Category: Columns

His remarkable achievements include completing the Seven Summits Challenge (climbing the highest peak on each continent, including two Everest summits), Trekking to both Poles, 20 Kilimanjaro summits and many other peaks, seven Comrades finishes, three finishes in the Two Oceans Ultra, and now Sibusiso Vilane is adding cycling achievements as well. We went behind the helmet to find out what motivates this incredible adventurer. – BY BRENDON LOWSON

MA: You are known as Sibusiso ‘The Lion’ Vilane. Where did the nickname come from?
SV: I was given this name by my teammates from Mexico while climbing Mount Everest in 2003. It all started when Ibegan startling them with my game-ranging stories and having to guide people where there were lions.

MA: What motivates you to take on all these challenges?
SV: Realising that there is so much to do yet so little time… I am also blessed with this amazing natural physical body, and all my motivation comes from that.

MA: When did you learn to ride a bicycle?
SV: Not a great start when you are over thirty! In 2006, while training for our Antarctic South Pole expedition, Alex Harries decided we should cross-train, and suggested we buy bikes, and before I knew it I had fallen more than a dozen times in the streets of Johannesburg. It wasn’ t inspiring, but I kept on until I could ride a few hundred metres without falling!

MA: What made you decide to take on the ABSA Cape Epic?
SV: It was one of those ‘ over a couple of drinks’ commitments! Just joking… I had always followed the Epic, but never thought I could commit to it, judging by my dismal riding skills. However, a couple of years ago I met my Epic partner-to-be, Justin Pearse, and after a casual chat I committed to riding the Epic this year. It was that chance opportunity of meeting someone who wanted to do the same thing, and I felt I could take it on.

MA: You didn’t have much time to get to know Justin before the race. Did that affect your team dynamic?
SV: We worked brilliantly well together overall, but we did not share the strategy as to how we were going to tackle each day, a result which led to me not finishing stage one. I learnt that it is important for teammates to complement each other and be adaptable when needs be! That’ s critical for an event like the Epic!

MA: After not making that Stage One cut-off and having your number board cut off, what motivated you to keep riding, eventually finishing in spite of not getting an official result?
SV: I looked at it in two ways, either be upset, pack my bags and go home, having wasted five months with nothing to show for it, or take the blue number board as an unofficial rider, get the experience, and go home with my pride, character and honour! I opted for the latter because these mean more to me than a medal! I am very proud of that decision. When I finished I had grown up a lot… no medal will equal that.

MA: We believe you recently rode the Old Mutual Joberg2c for the second time, to raise funds for the education of Lelethu Zulu, daughter of the late Gugu Zulu?
SV: My relationship with the Zulus stems from the fact that I led Gugu up the mountain that he unfortunately did not come back from. When I met his family, his mother said that at her age she was not going to be able to fully provide for both Lelethu and Letshego (Gugu’ s wife), so she said, “If there is anything you can do to help, please help.” Those words still echo in my ears today.
The emotion of riding for Lelethu kept Alec Riddle and myself going when days were really tough. Knowing that with every pedal stroke a needy child might get a chance in life made the suffering for nine days worth it. I am disappointed that we did not raise more, but I am happy that we at least tried, and I am very thankful to those who donated to the appeal. I am not done with that yet, and I will be taking on another mountain climbing adventure aligned with the same initiative now in June.

MA: Any items still on your cycling bucket list?
SV: Alec and I would like to return to Wine2Whales to ride it properly, because three years ago we had a dismal show! Ha, ha, ha, ha, he fell more than I did, so he was not impressed!

MA: You said a while back you wanted to learn to swim and then take on triathlons. How is that journeyprogressing?
SV: Triathlon is still top of the list, and my swimming is a work in progress. It is the only skill I need to work on, and then I will announce my year of tackling a triathlon event.

MA: After all your adventures, is there anything that ‘The Lion’ is afraid of?
SV: The one thing I am afraid of is the thought of saying “I wish I did that.”

The key to a long, injury-free running life is recovery between events, especially after one as long as the Comrades Marathon. – BY PATRICIA GOUWS, SPORT SCIENTIST & BIOKINETICIST

After an ultra-marathon, any athlete, from the novice to the elite, will experience a degree of muscle soreness for up to 10 days. This is not caused by lactate, as was until recently the popular belief, but by microscopic tears in the muscle fibres. We know that because blood tests a day after an ultra show high levels of the enzyme creatine kinase, which leaks from the damaged muscle fibres. Furthermore, high levels of the enzyme hydroxyproline is an indication of connective tissue breakdown. This means that tendons, ligaments and the sheath around muscles are also damaged and will need time to rebuild.

Many athletes will develop symptoms of infection or inflammation in the first two weeks, often in the form of sore throats, sinus, cough and fever. There is still some debate whether these symptoms are caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or whether it is an inflammatory or allergic response to the high rate of breathing for so many hours. Also, mental fatigue, or even mild depression might be experienced a day or two after the race, probably caused by the depletion of neurotransmitters in your brain – the same enzymes that give runners a ‘high’ are used up during such a long event and will need time to regenerate.

DO’S AND DON’TS
Here’s what you should or should not do straight after the event in order to recover faster:
• Keep walking for a few minutes or lie down with your legs up to prevent blood from pooling in your legs and the resulting drop in blood pressure.
• Drink sufficient fluid containing electrolytes to correct any dehydration.
• Don’t consume alcohol. It dilates blood vessels, which will aggravate the muscle damage, increase scar tissue formation and prolong the recovery process.
• Eat or drink some high GI carbohydrates within 20 minutes. This will help to replenish your glycogen (energy) stores. Then have a meal containing carbohydrates as well as protein within two to four hours.
• A gentle massage within 10 minutes might help boost immune function and help your heart rate and blood pressure to return to normal faster. However, don’t have a deep, hard massage, as it will exacerbate the leaking of fluids and enzymes out of the already damaged muscle fibres.
• Icing sore, injured muscles will cause blood vessels to constrict, which will prevent ‘bleeding’ from the microscopic tears and also help reduce inflammation.
• Stretching will not prevent soreness, as the damage to the muscles is already done, but stretching might help the recovery process by improving circulation.

Keep in mind that the microscopic damage and breakdown of tissue is also the mechanism by which your body gets stronger, since the muscle repairs itself to be stronger than before. However, if you don’t allow the body time to complete this cycle, the muscle and connective tissue will instead get weaker, possibly leading to continuous injuries. The damaged cells can also die completely and form scar tissue, which is not as strong or elastic as muscle and connective tissue, making the muscle weak and prone to injury.

The most important thing is to listen to your body. If you are wondering whether you are ready to start training again, you are probably not! Take another week or two until the spring is back in your legs.

About the Author
Patricia is a Sports Scientist and Biokineticist in Johannesburg, focussing on rehabilitation of injuries, injury prevention and sport performance.

adidas is bringing the perfect shoe to the market for the street runner, with its latest addition to the PureBOOST franchise that launched earlier this year, the new PureBOOST DPR – an innovation engineered to take runners closer to the city streets.

It's 4:30am, the crisp cool air fills your lungs as you jump from foot to foot, your heart beating like a drum, rhythmic and strong, and the street lies before you, quiet in the early morning. You motivate yourself with your morning chant, “Every step brings me closer to my goal,” as you get ready with one last quad stretch, and then you begin running, slow at first and then faster as you warm up.

All you hear is your adidas PureBOOST DPR shoes hitting the tar, and that drives you forward, jumping pavements here and there as you avoid early morning puddles. The new PureBOOST DPR is the perfect shoe for the street runner, made for athletes whose unafraid attitude makes it possible to conquer any urban environment.

The shoe's agile and adaptive design features the latest application of adidas’ industry-leading Boost technology, with a new 8mm heel-to-toe offset. Creating a natural Boost platform that stores and unleashes energy more effectively every time it hits the ground, the shoe enables runners to truly ‘feel’ the streets.

When developing PureBOOST DPR, adidas looked at the needs of the urban runner and designed a shoe that is as dynamic and adaptable as these athletes are. PureBOOST DPR was created to support runners who love the thrill of dodging city traffic, racing street lights and weaving through busy pedestrians, working with unpredictable surroundings and harnessing the energy of the streets.

Pieter Warnich, senior manager for adidas Running SA, says “We are seeing runners from all over the world exploring their cities and expressing their own creativity in the routes they choose and the challenges they take on. As a brand, we wanted to build something purely designed for this type of runner, and loved the idea of creating a more adaptive running experience. With the adidas Runbase boosters taking the lead with this new running shoe, we’re excited to see how they express their creativity on the streets of the CBD.”

The shoe’s key features include:
• One-piece engineered circular knit upper – Aramis-tested for a seamless and adaptive fit,
wrapping the foot from the inside of the midfoot around to the outside, providing comfort no matter the route or obstacle.
• Heel fit counter system – designed to enhance the support of the foot and the Achilles, allowing the foot to move effortlessly with the shoe.
• Wider forefoot – providing a more stable platform that tailors itself in the pivotal moments of transition when running over varied urban surfaces and around corners.
• Stretchweb outsole – enabling a smoother and more flexible ride, working in harmony with Boost to unleash a runner’s full potential.
• BOOST – ultra-responsive comfort and cushioning that stores and returns energy every time the foot hits the ground.

The adidas PureBOOST DPR will be available from 18 May 2017 at Own Retail stores, TotalSports, Studio 88 and The Cross Trainer outlets, retailing at R2299. Follow the conversation at @adidasrunning and @adidasZA on Instagram and Twitter using #PureBOOST.

As a project manager for Old Mutual, Amanda Makwakwa has worked on many of the biggest running events in South Africa, and that not only got her into long distance running, but motivated her to tackle the biggest ultra’s in SA. – BY RACHEL PIENAAR

 

It was pretty much inevitable that the running bug would bit Amanda Makwakwa hard, given that much of her working career has focused on various running or walking events. Having studied marketing at PE Technicon, she found herself in Johannesburg working for the sponsorship team at Discovery, with one of their main events being the Discovery Walk the Talk. “When I began to work at Discovery, I think that’s where the healthy living started. My sponsorship properties have always been health and fitness, which fitted my personality and the way I do things.”

 

Amanda then joined the Old Mutual Sponsorship team in 2009, where she again got to look after various endurance events, including the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon and the Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra. Being around these events and all the runners rubbed off on her, and that motivated her to take up running herself, doing 5km, 10km and eventually 15km events. However, it was trip to the Comrades Marathon to work at the Expo that really got her running going.

 

“I’d been going to Comrades Marathon Expo for three or four years as a marketer, but one day I decided I wasn’t going to go home straight after the Expo, and instead I went along the route with everyone on race day. I think that really introduced the love of running for me. I remember walking out of there after the race and saying I think I should do Comrades too. At the time I hadn’t even done a 21km, so when I came back I made the decision to take my running more seriously.”

 

Sister Act

Amanda proceeded to rope her older sister in as a running partner and together they would tackle at least one 10km race a month. Seeking out new challenges, Amanda then ran her first 21km in 2016 at the Dis-Chem Half Marathon. “I remember cramping so badly and I was thinking oh-my-gosh, I still have 5km to go, but I finished it.” She says that made her realise she needed more training if she was going to attempt a marathon in the future. “Luckily I found a training group who meet at the Wanderers Club four to five times a week, usually in the morning, which suited my schedule perfectly.”

 

When the entries for the 2017 Comrades opened, Amanda decided to go for it. “When they launched entries, I looked at it and said is it this year?” She had not attempted a marathon yet, but had a good few 21km races under her belt, and motivated by her desire to run the Comrades, she roped another novice running buddy into doing the Sanlam Cape Town City Marathon with her. Even though she struggled during the race, Amanda says she switched off the negativity and pushed through to the finish. “I ran and walked and ran and walked till I got to the end, and once you get onto the blue carpet you are like, I have arrived! Suddenly you have this amazing feeling. When I finished, I remember my legs just locked – I couldn’t move – but I was so excited to have finished, and I think this gave me even more motivation to carry on with running.”

 

The Major Motivator

Knowing that she could now conquer a marathon, Amanda decided to take the plunge and enter the Comrades. “I looked at the registration and said to myself, maybe I’ll cancel later, but at least I know my entry is there.” Soon after that she decided to also enter the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra, and she hasn’t been afraid to tell people of her goals. “I have been using the hashtag #TheYearOfHighRisk, because I am going big this year!” That also saw her change her approach to training, with regular time trials to work on speed and track her improvements, on top of longer training runs.

 

Even though she is still looking for that all-important qualifying time to be able to run the Comrades this year, Amanda says she is simply enjoying the running journey she is on. “Because I am doing what I love, working in the running space, it is a no-brainer that I run myself. I really love what I do and I really enjoy running, so it doesn’t feel like an effort, but rather a perfect fit for me. Even though there may be challenges, I probably don’t even recognise them as challenges, because it’s just part of who I am in my daily life, because I just get to do what I love.”

Jumping off buildings, doing fight scenes and being set on fire are all in a day’s work for film industry stuntwoman Lana Katz, and she uses a daily run to make sure she is fit enough to handle this physically demanding work.

– BY SEAN FALCONER

 

When Lana Katz meets somebody new, invariably the conversation focuses solely on what she does for a living. That’s because stunt work for the film industry sounds exciting and dangerous. And that’s why the 32-year-old heads out for a 5km run at the start of each day, usually along the Blouberg seafront roads in Cape Town, or she hits the treadmill if the wind is pumping too hard, because she needs to be in top physical shape in order to do her job.

 

“I run every morning, to keep fit and lean, usually for about half an hour, nothing too hectic, because my day is quite full. The run is usually followed by an hour of Jujitsu, then an hour of yoga, with another two hours of Jujitsu in the evening,” says Lana. “The way I look at it, I train to work, and work to train, so I am always looking to increase my skills and ensure my physical fitness. The worst thing would be to be on set and you can’t do what they need, so you need to ensure you are fit enough and have the skills to do the stunts.”

 

Naturally, Lana also has to be in peak shape in order to fill in as a stunt woman or body double for an actor, so fitness and training are just as important in terms of looks as ability to do the stunt work, but Lana says it is more about being strong enough to take the hits. “If they need me to go down the stairs or hit the ground 10 times, I need them to know I can take the knocks. I want my body to be strong enough to last long in the industry, so being fit, eating right and looking good all make sense.”

 

Time for Change…

What is even more interesting about Lana’s job is that she only took up stunt work a few years ago, having previously worked in the advertising industry. However, at the age of 27 she decided to follow a new path. “I was a senior executive on the client service side, dealing with clients, running budgets, briefing work into studio, and I had been doing that for about eight years. But I didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to become a stunt woman – a lot of other things happened in my life to push me in that direction,” she says. “My marriage of five years ended in divorce in August 2013, and that made me look at my life and question whether I was actually happy, getting up each day to sit in traffic for two hours, and sit in the office all day doing mundane stuff over and over – and just living for the weekend. It wasn’t making me happy, and I realised I was on the wrong path.

 

“My husband and I were supposed to go to Thailand that November, and I decided that since I had booked and paid for a holiday, I may as well still go. It was there that I met two stunt guys from the USA and chatted to them about the industry. I told them I would love to do that kind of work, but I thought it may be too late, as I was already in my late-20s, but the guys said I should just do it. One of them said that if I could get to Los Angeles, he would be happy to help train me. So, when I came back from Thailand, I got off the plane and told my parents I was going to be a stunt woman. They were a little shocked, but I think that after everything I had been through with the divorce, they saw a positive change in me.”

 

Following the Dream

Lana stuck with her advertising job initially while saving as much as she could for the trip, and also attended stunt workshops while getting to know the local stunt community. In spite of her fitness and martial arts background, the physical demands of the new work unfortunately led to some injuries: She initially tore a ligament in her foot, and then when she got her first casting for a feature film, and resigned her job in order to pursue the opportunity, an old knee injury put her out of action.

 

“I was still working and saving, but then got the call that they needed me on a film, so I decided the time had come for me to say goodbye to the job and make the transition, so I resigned. However, I had been feeling a niggle in my knee, from a previous stunt job, and just before I was due to start the new film, I decided to go have it checked out. The doctor told me I had a torn ACL. I’ll never forget sitting in his office and thinking, great, I’ve just resigned, and I have work on a film, but now I need knee surgery.”

 

The surgeon said she would need a year for rehab, and that she should postpone her trip, but Lana was having none of that. “I told him I didn’t have a year, and then I really went for it with the rehab, in between doing freelance work in the advertising industry to tide myself over. I was even in the gym on crutches at one point, and I was running again as soon as possible. Eight months later the biokineticist did a strength test just before I left for the USA, and the knee was 98%. It took me two and a half years to get to LA, but it was an amazing experience, thanks to the stunt community being so welcoming. I was like a sponge for three months, just learning as much as I could, about martial arts, firearm, horse, stunt driving and open water SCUBA stunt work, and I am still constantly learning. I just love the challenge of the work.”

 

No Guarantees

Lana says there is a lot of work for stunt performers in Cape Town these days, with a number of studios in the city and a lot of foreign films, series and commercials being shot here, but there are never any guarantees. “You could get a phone call for a two-week shoot, or just for one day, or you may go a full month where there is just no work, so it’s a very up and down industry, and very seasonal. That’s why I am supplementing my income at the moment with waitressing, which works for me because I can put in shifts when it suits my schedule, and I can get my shift covered when I need to go for a casting or a shoot, or a stunt workshop or training session, which often come up at the last minute.”

 

“I am still very young in the industry and just establishing myself, so I am just making the most of the experience. It has been difficult going from a nine-to-five job with a guaranteed salary, to not knowing what could happen next, but I’m happy, because the days that I get to be on set make it so worthwhile. I gave up that other lifestyle because being able to do what I love is what’s important.”

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is saddened by the loss of its Finish Procedure Convenor, Dudley St John-Ward. He passed away last Friday at the age of 70. Dudley was funny, friendly and always smiling with an admirable period of volunteerism at the Comrades Marathon, spanning nearly three decades.

Dudley has been described as a genuine people’s person who was positive, humble and always approachable. He loved the Comrades Marathon, having run the race 11 times consecutively, from 1980 to 1990 with a Comrades best time of 8:23 in 1984.

He was a proud member of the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club and further went on to receive his Comrades Green Name award in lieu of his exemplary voluntary service to the association.

CMA Chairperson, Sifiso Nzuza says, “He was a popular, beloved and invaluable member of Team Comrades whose role as Finish Procedure Convenor was absolutely integral to the smooth running on race day and the success of the Comrades Marathon. During the 17 years that Dudley was in charge of the Finish Procedure, hundreds of thousands of runners passed through the well-oiled machine of the Comrades finish chutes, proudly clutching their medals and badges, being offered a refreshing cold drink or a cup of hot soup, and when necessary, dispatched off to the Medical Tent.”

Nzuza tells us that Dudley’s volunteerism is inspiring. “He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all members of Team Comrades on 4 June when the best tribute we can pay to him is to carry on in the proud tradition of selfless and voluntary service to others which he exemplified. He inspired many people to give of their best. Rest in Peace Dudley, and our sincere condolences to his wife Anne and family.”

Former CMA Chairperson, Peter Proctor tells us that Dudley helped out on the Comrades Marathon’s Finish Procedure Portfolio for many years until he became the portfolio holder in 2000.

Peter says, “Dudley was a friend to all. He was a jovial and lovable character and always showed a kind heart and willingness to help. His years of service to the Comrades Marathon was a glittering example where he carried out his duties without complaint or falter.”

CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “Our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences go out from the Comrades Marathon Association to Dudley’s family and friends on his passing. It was an honour to have been a part of his life. We were truly blessed to have known and to have worked alongside such a wonderful person for so many years. He will be truly missed and always remembered.”

Chris adds, “The playing of the Last Post on the Comrades finish line at 17h30 at this year’s race will hold particular significance for all CMA members.”

Former CMA Chairperson, Jeff Minnaar says, “Having been to school with Dudley and working with him at Comrades for 17 years, I am shattered that my dear young friend has left us without notice. Dudley was a pleasure to work and socialise with, so easy-going and always willing to assist and find solutions not only to his problems but for yours as well. Dudley was a friend indeed and a friend in need. Rest in peace Dudley!”

Desagie Naidoo, Workshop Manager of the Pietermaritzburg Mental Health Society says, “Dudley was just such an affable person. The bulk of the people at our society are intellectually challenged and psychiatrically ill; however in spite of this, Dudley always treated them with dignity and respect. I remember Dudley’s wonderful gesture after last year’s Comrades Marathon when he bought a packet of biscuits for each of the 105 members at the society as a personal token of gratitude for the packing of the Comrades badges and flashes for the athletes. Everyone at the Buxton Protective Workshop will miss him dearly.”

CMA Board Member, Isaac Ngwenya says, “Dudley was an amazing person who always made time for people. I am so shocked at his untimely passing. He was helpful and took his volunteerism at the Comrades very seriously. He went beyond the call of duty to ensure that his portfolio was immaculately executed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. We are going to miss him greatly.”

CMA Elder, Henry Makhathini says, “I am very sad and shocked to hear about Dudley’s passing. I knew him from back in 1989 when I met him at the Fire Department where he worked for a long time. We then started working with him at Comrades from 1990 when he was involved at the finish. Dudley had an everlasting smile. He was always happy. Whenever you met him, you had to laugh. He was also very gifted with his hands. Our homes were separated by a railway line and I vividly remember him coming to my house to check my built-in cupboards. From the moment he arrived right up until he left, we couldn’t stop laughing at all the stories he had told us about his childhood days. May his soul rest in peace.”

“When I assumed the position of Race Director three years ago (and just 2 months before race day) the Finish Procedure portfolio was managed by Dudley. His first meet with me was fun, happy, bubbly, laid back interaction where his words of “Don’t worry my china all is under control, you can focus elsewhere.” True to his words that was the case. In the years that followed I never needed to focus on that portfolio as I knew that Dudley had it under control. Such was the meticulous and professional approach that he had to his portfolio. He was and always will be an iconic figure on the finish line and someone who managed it admirably.”

CMA Marketing Manager, Thami Vilakazi says, “I will miss your friendly smile and the funny jokes you used to tell every time we met. Rest in Peace Dudley!”

CMA Procurement Officer, Alain Dalais says, “Dudley always had an entertaining story about his past Comrades Marathon experiences, and he always shared these stories every time we met. He was always bubbly and cheerful, from the time he greeted us with the words “Howzit China”. His passion for the Comrades Marathon and his Finish Procedure portfolio was admirable and I looked up to him and respected him both as a great man and as a person that truly embodied the spirit and camaraderie of the Comrades Marathon.”

Manager of the Nedbank Running Club, Nick Bester says, “It is indeed sad news to have lost Dudley. He will be remembered as a stalwart on the Comrades Marathon finish line. May he rest in peace.”

CMA Technical Portfolio Convenor, Henry Somaru says, “I'm very saddened to hear of the sudden passing away of Dudley. It was an absolute pleasure to have worked with him at Comrades and to have known him. My condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.”

CMA Maintenance Officer, Louis van der Linden says, “Except for Dudley''s contagious laugh and never-ending doses of good humour, I will always remember him as the guy who set up the timing clocks on the Comrades lead vehicles. Virtually every year, different cars were being used and Dudley had the daunting task of having to make a plan to fix the clocks on the roofs of cars that were not really designed for roof carriers. But Dudley never gave up. At two o’ clock on the morning of the race, one will invariably see Dudley sweating away, making a plan and tuning the clocks to the correct times. We will miss you Dudley!”

CMA Board Member, Alen Hattingh reflects on his first meeting with Dudley, “I met him almost 30 years ago when the new elite club, Maritzburg Striders was being formed in Pietermaritzburg. At Cross Country, at the gun, Dudley would take off like a rocket and be in the lead for about 100m and the field would only catch up with him once they were in the bush. We always laughed and joked about the way he always gave the top runners a fright. Every time we met, we rehashed the story and as we all know, Dudley was a great story teller. I loved being in Dudley’s company and enjoyed working with him in the finish area at Comrades. I will miss you Dudley.”

Former CMA Board Member, Terence Hoskins says, “I was privileged to have known Dudley from our running days. I also met his wife, Anne and enjoyed many a good time with them. His dedication to the Comrades Marathon was outstanding. His sense of humour and goodwill amongst all who knew him will be missed for a long time to come. On behalf of Lola and myself, I wish Anne and the family strength and comfort.”

Colin Higgins says, “On behalf of everyone at Pretoria Metal Badge and Button, our sincerest condolences on the loss of Dudley. Our hearts go out to his family and the Comrades team during this time.”

The memorial service for Dudley will be held on Wednesday, 26 April 2017 at 14hoo at the Lutheran Church – 2 Bester Road, Hayfields in Pietermaritzburg.

With nearly 50 years of race walking experience behind him, both as a record-breaking athlete and as a highly successful coach of multiple Olympians, SA Champs and SA Record-holders, Carl Meyer is a true living legend of South African athletics. – BY SEAN FALCONER

Carl Meyer can thank his parents’ decision to move for motivating him to take up walking… although it wasn’t the sport that initially got him walking. Born in 1957 in Springs, Carl then moved with his family to Heidelberg, but still travelled back to Springs each day for school. That saw him catch the 30-minute railway bus to Nigel at 3:45am, then wait at Nigel Station till 5:45 to travel to Springs Station, followed by a 3km bus ride to the school. “My mother would give me money to buy food at first break, plus bus money for the last 3km to school, but I decided to save the bus fare to have money for both breaks at school, so I walked the 3km. All the other guys would wait for the bus, and I would get to school before them.”

However, before he took up race walking, Carl first tried running. In 1969 his mother entered him in a local 10km road race, but it was not the auspicious debut that he had envisaged. “Being a youngster, I thought I could win it and claim the big prize money. Instead, I came second-last, and I was not too happy,” jokes Carl. Then when he was in standard seven the school announced that a walking event would be added to the inter-schools athletics programme the following year, so the school would be holding trials. “Our PT teacher made all the classes walk around the rugby fields for 10 minutes, and the boys who went furthest got selected. Even though I was still the smallest guy in the school, I walked furthest amongst all classes and I was selected.”

However, before the new school year began, Carl’s family moved to Alberton and he transferred to Helpmekaar High School in Johannesburg, which had already had trials, so he had to wait for the inter-house colour meet to show what he could do. “They had a guy in Matric called Henry Golden, who was the reigning schools provincial walking champ, and I beat him in that first meet.”

Record-breaking Walker
By 1973, aged 16, Carl was being coached by his father and also had Air Force Colonel Andre van der Heever as his mentor. “My father went to the Joburg Library to find books on race walking, and I used them to teach myself the right technique. He would also take me to Andre every second Wednesday to check my technique, because Andre was a provincial walking judge. He always said I had one of the best techniques he’d seen.

That year Carl was ranked sixth in the Youth age category, so his father asked him, “Are you sixth-best, or best?” When Carl answered that he was the best, his father said, “All right, then you won’t race the SA Youth Champs, you will rather take the winter off from competition to train.” Andre had told Carl he needed to increase his mileage, but neither he nor his father knew what “plenty mileage” meant. “So my father decided that every second Saturday morning the two of us would go for a long walk from Heidelberg towards Meyerton, with my mom driving the Valiant 15 miles out to give us water, and then we walked back. If you wanted to see two dead people, that was us!”

But it worked, and in his Matric year in 1975, he broke his first SA Record, the boys’ under-19 3000m. In the three-year period from 1975 to 1977, Carl went on to set 36 SA records at 1500, 3000, 5000 for under-19s and under-21s, as well as the 10,000m mark for under-21s. He also won his first senior SA title in the 5000m in 1977. Remarkably, Carl’s 1976 under-19 record for 5000m of 21:32.?? still stands after 41 years, and is now the oldest record still on the SA all-time list, but Carl says he is actually not that pleased to see the record still intact.

“I no longer see it as a reflection of my ability, but rather a direct reflection of the administration of the sport. It shows that athletes are not getting the opportunity to race. In those years the number of races was greater – two a week on average, so we would do about 20 to 24 races in a season. Today our walkers are lucky if they get five in a season! And it seems the more you plead for more races, the more they seem to shift race walking to one side,” says Carl. “Also, in those days we had exciting walking events that were part of the main programme at the big meets. Nowadays, we are lucky just to be part of the pre-event programme, with no TV coverage, and at the ASA Track and Field Champs, they only have a road walk on the programme, as the organisers say there is not enough time in the programme to include track events.”

Getting Into Coaching
After school Carl studied psychology at RAU, married Stefnie and had three kids, sons MJ and Nicholas and daughter Zoe. Now living in Boksburg, Carl is the Managing Director of PayDirect, a telephonic payment gateway service provider. After a long competitive career, Carl retired from senior competition in 1995. That year he was awarded national colours when selected for the IAAF Race Walking World Cup in Beijing, where he finished 73rd in the 20km, but he was bitterly disappointed not to be selected for the IAAF World Champs later that year, even though he had posted a faster time than one of the athletes who was selected.

“I was deemed to old at 38 to be selected – ASA’s age limit was 36 – so I decided to retire, but soon I was missing the track, and towards the beginning of 1997, my wife suggested I go into coaching. “So I attended the SA Junior Champs in Germiston and saw a junior, Ian Collins, with the most amazing leg speed. I told him if ever he needed a coach, he was welcome to contact me, which he did. He had massive talent, but once he finished school his career unfortunately took over and he never really achieved his true potential.”

“Around the same time I got call from a group of ladies in Vanderbijlpark who said their daughters were overweight and needed to exercise. It was the first time I got paid for something in race walking! Even better, I immediately spotted the potential of this one very tall girl, Leanne Watts. After 12 weeks of coaching, she had lost 27 kilograms, and she went on to represent SA together with another of my athletes, Nicolene Cronje, at the 2000 African Junior Champs in Mauritius, where Nicolene won and Leanne finished second. Nicolene still holds the SA senior records for 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and 20,000m, and Leanne also set an SA Junior Record for 10km, which stood until another of my athletes, Anel Oosthuizen, broke it in 2012. Anel currently holds the SA Junior Records for 5000m, 10,000m and 10km, and the Senior 20km Record, and I think she is ready to break the Senior 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m SA Records.”

Carl is the only IAAF Level 4 race walking coach in SA and is rightfully proud of his coaching career, which has produced two Olympians (Nicolene in 2004 and Anel in 2016), as well as 44 SA Champions, more than 40 SA Records, as well as multiple World Masters Champs medallists. Carl himself has won many SA Masters titles and medalled at three World Masters Champs, and currently holds the SA Masters 10,000m record for the 50-54 age category. “My intention is to go to the World Masters next year in Spain, when I move up to the 60-64 category, because I’m still in good shape and want to go after some new records for 5000m, 10km and 20km,” says Carl.

Hurdles to Overcome
After nearly 50 years in the sport, and having served as Chairperson of the ASA Race Walking Committee, Carl says he is saddened by the future prospects of the sport in SA. “Due to the insight of former ASA President James Evans, who took race walking on as a personal project, we made great progress. James gave us a clear instruction that race walkers must manage themselves and set their own standards, and ASA will then make it possible for them to attend World Cups. That saw us take sizable teams to various World Cups, including up-and-coming juniors like Anel and Lebogang Shange, and that eventually paid off when we had four walkers qualify for the Olympics last year for the first time.”

“However, since 2014 there has been a new administration at ASA, and a new way of thinking, so now we no longer take big teams to World Cups, and the standards set by ASA are so unrealistic that Anel says she doesn’t know if she will be able to qualify for another ASA team. Sadly, I don’t think we will see four walkers qualify for the next Olympics unless things change.”

In recent developments, Carl’s contract as a coach with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Athletics Club was cancelled, due to cost-saving measures forced by the fallout of the Fees Must Fall movement, and he says this is having a negative effect on Anel’s training, as he is no longer able to drive to UJ from Boksburg to pick her up and take her to a safer area for walking at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. “There are a lot of hurdles in front of not just us, but the sport of race walking, and I hope that things will change for the better soon. But it will take a lot of work.”

Carl’s Stats

SA Titles
1975 – Under-19 5000m
1976 – Under-19 5000m
1977 – Senior 5000m
1978 – Under-21 10,000m
1995 – 20km

PBs
1500m – 6:25.0
3000m – 12:06.2
5000m – 21:06.3
10,000m – 46:17.0
20,000m – 1:30:59
20km – 1:28:39
30km – 2:37:34

After an incredible 2016 that saw 400m superstar Wayde van Niekerk add the Olympic title and the World Record to his 2015 World Champs title, he is now looking forward to chasing more titles in 2017 as the World Champs come round again. – BY SEAN FALCONER

He may be quietly-spoken, but when Wayde van Niekerk speaks, people tend to listen. That comes with the territory when you are the reigning Olympic Champion and World Champion, and broke Michael Johnson’s 18-year-old World Record (43.18) in Rio with a scintillating 43.03! We managed to sneak a quick Q&A session with him, and asked about his plans for 2017 and trying to do even better than his stellar 2016 season.

 

MA: These days you are the ‘poster boy’ of SA athletics. How are you handling all the attention?

WvN:It’s definitely been a great journey, and I’m really just enjoying the space, the environment and the experiences I’m going through right now. It’s really been a massive blessing, and a huge motivation to keep on doing what I’m doing – and appreciating this moment that I have.

 

MA: The big news late last year was that you proposed to girlfriend Chesney Campbell…

WvN:It’s long overdue, because I’m always so busy, but I really felt I it was the right move. I’m really in a good space now, and I’m excited about it. I think it’s another great journey to go on, sharing the special moments with somebody that you love and care for, and she plays such a massive role in keeping me focused on athletics.

 

MA: Are your studies on hold due to all your success on the track?

WvN:I’m progressing, but not in the same way that a normal student would. I do what I can, and try not to force it, so that I can do well with what I have, but also not neglect my training, and so be able to reap everything that I’m going through now with track and field.

 

MA: What about after your studies? Do you plan to stay in Bloemfontein and continue training with Tannie Ans Botha?

WvN:Yes, it’s an ongoing journey. If Tannie Ans and I are still finding success and things are going our way, I don’t see any reason to change, so we’ll see what the future holds in store for us and go from there.

 

MA: Your relationship with her is really close, and that seems to help you perform better…

WvN:She is such a strong character and such a great person, and you can really learn so much from her. I mean, at the age of 75 and achieving the peak of her career… who wouldn’t find that inspirational? I am only 24, and by comparison, I still have another 50 years to reach my dreams!

 

MA: Let’s move on to Rio. Going into the final, how did you feel about running in the outside lane and not being able to see your opponents?

WvN:I really didn’t mind running in lane eight. I just thought it’s a final and I have to get the job done. So for me it was about staying focused and use that opportunity, not taking for granted the occasion and the moment I had. So whether I was in lane one or eight, I was going to go out there and give it my best – and luckily that was a World Record and Olympic Gold this time around.

 

MA: Because you were in the outside lane, it looked like you just ran the race as hard as you could, as if to say to the others catch me if you can – and even accelerated away fro them in the home straight – but did you know what was going on behind you?

WvN:I literally did not see a single person the entire race! I think there is some truth to the fact that because I was in lane eight, I just went out there and ran, and I still see it as a massive blessing in disguise, because I had been struggling with hamstring and back injuries over the last year, and I felt some pain that day as well, but because I was in lane eight, not having to chase anyone probably did play to my advantage. And it ended up being the reason why I won the Olympic gold.

 

MA: You collapsed on the track after winning the Wold Champs title in Beijing, so you couldn’t do a victory lap, but in Rio you made it round the track again. What was the difference?

WvN:In Beijing, it was really because of the mental aspect of the 400m, and of winning at that level. If you think back, I had only been doing the 400 for two to three years, and that’s really nothing… you need years to get yourself mentally strong, not just for the 400m itself, but also the feeling afterwards. That’s what I have tried to do ever since Beijing, to be able to run my best, then enjoy the moment and do that victory lap. I think in 2015 I was not mentally strong enough to take myself through that, because in the 400m you really start to feel the effects straight after the race, and that’s something I had to fight. Luckily in 2016 I got it right and could enjoy the moment.

 

MA: What did the other athletes say afterwards to you? Usain Bolt came over to congratulate you, but what about your main rivals, Kirani James and LaSawn Merritt?

WvN:There was a lot of respect shown amongst us, and I have always shown respect to the guys I have competed against, because they portray a positive image for track and field. Actually, it’s still something that I have to remind myself about, that this is my reality, because I never thought I would make it this far, so I’m really just using this opportunity, and not letting it slip, building myself as an athlete and using every single door willing to open for me.

 

MA: Last year, you ran a sub-10 for 100m, sub-20 for 200m and sub-44 for 400, becoming the first athlete ever to achieve that. The question now is, will the 400m stay your focus?

WvN:I actually love the 100 and 200 way more than the 400, but the 400 is my God-given blessing, and I’m not going to let it waste. So this year I am going to spend some more time on the 100 and 200, to work on my speed and because I love to play around in the short sprints, and I think I will compete seriously in the 200, but I will need to put the times on paper before I can get the races. But I still have work to do in the 400m, and that will remain the focus.

 

MA: That raises the question, do you think you can ‘Double’ in the 200 and 400 at the World Champs in London later this year?

WvN:That’s the plan… I have already decided I want to double up at World Champs, but for now I am just taking it one step at a time. As you have seen, I love the 100 and 200 as well as the 400, so wherever I place my focus, I will invest in it and see where it goes.

In line with International Women’s Month and with a view to empowering female Comrades runners to achieve more, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has teamed up with major sponsor, Bonitas Medical Fund to host the second Bonitas Comrades Women’s Seminar in Johannesburg this Saturday, 11 March 2017 at 09h00.

This weekend’s session is the fifth and final one and will be held at the Southern Sun OR Tambo Airport in Jones Road, Kempton Park. Bookings can be made by clicking here.

Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry and other professionals, including a sports psychologist, medical doctor and dietician will inform and empower the ladies at an interactive breakfast session regarding all things Comrades. The sessions are fun, informative and packed with expert advice, tailor-made for the woman ultra-runner. Those athletes aiming to run the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 4 June 2017 will be provided with the technical as well as professional support to perform at their best.

CMA Marketing Coordinator, Nonkululeko Mdlalose says, “This is the second such women-specific seminar to be held in Johannesburg. It is in line with our largest provincial entry tally coming from Gauteng. Our aim is for all ladies taking part in this year’s Comrades Marathon to be adequately prepared for the challenge. At these seminars, the ladies are empowered with the technical and professional support that they require to train well and run their best Comrades race.”

A delicious breakfast as well as a delightful head and neck massage is part of the deal, all thanks to Bonitas. For details, please visit www.comrades.com.

Solicitor Manduwa, an Old Mutual runner, took first place in the 2017 edition of the Three Cranes Challenge which took place late in February this year. The Three Cranes Challenge is part of the Old Mutual Wild Series and spanned three days covering a distance of 100km. This challenge helps raise funds for the conservation efforts in the Karkloof Nature Reserve and its surrounding areas.

The challenge was won by Manduwa with an overall time of 07:53:25. Second place went to Ruan van der Merwe, who finished 18 minutes behind the winner in a time of 08:11:21 and third place was claimed by Nomore Mandivengerei, also an Old Mutual runner, timing in at 08:19:02. International runner Holly Page won the women’s race in a time of 08:28:01.

Chantel Nienaber came second in a time of 09:41:57. Tracy Zunckel completed the podium for third with her time of 10:32:53. Page was the Old Mutual Wild Series Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge winner in 2016. She is from the United Kingdom and was placed an impressive fifth overall.

Pumlani Ntuli and Ian Manchest were the two lucky winners of the Modern Athlete Three Cranes Competition. These two gentlemen won an all expenses paid entry in the recent Old Mutual Three Cranes Trail Run event and we catch up with them and find out exactly how their race went and what the experience was like as a whole.

“The Old Mutual Three Cranes Trail Run is an amazing way to experience the most scenic and pristine nature that lies just on my doorstep. This trail run took me into an exclusive natural space that brought about some soul searching in which I had to recite a few mantras to find both inner strength and peace to climb some of the steepest gradients,” said Pumlani.

“The excitement and the anticipation of what more can be seen on each run the next day is physically energising and mentally stimulating. A true wild moment for me was to sit and chat with a 65 year old game ranger from Golden Gate. Images of Mkhulu one with the terrain and nature kept playing again and again. I was even more inspired to go out and follow behind each day,” continued Pumlani.

Our second winner Ian Martincich, Ian finished the race in a total time of 14:29:39, in a well deserved 112^th position overall. “The race was a truly amazing experience and it allowed me to experience trail running in South Africa like I had never been able to do before. The scenery is magnificent and the tranquillity of being in a nature reserve, out of your car was something special,” explained Ian.

“The race definitely tops the list of races I have done in my running career so far and I’ll definitely look to return again,” continued Ian.

By participating in the Three Cranes Challenge, runners help to conserve KZN’s endangered Cranes – a flagship species for South Africa, through the incredible work of the Karkloof Conservancy. The three Cranes themselves are the Blue, Grey-Crowned and Wattled Cranes. The threat they face is incentive to protect the wetlands and grasslands they call home.

This year, the Karkloof Conservancy turns 19 years old. It is comprised of local landowners who wish to protect biodiversity within the Karkloof area. This has precipitated several community projects to protect the Karkloof, of which the conservancy protects 40 000 hectares. Projects include the Karkloof Conservancy Farm Schools Project and the Adopt a Crane Project.