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My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 Experience

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Comrades 2010 was a highlight for many and a disappointment for others. Whether you won a silver medal or finished a second before the 12-hour cut off, one thing bound all of us on the 89.2km long road to Durban… and that was the incredible and unique experience of finishing one of the most gruelling ultra races in the world. Six runners share their race day experiences with Modern Athlete.


MARISA OOSTHUIZEN, IRENE ROAD
RUNNING CLUB
Race Time: 10:35


Just to get to Comrades 2010 was a nightmare. Every year I promise myself that I am going to train differently. Little did I know that 2010 was a year where I was going to be forced to train differently.


In February I started training with Rinaldi Botes, a novice. At the Vaal Marathon I ran 4:13. I thought I had it all under control. A week before Om die Dam I had the same problem as in 2007, a stress fracture! After a lot of tears and prayers I went to the gym, armed with some swimming gear. I started with 30 minutes on the Orbitrek and 30 minutes in the pool. At lunch time I was back for another hour in
the pool.


My goal was to be fit enough to run Loskop 50km. I gradually built up to more hours in the pool. One thing about this training was that it made me mentally strong and built endurance.


I eventually finished Loskop in 5:30. I changed my swimming routine; I put running shoes on and ran in the pool! This helped so much that two weeks before Comrades I was on the road for four hours without any problems. My heart rate at rest was 38 beats per minute and I lost 6kg!


I started Comrades on a positive note. I tried to stay with friends, Pierre, Marisia Koch and Billy up to halfway. A big thank you to you guys. I felt good all the way and recited the following: “His name is Great. He will never leave me.” I got to the finish line in 10:35.


A big thank you to my
husband, Danie!

My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 Experience

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 Experience

Comrades 2010 was a highlight for many and a disappointment for others. Whether you won a silver medal or finished a second before the 12-hour cut off, one thing bound all of us on the 89.2km long road to Durban… and that was the incredible and unique experience of finishing one of the most gruelling ultra races in the world. Six runners share their race day experiences with Modern Athlete.


Keith Reynolds, Irene ROAD Running Club
Race Time: 8:13


All preparations for 2010 went well; I clocked exactly 1 700km from January to Comrades and was running better times than
I had in the past ten years.


On the morning, I met up as planned with the ‘Silver Bus’ hopefuls. From the beginning I was on cruise control. I was amazed to see how easily we got up the hills. At one stage we were even running below 4:20min/km pace.


By the time we got to Drummond (close to schedule at 3:39), Dirk cautioned us to pull back on the climb out of Drummond. With 36km to go I had a personal time check – I was eight minutes ahead of where I was when I ran my best time in 1989.


At 65km I took a short walk (exactly 50 paces) to stretch out a bit and reward myself for having run further without stopping, compared to previous years.


Then all of a sudden, I felt I was going slower and slower.
I got incredibly dizzy and despite still running downhill the pace dropped to well over 6min/km. I walked and ran over the next 2km at over 7min/km. Tony (Benoni Northerns) came past and gave me an energy bar, but the damage had already been done as I had made the mistake of running only on supplements and not the normal food intake I would have had in previous years.


I battled my way through Pinetown knowing that the great Irene supporters were only a few kilometres away. I got to the tent and was fed a combination of sandwiches and whatever else was available. After a few minutes I felt less dizzy and proceeded on my way up Cowies Hill.


I had crossed over the timing mat at Cowies in 5:59:20 – still
in silver time but I realized it was just not going to happen.
The hardest part of the remaining 18km was trying to keep going, knowing that all the effort I had put into preparation, had still not paid off.


Wendy Fitzmaurice (Westville) passed me on Berea Road and made the comment we all know so well – it doesn’t matter who you are or what you plan before the race, the race will level all and make you humble.


All was not at a loss this year. Following the race while in Mooi River we came across a charity shop. For some strange reason, my wife Vanessa mentioned to the owner that we had just come up from the race. The woman got quite excited and led us to an elderly woman who was knitting squares. It turns out the elderly woman was none other than Elizabeth (Betty) Cavanagh – the first official female winner of Comrades in 1975! We had a
great chat and also discovered that Betty had ‘given’ her permanent number (462) to her daughter who completed her third run this year.


Now it’s time to sit down and work out what went wrong this year and fix it so I can pick up the pieces and plan again for a ‘better’ next year.

My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 Experience

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 Experience

Comrades 2010 was a highlight for many and a disappointment for others. Whether you won a silver medal or finished a second before the 12-hour cut off, one thing bound all of us on the 89.2km long road to Durban… and that was the incredible and unique experience of finishing one of the most gruelling ultra races in the world. Six runners share their race day experiences with Modern Athlete.


Kari Longman, Celtic Harriers Athletic Club
Race Time: 9:45


This last week has passed in a bit of a dreamy whirlwind for me and I keep on having to remind myself that I am officially a Comrades finisher!  


I think my main inspiration for running Comrades is probably my wonderful dad. As a little girl, my dad was always quite a big man and not particularly sporty. One day in early 1980 something motivated him to go for an 11km run. I thought it was just the most incredible thing that someone could run
that far.


At some point near the end of 1982 my dad started running in earnest. A mere six months later he ran his first Comrades.
Vividly etched in my memory is me as a young girl of 12 at the finish of Comrades, walking around all on my own and then somehow making my way over the barriers and running through the finish line with my dad. He went on to do another five Comrades after which his knees were so messed up he had to stop running and took up cycling instead!


For many years after that it was a dream of mine to perhaps also run Comrades one day. I was always the most avid supporter, knew the names of all the gold medallists each year and just loved the fact that on a down run the runners would run past our house, take a pee against our very long hedge and even sometimes throw out their old running tops on the pavement. 


In fact, I once picked up a long-sleeved RAC t-shirt discarded outside our house and wore it as my winter PJ top for years afterwards. I did quite a bit of distance running when I was still at school. I liked the feeling, and I liked to make my dad happy.


Then I became an adult and gave up on the distance running thing for a very long time. In fact, I only got back into it again in 2005, after my daughter, Julia was born!  


Then suddenly there was something about the ‘5 000 novices’ cut-off that attracted me to Comrades 2010. So I entered less than an hour before the 5 000 tally was reached.


And so the long slog began. Working full-time and having three kids (one still just a baby), I had to rely on my little 5.5km and 6.4km runs during the week, with one or two longer runs on most weekends. My darling husband, Alistair, and occasionally our wonderful nanny, Jane, meant that I could get these longer runs in at least, because without them I would have probably been destined to have a terrible experience!


I found myself at the start of the Comrades at 4:45am on Sunday, 30 May. Beside me was Joe Tyrrell, a kind and wonderful man whom I met a few months ago and who so generously offered to be my “running shadow”. It was such a chills down the spine experience to hear the recording of Max Trimborn’s ‘cock crow’, Chariots of Fire and the anthem just before the race started. I felt incredibly emotional thinking about the
reality of finally finding myself as an official starter of this legendary race.


The race itself feels slightly blurry to me now, although interspersed with beautiful and treasured little memories.
These are some of the things I remember:
 
The strange feeling of running past PMB Girls’ High, where
I spent five years of my life.
  
The slightly mysterious, ‘disconnected’ feeling of running in the dark with thousands of anonymous bodies, waiting for the sun to rise.
 
Discovering Joe’s delightful penchant for striking up a remarkably meaningful conversation with any international runner we passed.
 
The unbelievably heady pong of Rainbow Chicken Farms (which left me thinking I’d be giving KFC a miss for perhaps the next decade).  
 
The profound joy and heart-rending experience of passing the beautiful, smiling, lovely children from Enthembeni School and holding their hands as I passed.
 
The feeling of great tiredness my legs already felt at 25km, with me wondering how it would be possible to still run another 64km.  
 
The fabulous feeling of passing the halfway point at Drummond and the deafening sound of beeps as hundreds of ‘chipped’ feet passed over the timing mats and supporters cheered like nobody’s business. 
 
The mixed emotions of passing the 33km to go point (since this officially marked the point from which every step further
I took was the furthest I’d ever run before).
 
The sadness and trepidation with which I parted with ‘my shadow’ at 60km. 
  
The strange feeling of not being able to work out what it was I wanted to eat (knowing it was nothing sweet and nothing savoury) and then realising all I wanted was an enormous glug of beer (which I never got!).
 The pleasure of letting my legs loose on Fields Hill.
  
The unexpected feeling of a second wind shortly after Cowies Hill and calculating that a sub-10 was perhaps within reach.  
 
The desperate need to walk stretches, despite my closeness to the finish.
  
My burst of energy and a final 200m sprint around the stadium, with ‘Islands in the Stream’ playing the whole way.
 
And then a sort of muted joy-cum-sadness after finishing in 9:45, with no-one with whom to celebrate for quite a while!


Did I have a good experience?
Oh, absolutely (as with child-birth, all the really difficult bits sort of fade away and are forgotten about!).
I don’t think I could have wished for a better first experience.


Will I be doing it again next year? I’m not too sure. I am daunted by the prospect of doing all that training again. But I think Al and I are cooking up a little dream of perhaps doing it together, which would be an extra kind of special.


Am I proud of myself? Yes! I discovered afterwards that between the first timing mat
(at 27km) and the finish, I passed 2 600 people. That works out to 42 people per kilometre, or one person every 25 metres, which feels like something I’m unlikely to ever do again and makes me very happy! 


But I am also so humbled by the far more remarkable, nearly legendary achievements of many other people.
I know and realise that the number of people one passes has very little to do with success!


Comrades has taught me many things: that if one works hard to prepare for something, it’s not nearly as bad as one might initially imagine; that I should be so thankful for being healthy and strong; that Alistair loves me and I am incredibly lucky to have him by my side; that there are not many things in life which are quite as much of a leveler as long-distance running is; that it really does help to remember that one just has to put one foot in front of the other and eventually one will
get there and finally… that Cream Soda is so much better than Coke (and doesn’t make one burp
nearly as much!).

My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 experience

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their 2010 experience

Comrades 2010 was a highlight for many and a disappointment for others. Whether you won a silver medal or finished a second before the 12-hour cut off, one thing bound all of us on the 89.2km long road to Durban… and that was the incredible and unique experience of finishing one of the most gruelling ultra races in the world. Six runners share their race day experiences with Modern Athlete.


CATHIE VAN ROOYEN,
DISCOVERY ATHLETIC CLUB
Race Time: Did Not Finish


On Sunday I became another Comrades statistic, that of ‘bailer’. So now I have three Comrades varieties to my experience; too slow for the cut off time, medallist and now also bailer.
 
Let me rewind a little. The weekend was a strange one.
Crazy and calm. After arriving at the airport we spent a long time travelling to the expo where we were faced with long queues and lots of grimaces.


We settled in our bed and breakfast just as it turned rather cold and very windy. Feet up, we listened and hoped that the wind would not affect our run.
 
Finally after a long Saturday night of staring at the clock, Comrades 2010 arrived. We followed the even longer than usual line of red car lights weaving their way to Pietermaritzburg.


We all moved quickly into our seeding areas. We had the furthest to walk as I was in the very last group. The gun went off and the clock started. It took us over eight minutes to get to the start line. I silently thought that the front guys were already 2km away by that time.


The large field of runners meant a lot of crowds and I found myself really concentrating on people in front of and behind me. My friend, Marlene, ran comfortably and we got into our rhythm fairly easily.


After around two hours of running, I felt a pain in my hip.
I was surprised by this and tried a few remedies, which helped for a while.


We were running well and had good times over the first half of the race, but I wasn’t enjoying it much. This perturbed
me, as I knew that the second half would get worse. However we kept moving.


Eventually after my pain worsened, I firmly told Marlene that I would not ruin her chances of a medal. She tried everything to get me positive, but I was stuck. Eventually I told her to go ahead, and she listened without argument. She must have seen my look in my eyes!


I knew my head was looking for things to make me stop!
My hip was achingly sore, and it had shifted down to my
knee and shin. This meant that walking was painful and
I was compensating with my other leg.


I realised that I was having one of ‘those’ days that people spoke about. I was powerless to do anything. I almost ignored the outreached hands from smiling kids. This is what I was running for, but cute dogs, schoolboys cheering, none of that made any difference. I thought long and hard about the consequences of what I was contemplating.


Eventually my body said, ‘Enough!’ So around 27km to go, I sat down and waited for a bailer bus. Many people said, “You can still make it,” but I realised later that I chase joy, not medals, and in this race which I absolutely love, I was feeling NO joy.


I did not want to turn Comrades into a race I would hate, and get really injured chasing time with my slow pained walk. I am old enough to realise the medal doesn’t mean as much to me as my happiness, but I had to be sure I would have no regrets.


After a tortured half hour of chilly waiting, an empty bus came along to escort me to comfort and a ‘Did Not Finish.’


Back at the sunny stadium I waited for my sister who I had spotted on the road from the bus, and was pleased to see that she was running so well. I walked about and strangely my hip pain remarkably improved.


So now it’s back to the drawing board. I am going to regroup and get myself ready for 2011. Hopefully the crowd will be smaller, I will be better prepared, and this year will be my only ‘one of those days’!


Congrats to all the finishers, and to all the
non-finishers. I hope you have no regrets and know that you made the best decision that you could at the time.

My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their experience

Modern AthleteRacingLeave a Comment on My Comrades: Modern Athlete Readers share their experience

Comrades 2010 was a highlight for many and a disappointment for others. Whether you won a silver medal or finished a second before the 12-hour cut off, one thing bound all of us on the 89.2km long road to Durban… and that was the incredible and unique experience of finishing one of the most gruelling ultra races in the world. Six runners share their race day experiences with Modern Athlete.


GREG BARNES, IRENE ROAD RUNNING CLUB
Race Time: 6:10


I had set myself a goal to finish as close to six hours as possible. The day did not get off to a good start. We left for Pietermaritzburg at 3:20 in the morning, only to find many Durban city streets closed. We eventually followed a bus full of Comrades runners and got on the highway at 4:30.


Luckily we could speed down the highway at a record pace, only to find a wall of cars at the toll gate. We crept in behind a truck and were thankfully through in two minutes. The highway was crawling at 100km/hour, so we decided to take the New England turnoff.


My friend, Neville and I decided to abandon our car with 3km to go, enduring lots of comments from fellow runners about how good we looked. A nice girl offered us a ride which we accepted. We progressed a bit only to come to a complete standstill again.


We jumped out again and sped towards the start. I got into the A block and off we went, adrenaline pumping through my veins! Everything was on track and I made my goal times at each point perfectly, right behind the two leading Russian ladies.


I went through Drummond in 2:59. I overtook the twins and it felt great! With the sound of the helicopter following the leading ladies as my guide, I tried to stay ahead of them. I was doing well up to Cowies Hill and at about 9km to go my wheels started coming off. Dehydration! My eyes became blurry and I could hardly see the road.
I started walking at 45th Cutting.
The spectators tried everything just to get me going again. Someone gave me two water sachets. If it wasn’t for him
I might not have recovered to finish.


From 45th Cutting to the finish line was one blur; it felt as if
I had a curtain over my eyes. I made a decision that the twins would not overtake me and that kept me going right to the end.


The encouragement from the Irene supporters was great and that gave me the extra strength to get to the finish. After two bottles of water my eyesight became normal again and
with a sigh of relief I drank my
chocolate milkshake.


  Comrades 2011 – Let the games begin!

Race Walking Shoes

Honouring a Great Friend

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PRONUTRO AFRICANX TRAIL RUN
Sometimes running a certain race goes far beyond the physical challenge. For some it is an emotional journey of dealing with past losses. Marietta Bester, whose best friend and running buddy was killed by a car, shares her AfricanX running journey with Modern Athlete.



A TRAGIC LOSS
In the beginning of 2009 my friend, Sanet Wentzel, and I decided that at least once a year we wanted to do something different, other than road running. Sanet suggested that we run the ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run in 2009. We had an amazing time and were highly motivated to do it again. 


Sadly on the morning of 7 November 2009, while doing her morning run with a friend, Sanet was run over and killed by a car. The driver was allegedly drunk. Sanet was my best friend and training buddy. We had so many exciting adventures planned for the future.


RUNNING FOR SANET
The week before her death we had discussed running the ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run in 2010. She was very excited and had already started planning our training.


A friend who was with her at the time of death told me the last thing she spoke about was the ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run. That motivated me to carry on doing all the things that we had planned. I wanted to dedicate the AfricanX to her because I did not want my friend to be forgotten. She was a wonderful person and she left a legacy to all runners by being so dedicated to the sport.


NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Finding a partner was not easy at first and I was worried that I would not be able to find someone who was committed enough to train with me. Luckily I found Carel Lotz, a dedicated and amazing person. Carel and I did a lot of hill running and off road running around Oudtshoorn. We trained every day except Fridays and Sundays.
We did long runs every weekend. 


RACE DAY
After our race briefing we were taken to the start in buses. The weather was perfect for running. The first stage was beautiful, especially through the Botanical Garden.
Once we ran over the mountain the trail run got very technical. Carel was so supportive
and patient!  


The last part of stage one next to the Palmiet River was incredibly beautiful! Nearer to the end I felt so tired and it was a joy to finally reach the finish line.


THE LONGEST DAY
The second day was the longest stage (42.2km).The first part of this stage was quite easy, but we encountered some difficulty alongside the river. From the 20km mark it was tough going. A never-ending climb up a mountain felt like it was just going on and on. Needless to say it was a relief to reach the mountain top.


Physically I was exhausted and because of that I fell. Luckily I did not injure myself seriously. Emotionally I also took strain and I got to certain stages where I just wanted it to be over, but then I had to find that part inside myself that would carry me through.


On my own I could not have done it. It helps enormously when someone is there with you, going through the exact same thing. Then you become more than team mates; you are helping, supporting and motivating each other. I have enormous respect for Carel. The second day was tough but it added to my life experience. Crossing the finish line was emotional and I wanted to cry.  I felt joy and sadness. In my heart I knew Sanet was there with me every step of the way.


HONOURING A GREAT WOMAN
At prize-giving that evening there was a special award,
‘The Sanet Wentzel Spirit Award’ that was given to a runner who had overcome difficulties in life. The award was given to Jurg Knorr, whose father recently passed away. I felt so proud of my friend Sanet and eternally grateful to the organisers for honouring my special friend. Now I know her spirit and dedication will never be forgotten! 


Unfortunately the last day was cancelled due to the bad weather.


LOOKING AHEAD
My next challenge is the Knysna Forest Marathon on 10 July. It will be my first and I am really excited. Next year I want to run my first Two Oceans 56km and of course tackle the ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run again.


Sanet’s favourite saying was, ‘Life is good!’ She loved champagne and celebrated even the smallest things with a glass of bubbly. She was a remarkable person and enriched my life in a powerful way with her energy and spirit.


She would not have wanted me or others to be sad all the time. She would have wanted us to be happy and enjoy life. I miss her every day and wish she was still here so that I could talk to her. Her spirit is with me every day and whenever I encounter difficult situations, I think of my friend who was such an optimist and who always saw the positive side. I am forever grateful to have known such a person.

A Big Rest After Comrades

A Birthday Present to Remember

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PRONUTRO AFRICANX TRAIL RUN, 7- 9 MAY, KLEINMOND
The ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run takes a clover leaf format, with a return to
the same base in Kleinmond each evening. Stage distances are 25km, 43km and 22km respectively and the terrain varies from beach running to spectacular hidden single track high in the Kogelberg Mountains, interlinked with horse trails, jeep track and a few stretches of hard-pack roads. Kathleen McQuaide-Little of Team Modern Athlete CAPESTORM shares her race experience.



Buying birthday presents for your spouse can be very challenging – or maybe not! My clever husband, Ian Little, offered me an entry to the ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run, and how could I refuse? Spending three days in the mountains on trails meandering through some of the most beautiful areas in South Africa has got to be one of the best presents on offer.


Ian was teaming up with his Cape Odyssey running partner, Viv Williams, aka THE MACHINE and World Triathlon Champ in her age group! Whilst their goals included a podium position, I just wanted to have fun, enjoy the beautiful surrounds and remain uninjured so that I could take part in my fifth Comrades three weeks after the event.


As I work at the Sports Science Institute of SA, finding a race partner was fairly easy and I managed to rope in a regular training partner, Malcolm Collins of UCT Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. We secured CAPESTORM as our clothing sponsor and ran under the team name of Modern Athlete CAPESTORM. 


A SHAKY START
With stormy weather severely damaging the race village, the start of the race was delayed until midday on Friday.


After registration and the race briefing, the buses took us to the start 25km away from the race village in Kleinmond. The pent up energy of 242 teams of runners was tangible and we were relieved to finally get running! It was a pretty impressive start line – which included previous race winners, world class adventure racers and triathletes, not to mention nine-time Comrades winner, Bruce Fordyce. He teamed up with his brother and they arrived wearing hideous fleecy tops, which they wore the whole first day. Needless to say they won the worst-dressed team hands down! Considering I’ve always been incredibly inspired by Bruce Fordyce’s Comrades achievements, it was pretty special having him in the field.


DAY ONE
We started day one, which had 538m of climbing, with some beach running. Then we headed through the Kogelberg Biosphere and up into the mountains where we were faced with a 6km stretch of single track. The final stretch was a 7km footpath along the ocean sometimes on boardwalks and other times on very soft deep sand. We were very happy to cross the finish line after just over three hours, since we were dead keen to put our feet up and to start recovering for day two, which was 43km and 886m of climbing!


After chilling out in the race village we attended prize-giving. The camaraderie that develops in a multi-stage race was clearly evident. With pride I watched Ian and Viv take second place on the Mixed
Vet podium!


DAY TWO
Day two dawned with breathtakingly beautiful red skies; however this was just a warning for what lay ahead in less than 24 hours! After stretching our legs out on 4km of easy running through Kleinmond, we headed onto a further 4km of jeep track before the challenge of the day lay ahead for me: 5.4km single track along the beautiful Palmiet River. But when you have to watch every foot placement, the views are somewhat more limited.


After falling quite hard I was shaken and decided to stand aside and let all the runners on my tail go past me (sorry Malcolm). I just could not bear the pressure of hearing their feet right on my ankles. Once the field was clear my spirits lifted as I trundled along at my own pressure free pace. I was incredibly relieved to get back onto stony jeep track – albeit to tackle the climb of the day, and of the event! This was my type of challenge. It was hot, tough and long but it was also incredibly beautiful and I could now appreciate the views. What’s more, Malcolm and I reeled in all those I had let past and more. 


On the descent Malcolm and I felt strong and ready for whatever was thrown at us. Perhaps it was the phenomenal views that fuelled us, although the well-equipped refreshment stations did their bit too. On top of this we had Malcolm’s wife, Judy, and their cute daughter, Amy, giving us the most vocal support of all!


With 5km to go, we were faced with the final climb of the day. Much to the amazement of those around us, Malcolm and I ran up most of the hill. On the descent we got into top gear and before long approached the finishing straight.


WHAT A SURPRISE!
Imagine our surprise when the race announcer, Paul Velstar, cheered us in as the third Mixed Vet couple! We looked at each other in amazement and were certain he had made a mistake, since we were placed eighth in this category on day one! Ian was there to meet me and he was so proud of our achievement!
He and Viv had annihilated their competition and not only won the mixed vet section on day two, but were now overall leaders of their category.


My very good friends, Sue Ullyett and Mark Wagenheim, (the Ocean Basket Sole Mates) were placed second, so it was a very special day for us to share the podium together. After prize giving we were informed that 100km gale force winds and serious rains were predicted for day three, but assuming they were wrong, we were all set for what lay ahead in the final stage.


DISAPPOINTMENT
After a fairly sleepless night, the predictions indeed became a reality. The day three leg was cancelled.
It was a huge disappointment. However, safety comes first.


We proudly received our finishers’ t-shirts and medals at prize-giving a week later, the very necessary ‘closure’ we needed! Even though our running was curtailed by Mother Nature it was a stunning event and one that I would definitely like to do again next year.


Well done Michael Meyer and his team at Stillwater Sport and Entertainment for this wonderful, accessible trail run. I would recommend it to anyone. I returned to work revived and restored. Mission accomplished!


For more info on the next event and entries visit
www.stillwatersports.com.

Defying Age: Colleen De Reuck

Black Belt Runner

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Watching Busisiwe Matiwane finishing amongst the top ten women most weekends in races in the Cape, you’d never guess that she is just as accomplished in another sport. In fact, she holds a black belt in karate. So don’t make any sudden movements! – BY SEAN FALCONER



When Busisiwe Matiwane took up karate in 1993, aged 18, her goal was to learn to defend herself, because it was not always safe for a young girl in Khayalitsha. “There was a lot of violence in the township and I had had some problems,” she explains, “But after I started my training and people heard about it, they never gave me any more problems.”


She joined a Goju-kai karate school because it was the closest to where she lived and she knew some of the people in the group. By 1999, she had attained her first kyu brown belt (ninth level, one below black belt), and also enjoyed success in karate tournaments, twice being selected for the Western Province team, and winning a silver medal at the 1997 provincial championships in the kumite (sparring) category.


From 1999 to 2003 work commitments in Fish Hoek saw karate take a back seat, but that changed in 2004 when she got a job in Claremont, much closer to her Phillipi home, and could once again attend training. However, a new sporting bug soon bit…


BORN TO RUN
“I returned to karate to do the grading for my black belt and started doing morning jogs to build my fitness. By the time I was prepping for my grading, I felt much more fit than in previous years.
I found that I was much more flexible and had a lot more endurance thanks to running, so I decided to concentrate on running,” says Busi.


It’s quite interesting to hear how Busi got into competitive running. “Even though I was strong
and fit, I wanted to lose 10kg. So one day I decided to pack my work clothes in a backpack and
run to work. I took money for a taxi just in case I got tired, but I did the full 18km. I got to work, took a shower and felt strong and active, and I was singing like anything. So the next day I ran
to work again.”


Seeing how well she was running, Busi’s employer suggested she join the nearby running club, Celtic Harriers. Busi was initially reluctant, thinking – like most beginners – that she would be left behind and come stone last, but she took the plunge and soon found that she was actually quite competitive. She also rather enjoyed the races. “In running you get a medal even if you are position 1 023, not like karate, so I knew I could get medals and collect them while also losing weight!”
Just six months after joining Celtics, Busi finished her first marathon in 4:30. She was then invited to join the Sports Science Institute’s Superstars Programme and train for the 2005 Two Oceans ultra. She finished in 5:50, but had found out just before the race that she was three months pregnant, so a lay-off from all sport followed. In 2006, after the birth of her daughter, Musa, she was back on the road again, going on to run the 2006 and 2007 Comrades Marathons, finishing both in 9:34.


NOT FORGOTTEN
Busi has become a regular top ten finisher in Cape races and has represented Western Province at the SA Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and Cross-Country Champs. In 2006 she was awarded the prize for most improved female runner in the province, and in 2008 and 2009 she was the female cross-country runner of the year. So does that mean her karate days are over?


“Karate will always be part of my life, and I have several black belt kyus still to work through, but my focus now is on running. I do the karate when I need a break from running,” says Busi. “I think karate gives you discipline and you feel more confident
about yourself. That has helped me in my running as much as my running has helped
me in my karate.”


KARATE 101
Karate (literally ‘empty hand’) developed in Japan and was made world famous by the martial arts movies of the 60s and 70s. It is a striking art using mostly punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (the famous karate chop). Today karate is practiced for self-perfection, for self-defence and as a sport, with
23 million karate practitioners worldwide.

Define Yourself!

Keep Moving!

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June and July are traditionally months where most of us take time out from our hectic training and recharge our batteries. But becoming a total couch potato in these months will set you far back when you try to lace up those takkies in spring. This month we’ve put together a few inspirational ideas to get you going, in spite of the cold weather outside! – BY MICHELLE PIETERS


WINTER TRAINING TIP: GET TO THE GYM!
Use the colder months to get moving in the gym. Not only will it help you tighten the flabby bits, but you will strengthen your body to such an extent that a 5km or 10km PB might just be around the corner!


And remember, the correct weight training will not only help you run longer and stronger, it will also strengthen your entire body (which cannot be achieved through walking/running only). It can also help you avoid injury, so try to make two sessions a week part of your year round training programme.


INJURY PREVENTION
We constantly need to remind ourselves of the following basic injury prevention strategies:
 Stretch! Inflexibility leads to injuries. If you don’t know how to stretch, log onto the Modern Athlete website (www.modernathlete.co.za), and check our previous issues (9 and 10) for great articles on stretching.
 Immediately treat small injuries. Try the traditional RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) principle.
  Most importantly, use the winter months to seek professional treatment for any persisting injuries so you can start the new season without any niggles.


TIPS TO KEEP YOU MOVING IN WINTER
 Think about that long and luxurious warm bath or shower you will be taking after your training session!
  Always remind yourself why you are running. Keep your goals in mind, no matter how small or big.
 Buy some funky, cute winter running gear to motivate yourself, or reward yourself for training through one of the coldest months of the year by booking a massage!


August is Women’s Month and we get to celebrate so many things that are unique and special to womanhood. On top of that we get to have a whole month where we rule! So why not commit now to entering a great Women’s Month race next month? The distances are short and appeal to all fitness levels. Here are a few to choose from:
 Ladies’ Spar 10km Challenge: 1 August, KZN (Info: 031 312 9374).
  Women’s Day 10 & 5km: 8 August, East London (Info: 082 448 0727)
 Totalsports Women’s Day Ladies Race: 9 August, Stellenbosch (Info: 021 511 7130).
  Women’s Day Challenge 10 & 5km: 9 August, Belville (Info: 083 465 8335/083 300 0299).


 // They’re very tenacious. They’re dedicated. Once a woman decides she’s going to do something, she’ll probably stick to it. The only problem with women is if there’s anything wrong with them, they won’t tell you. They’ll get out there and run on one leg. They don’t moan and groan like a lot of men do.  – Arthur Lydiard, New Zealand Coach


Great Gear for Girls
 THIS MONTH’S PICK: CAPE STORM PUFFADDER


 


 


To help keep the warmth in while doing what you love best, try Cape Storm’s Puffadder. Made from Entropy Thermodynamic fabric, it is perfectly suited for any outdoor activity where body moisture needs to be managed and moderate levels of insulation are required. The fabric is quick drying and has odour-resistant properties.


It’s a comfortable and easy wear fit. And yes! It is so funky you can also wear it to work, play or even to bed!


PRICE: R295. Available at Cape Storm stores.


THIS MONTH WE TRIED: Meditation


Meditation is an ideal way to destress, recharge and get your head space right for your next running or other sporting goal!


There are several health and holistic centres offering guided meditation classes countrywide. We tried a guided meditation session at the Bikram Yoga studio in Johannesburg. And what an experience! The session lasts about 90 minutes and is offered late on a Sunday afternoon, which makes it a perfect way to end a hectic week and start another with inner peace, stillness and renewed energy.


Different meditation techniques are demonstrated. One of the greatest benefits of meditation is that it allows you to be aware of your thoughts and emotions and to be present in the moment at all times.


An added benefit of the session is that the correct breathing technique is demonstrated. The practitioner shows you how to breathe properly and improve your lung capacity by taking you through some power breathing exercises. If your life has been a bit hectic up until now and you feel the need for a few hours of ‘time out’, a meditation session is just what you need.

Help! I have a strange sensation in my feet

A Magical Run

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WALT DISNEY WORLD HALF MARATHON, SATURDAY, 9 JANUARY 2010, FLORIDA


The Walt Disney World Half Marathon offers runners the chance to run on a truly magical course through Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM Studios and much more. The half marathon follows an out and back course through the park that starts and finishes at Epcot. The next day, half marathon participants are invited to join the full marathon participants for the awards ceremony at the park’s Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. Karien van der Merwe, a runner from Kimberley Pirates, shares her experience.


The Walt Disney Half was a dream-come-true for me. I’ve been dreaming and drooling about running races overseas for as long as I can remember! In late 2009 I decided I was tired of only dreaming and wishing. Each one of us has only one life and it must be lived!


I closed my eyes, withdrew some hard-earned savings and took the plunge! Since my lightbulb moment didn’t coincide with similar revelations amongst any of my running friends, I started researching races and locations safe enough for a woman to tackle alone. Disney was perfect – a safe family environment, efficient (and free!) Disney transport, and a speaker series to die for: Bart Yasso, John Bingam, Hal Higdon, Jenny Hadfield, Jeff Galloway…


The trip (my first overseas trip) was fantastic. The expo was a runner’s paradise. And so cheap! The speaker series was a definite highlight and the goody bag couldn’t be better. Absolutely everything was characterised by pure American over-the-top-ness!


The race itself was freezing – while we stood in the starting pens it actually started to snow! The route went through two of Disney’s theme parks: the Magic Kingdom (including Cinderella’s Castle) and Epcot. And all along the route were cold, but extremely enthusiastic Mickey Mouses, Cinderellas, Donald Ducks and masses of families and friends. I finished, frozen, but beaming, in 2:03:11. Along with 17 500 fellow runners, I was treated to a formidable post-race spread and of course, a medal as big as a gong!


Definitely an adventure I would recommend to every fellow runner!