Pushing the (PUMA) Envelope

On Top of his Game

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Kevin is the first to admit that he struggles with time management. “I
have a really busy schedule and our business is so diverse, so it’s very much
about multi-tasking at Top Events. My advice to others who struggle to find the
time to exercise is therefore simple: Get up early in the morning. I’m an early
bird and far prefer exercising in the morning – it prepares you for the rest of
the day, and then you can eat as much as you want!”

 

GOING TO THE RACES

Born and
schooled in Port Elizabeth, Kevin (59) is married to Beverly and they have
three children, Julia, Brad and Phillipa. (Bev and Brad are also keen runners.)
He spent much of his working career in the oil and coal industries, climbing
the corporate ladder to become a main board member and division group MD of SA’s
biggest coal distributing company. “When the company was bought out, I decided
to move on, because I had achieved quite a lot for a relatively young guy, but
I had been in corporate such a long time, I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Then
I was invited to run the 1997 London Marathon on behalf of the 2004 Cape Town Olympic
Bid Committee, and we all carried the SA flag for a mile at a time. It was such
a fantastic event, and I came back thinking that we should have more events
like it here, so I got involved in the Cape Town Marathon, alongside Andrew
Bell, and we helped build it up to an event with 12 000 participants.”

 

That led to
Kevin and Andy starting Top Events 14 years ago, and their list of events has
grown markedly over the years. “Andy and I are very different, but compliment
each other, and we’ve built a very successful business. I enjoy coming to work,
and it remains hugely satisfying to see youngsters finishing their first event,
especially their first marathon.” Here Kevin speaks from experience: He ran five
Two Oceans ultras and one Comrades during the 90s before easing down to shorter
distances. “I prefer the half marathon now, but running is still my drug of
choice. It motivates me, gives me clearer perspective, and clears my nasal
passages!”

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