective I could help people find their own potential. Now I want to help at
least one person a day. Ultimately, giving back is what you need to do in life.”

MUMBAI MAGIC

Othaniel
Pahlane made the Nedbank Running Club proud when he showed his class at the Standard Chartered Marathon in Mumbai on 15
January, finishing eighth overall and setting a brilliant time of
2:14:55.

“I started with
the leading pack and managed to hang on before dropping back a little, but
keeping the gap at 400m. The pack passed halfway in 64 minutes and I passed the
21km mark in 65 minutes. After the 32km mark I caught a lot of tiring runners from
the lead bunch because of the very hot and humid conditions. I won the sprint
for the eighth position and am very happy with my race,” he said.

He was the third athlete
from the Nedbank Running Club to finish a marathon in 2:16 or faster in the
past six months. The others were Coolboy Ngamole, who clocked a fast 2:10:43 in
Valencia, Spain, and David Ngakane who
achieved 2:15:31 at the Pyongyang Marathon.

NEDBANK PRIDE IN THE US

International Comrades
athlete Michael Wardian represented the Nedbank Running Club at the Chevron
Houston Marathon where he ran two fast marathons in two days! On the second day
he crossed the finish line in 16^th position, clocking a time of
2:31:17. And though it is almost 10min slower than his marathon the previous
day, it is definitely not bad for someone racing 84km over two consecutive
days!

Running
back-to-back marathons is nothing new for Michael, who has done it “four or
five times” before. “I get a lot of, ‘You’re crazy,’ ‘That’s awesome,’ and ‘You’re
a freak,’ ” says Michael, who has won the past four
US 50km Championships while holding down a day job as an international shipbroker.

“I just like to show people
you can do more than you think you can do. I have all the responsibilities that
everyone who’s not a professional runner has. I have to go to work in the
morning. I have a family. And I can still come out on the weekend and make a
good effort and run a marathon.”

This
romance month, it’s easy to eat your heart-shaped chocolates and wind down with
your partner over a glass of champagne, but running and getting fit together
can be a great way to spice up your relationship. It’s also a great way to
spend time together, set joint goals and share a hobby.

But while
running with your partner can give you two some quality time together in
between frantic schedules, you need to think about some ground rules – especially
if you’re a runner and your partner isn’t! Consider the following to ensure
that loving relationship stays loving long after the run:

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Partnering
up can give you a driving force to keep going, but remember you have to run at
your own pace. If you are the stronger runner, don’t compromise your tempo.
Stretch and start the run together, but if you feel you need to drop back just
to run next to your partner, tell your partner from the start you’re going
ahead on your own. Don’t just drop him halfway. Rather meet him later on in the
run for a cool-down and stretch. Don’t pull away too much though – you’re still
sharing the occasion together.

?        
In
a new relationship, it’s easy to show-off and flaunt your fitness levels.
Chances are, both of you will know who the stronger runner is and there’s no
reason why you should prove yourself. Don’t play catch-up if you can’t catch
your breath. The point is never to race – you’re partners, not opponents.

?        
To
make the most of your time spent together running, enter a race together. Choose
races that both of you are interested in and train together leading up to it.
During the race, don’t be afraid to tell your partner you’re running ahead or
slowing down. Also, in the running world, a couple that celebrate their finish
will keep their relationship racing.

?        
It’s
important to always commemorate and praise your partner so that running
together can remain enjoyable.

Running with
someone special can be uplifting – just don’t run from the idea. Besides, you
can’t outrun Cupid!

 
HOW TO GET YOUR
LOVED ONE ON THE GO

?        
Don’t
force running on them if they’re new to the sport – take it easy on runs so you
can enjoy being with each other. Tell him it would be great sharing hobbies to
make your relationship exciting. Give back and share in on some of his hobbies,
too.

?        
If
your loved one isn’t a runner, maybe he loves cycling? While you run, he can
cycle with you. That way you won’t compromise your speed and he’ll always be by
your side.

?        
Tell
your partner about starting a healthy lifestyle and fitness regime. The best
way to start is if you share it with someone. That way, you’ll have encouragement
every step of the way.

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Share
your goals with each other. Tell your partner what you want to achieve out of
running and hear what he has to say. If you both aim to finish a race, then
train, communicate and do it together!

One of the marathons we had thought
of running for many years was the New York Marathon. So it was great that we
were able to get entries and plan our trip to the big Apple. The last time we
had visited the USA
as a couple was on our honeymoon in 1994, so it was 17 years later that we made
it back together.

I used my Voyager Miles to upgrade
our flights and routed our holiday through Washington
DC, where we decided to spend the majority of
our 12 days in the USA, as
it is a lot more restful than in New
York. So after running our New York Marathon, we made
our way to Washington DC.

FINDING A WAY

While admitting to being a running
junkie, I was determined to find a race in Washington DC.
The internet is an amazing thing and I found a race in the same week we were in
town! I tried to enter online, but sadly online entries for the Veterans Day
10km were closed and they did not take entries on the day. But there was light
at the end of the tunnel, as entries would be taken the day before the race at
a running store in Pimmit Hills in Virginia.
But where on earth is Pimmit Hills? As always, Google maps saved the day and I
found out it was only 20km away by taxi. Clearly achievable!

So we made the trip and entered the
race. We were issued with our race number and our timing chips – interestingly
enough, they were actually disposable timing chips! We made our way back to Washington DC
by train after a long walk from the running store.

THE START

The Veterans Day 10km started in West Potomac
Park, which was a 15-minute
walk from our hotel, so we just walked to the start. No parking issues. The
park was abuzz with excitement, stretching classes were on offer, and of course,
many nervous runners queuing at the portaloos. There were about 2 500 runners
who entered and many were University students from the nearby Georgetown University.

The race was a ‘Veterans’ race to
commemorate war veterans, and not running veterans! Ironically, though, we did
feel old. The pace was very fast, so we decided to go with the flow. The route
was out and back along the Potomac River, which
meant a flat course at the coast. Our Highveld lungs provided us with loads of oxygen
and I ended up doing my PB for 10km (40:52) while Sharon broke 50 minutes for the first time in
a long time.

Afterwards we stayed for the prize-giving
to get an idea of the winning times at such races. It was clear that the men’s
times were ‘slow’ (just over 30min) compared to SA men, while the women’s times
were impressive (33min). Then we made our way back to our hotel past the
various war memorials and the new Martin Luther King Memorial, with a feeling
of achievement. We would recommend to anyone who goes to the New York Marathon to
incorporate the Veterans Day 10km into your journey back.

Excitement
was high when enthusiasts from various sporting disciplines gathered in Gordon’s
Bay in the early morning to take on the 10^th annual Totalsports
Challenge, with most eyes focused on multi-sport legend Dan Hugo, the five-time
defending champion in this gruelling 123.5km seven-discipline event. Just after
midday, he had walked off with his sixth consecutive victory in the individual
men’s category, while debutant Lezandre Joubert surprised everybody, including
herself, as she claimed the women’s title.

The event started
in Gordon’s Bay with a 12km surfski and 1.5km swim, followed by a 50km road
bike to Kleinmond. Next up was a 13km road run to the Arabella Resort, where
the 13km K1 canoe paddle took place, followed by a 25km mountain bike leg. The
race finished with a 9km beach run on the Kleinmond beach. The event also
offered the four-discipline Terra Firma Challenge (97km), which comprised the four ‘land’
legs. Athletes could enter as individuals, pairs, trips of teams of seven in
the main race, while the Terra Firma was open to individuals, pairs and
foursomes.

DAN THE MAN

Dan had to
ward off a formidable attack from Stuart Marais, who made his break on the road
run, pulling approximately three minutes clear of the defending champion going
into the canoe leg. “I didn’t expect a fight on the day and then finding myself
in the ‘ring’ taking punches, it’s just difficult when you don’t have great
form,” said Dan. “I definitely have a lot of respect for Stuart. He is a
remarkable athlete and for a split second there he had me considering letting
go. But after really digging deep I managed to catch him on the K1 paddle. It
was on the mountain bike discipline that my second tank kicked in and I could
build on my lead.”

Dan crossed
the line in a time of six hours, 18 minutes and 28 seconds, with Stuart taking
second and Dylan van der Merwe coming home third. “I am really grateful to be
able to take part in the Totalsports Challenge. It remains one of my favourite
events, and my family’s support on the day was once again awesome,” said Dan.

In the
women’s race, Lezandre Joubert hit the bull’s eye with her first attempt at the
full Totalsports Challenge, crossing the finish line first in 7:58:46, ahead of
Kim Rew and Charisse Hansen. After the race, Lezandre said the first highlight
of the day was during the surfski leg. “We were approximately 30 minutes into
the race when we were welcomed by between 100 and 200 dolphins. They surrounded
us, swimming under our boats, and it was such an amazing experience. My second
highlight was coming down the finish straight, realising that I was first in my
category. This truly is an amazing race, the support was perfect and the vibe
was just awesome!”

ON THE PODIUM

Nico
Pfitzenmaaier walked off with his third consecutive victory in the individual
men’s category of the Terra Firma Challenge, finishing in 3:45:53, with Pieter
Wehmeyer second and John Ntuli third. American Courtenay Brown was the first
individual women home in 4:42:42, with Kathrin Walther second and Ingrid Peens
third.

The seven-athlete
team categories were hotly contested affairs, with the Totalsports Champions
coming home in 5:16:20, just over six minutes clear of the New Balance Pro Team
in the men’s sevens. My Training Day/JAG was third. The same three teams
dominated the women’s sevens, but swapped finishing order, with My Training Day/JAG
home first in 6:19:40, followed closely by Totalsports A Team, and New Balance
Women’s Pro a distant third.

The leading
team in the Terra Firma men’s foursomes was Potjies, home in 4:18:19, with MTD
Social just 50 seconds adrift in second, and Kelfords Mixed third just over a
minute later. The women’s category was won by Hexvallei Dames in 5:38:45, with
Cruisers second. In the mixed category, 4 Fit Friends took the win in 5:13:26,
ahead of Team Langebaan and Green Bottle Heroes.