Category: Features

You work, you take care of the kids, you try to spend some time with the family and you try to fit in your ‘can’t do without’ run! Often preparing a healthy and nutritious meal after a workout falls by the wayside and we opt for quick, unhealthy fixes to save time. Try these four scrumptious recipes that are not only quick to prepare, but also healthy and perfect post-run meals! – BY CHRISTINE PETERS

LITE SPEEDY TORTILLA PIZZA (Serves 2)
Preparation time: One minute. Cooking time: 12 minutes.
This is a quick and light alternative to normal pizza. With one wrap being the equivalent of only two slices of bread, you can rest assured that you will not be over-indulging on carbs!

Ingredients:
  2 tortillas or wraps (bought or frozen).
  ? cup of tinned chopped tomato.
  100g grated mozzarella cheese.
 1-2 chicken breasts cut into strips.
  1 green or red pepper, chopped or sliced thinly.

Method:
  Heat oven to 180?C.
  Heat a thick pan with two tsp oil (e.g. sesame oil). Stir fry  chicken strips until slightly brown. Remove from heat.
 Spice chopped tomatoes with oregano, salt, pepper, garlic flakes, etc.
  Spread tomato mixture thinly over each wrap.
 Sprinkle with grated cheese. Add chicken strips and chopped peppers.
  
Place one pizza in centre of oven and bake for about eight to ten minutes or until cheese has risen, fallen and gone slightly brown.
 Remove pizza from oven and let it stand for three minutes before slicing into pizza wedges.
  Serve immediately with salad.

SIMPLE SWEET CHILLI STIR FRY (Serves 4)
Preparation time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 12 minutes.
Stir fry is a quick and easy way to prepare a meal without a lot of added fat.

Ingredients:
  1 tbs oil e.g. sesame/olive or Spray & Cook.
  400g chicken or extra lean beef strips or 150g firm tofu (cut into strips).
 2 onions sliced.
1kg (4 cups) vegetables cut into strips e.g. frozen or fresh carrots/green beans/peppers/snap peas/baby corn/broccoli/mushrooms, etc.
  ? cup vegetable broth or water.
  1 tsp grated orange or lemon zest (grated skin).
  1 tbs chopped coriander (optional).

Method:
 Heat a wok or large, thick-based pan over medium heat. Spray with cooking spray or oil.
  Brown chicken/beef/tofu on all sides, then remove from pan and set aside.
  Add onion to wok and saut? for one minute or until transparent. Add vegetables e.g. broccoli, carrots, peas and red pepper; stir-fry until tender crisp, about five minutes.
  Return chicken, beef or tofu to wok and stir in broth, chilli sauce and orange zest. Heat until bubbling.
  Transfer stir fry to serving platter and sprinkle with coriander (optional).
  Serve with brown or basmati rice.

BAKED FISH AND MUSHROOM WITH PEA MASH (Serves 4)
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. Perfect for lunch or supper.

Ingredients:
  4 salmon or butterfish fillets.
  8 large brown mushrooms.
 ? round piece of feta (crumbed).
 450g frozen peas (defrosted).
 50ml natural yoghurt.
  Pinch of cumin.

Method:
  Preheat oven to 180?C.
  Place fish fillets in individual foil (skin facing down) and season with mustard, lemon juice, soya sauce, salt and pepper. Close foil parcels and place on baking tray on one side.
  Place mushrooms on the other side of the baking tray and thinly sprinkle with crumbed feta, oregano, salt and pepper.
  Bake for about 10 minutes. Open up foil parcels and grill for 5 minutes.
  Blitz peas, yoghurt and cumin till smooth. Allow to stand for 10 minutes.
  Serve salmon fillets with mushrooms and pea mash.

PUFFY EGGS (Serves 2)
Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 15 minutes. After a race or long run most of us can’t bear the taste of another sweet thing that reminds us of the energy gels we had earlier! Try these easy, tasty and healthy eggs instead.

Ingredients:
  1 whole egg and 3 egg whites.
  2 tbs water.
  60g grated mozzarella cheese.
 ? ripe avocado.
  2 pieces of lean bacon (optional).
  Salt and pepper (to taste).
  1 tsp oregano.
  2 slices toasted low GI or rye bread.

Method:

Crack egg and egg whites into a small thick-based saucepan.
 Add water.
  Heat the pan on low heat. Scramble the eggs. Remove from the heat while they are still half runny, half scrambled.
 Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese over the eggs.
  Place the eggs in the pan and grill for five to ten minutes until cheese melts and browns slightly.
 Toast the bread and microwave two pieces of lean bacon for 30 seconds or until cooked/crispy.
  Spread ? avocado on each slice of toast.
  Once cheese has melted, remove pan from oven.
  Scoop half of the baked eggs on avocado toast.
 Top with bacon, season with pepper, salt and oregano and serve immediately.

Optional additions: feta, onion, corn, marmalade, tomato, peppers and garlic.

Love brought me to South Africa. While living in North Carolina I met a man from South Africa. We fell in love, got married and moved to Gordon’s Bay, where we still live today. I couldn’t have asked for a better life and sometimes it is hard to believe that not too long ago, I was on the verge of death. My life expectancy was around 18-24 months. That was seven years ago! The following is the story of my bout with cancer and how running helped me through the bad patches. – BY JULIE MARSDEN

 

HEARTACHE BEFORE HAPPINESS

I met my husband Mike through work in August 2004. At the time he lived in the United States and I worked for a property management company in North Carolina. In February 2006 we made the big move to Gordon’s Bay in South Africa.

 

About a year before I met Mike I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Until then I was always quite healthy! Or so
I thought. I started running in June 1982 after I had gained 9kg while living in New Orleans. 

 

In the months prior to my diagnosis I was training for Grandma’s Marathon in Minnesota. I had assumed the fatigue and stomach disturbances I was experiencing were a result of hard training. Most runners pay close attention to their bodies, but we also tend to ignore simple aches and pains. We run because we love it, because it makes us feel whole, and for the joy we find at the finish. Despite my body’s complaining, I continued to accumulate miles.

 

THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED

On 9 June 2003 I felt so sick I had to go to the emergency room. What I expected to be diagnosed as a simple case of food poisoning led to tests, and new vocabulary I never knew existed. Tests revealed lumps in my right breast and a significant number of lesions on my bones. My doctor convinced me to fly to Duluth, run the marathon and upon my return, meet with the surgeon.

 

My running partner, Sallie Whitmore, and I did just that.
As Sallie and I wandered the expo, queasiness began to set in.
I quickly became well acquainted with the porcelain fixtures in the bathroom. My marathon was spent in hospital! On my return home, I went to the surgeon. He ordered a biopsy on my breast. The colonoscopy had shown signs of colon cancer. The breast biopsy was also cancerous…

 

RUNNING TO KEEP SANE

After being diagnosed I continued running. It was something that kept me sane. I actually ran right up until the day before my surgery in late July 2003. My breast cancer was Stage 4 metastatic, which meant the cancer had spread to the colon and bone. My first operation was the colon resection. Some breast tissue and nodes from the top of the breast and under my arm were also removed. Four days after my release from hospital I walked a very slow kilometre around my neighbourhood. The distance increased slightly every other day until the ‘thrilling’ world of chemotherapy ensued.

 

FIGHTING TO GET BETTER

Chemo was usually on a Friday. I have four sisters and a brother and each of them went to a chemo treatment with me. A friend accompanied me to the last one. The first seven days after a chemo session were the worst. Despite the anti-nausea drug, I was sick the entire time. I watched television, read books and ran back and forth from the couch to the bathroom to the bed constantly. The second set of seven days was slightly better.  I knew I had to try and run. Two days a week I ran 5km with my usual group. These runs were slow with frequent walk breaks and often a pit stop for the toilet. I noticed my running times had slowed considerably. I also required more water but at least I was running.

 
I relished the fresh air on my face; sometimes I even took my hat off and uncovered my bald head allowing the cool air to invigorate me. Most of all I dreamt that one day I would run again without the fear that my stomach would send me off in search of a porcelain bowl! On Saturdays Sallie and I managed about 10km!

 

During the last seven days of the chemo cycle I actually felt almost normal. I had more energy. I would then try and run three times a week, and sometimes as far as 15km.

 

My decision to continue running throughout my illness was never in question. I needed to try and live as normally as possible. Running kept me from isolation, it got me out of the house and around my running friends.

 

FAMILY SUPPORT

I am so grateful to my children, Michael and Zachary. They were in school in California and Florida at the time I got sick. We spoke at least twice a week, and they visited me at Christmas. As a present they gave me an iPod engraved with the words ‘Big
Bald Mama’.

 

I think the boys liked having a bald mother. Even though it was winter I refused to wear a wig and opted for hats in the cold.
I enjoyed going out to dinner and to the stores bald.
It was great fun watching the children’s eyes widen in wonder. My doctor, my surgeon and my oncologist helped me understand my cancer and its ramifications. I considered them friends not doctors, and refused to call them by their surnames.

 

My friends Sallie, Nancy, Melissa, Ben and Sue were with me throughout the process. They came to the hospital, they cooked for me when I couldn’t (or wouldn’t), and listened to me complain about how rotten I felt.

 

DREAMING BIG

In 2006 when we moved to South Africa I was in remission. I joined Strand Athletic Club in Cape Town and ran the Two Oceans Half Marathon in April 2006 and the Winelands Marathon in November. My husband has always supported and encouraged me and he has been at the finish line of most of my races. In 2009 I ran the full Two Oceans Ultra Marathon!

 

Shortly after moving to South Africa I heard many of my club’s members tell endless stories about the Comrades Marathon. Last year after completing my second Two Oceans I felt it was possible for me to run Comrades. On 1 November at 9am I registered. Within 20 minutes, with my money spent, nervousness ensued. 

 

My training went well and on 28 May, my husband and I flew to Durban. On the night before the race Mike cooked me dinner and put me to bed by 8:30. Race day was exciting. There were the families of runners, the residents of Pietermaritzburg, and others who had just come out to see the crazy folks run 89km.

 

At the 10km mark my friend, Candice Winterboer, and her friend Craig Vivian found me. For a down Comrades there sure seemed to be a lot of ‘opdraandes’ but at halfway, I knew I could finish it! I ate oranges, bananas, biscuits and more potatoes than I can count. Drank Coke, Powerade, water and then some more water to wash everything down.

  

What can I say about Field’s Hill? I asked Candice and Craig, “Is that it?” I had barely noticed it!
My mind was mush by that point. Then we hit Cowie’s Hill and I walked. At Mayville I began to
feel nauseous, but we realised if we picked up the pace we could cross the finish line in just under 11 hours.

 

At the 1km to go mark we ran! Not a slow slog; we really ran! Entering the stadium was amazing. The crowds were clapping and yelling; the vuvuzelas were blowing. Crossing the finish line was one of the best feelings I have experienced.

 

A BRIGHT FUTURE

I have several races planned for the future: the Cape Town Marathon in September, several local half marathons, another Two Oceans and of course the Comrades next year. Having goals motivates me to be the best I can.

 

The South African running community has been so good to me. I found the South African runners to be more focused than Americans. In my opinion this is because of the time limits imposed on races in South Africa. In America there is no time limit for marathons or half marathons. Therefore, not all but most Americans put no emphasis on speed.

 

FROM THE HEART

The thought that I had cancer and might die never bothered me. I valued my quality of life more than the quantity. Accepting the situation was the first part; then I had to live with it and the impact it had on my life.

 

To those suffering from cancer my advice to you is to live your life as close as possible to what it was before your diagnosis. Read a novel, check out all those movies you have always wanted to watch. Treat yourself with kindness. And never ever be afraid to ask for help. Ask your doctors questions. And if you want a second opinion, get one.

 

One of my saving graces was running. It defined me. It allowed me to visit new places, and make new friends. There is always something new to discover whether it is beautiful scenery or new neighbourhoods. I have run in snow, rain, humidity, heat and cold. To me each run was a personal success. Each race was my race, and my finish time mine! I often say I run to keep the weight off. It may have started that way but that plays a small part now.

 

If you had told me in 1982 that I would be running marathons and ultras in 2010 I would have said you were nuts. Today running is a vital part of my existence. After chemo the oncologist said my life expectancy was around 18-24 months. That was seven years ago! I am not worried that the cancer will return. I have too much living to do and too many races to run!

 

He had a dream to compete in the 2010 Junior World Championships in Canada. That dream recently came true when 17-year-old Werner Pretorius and his South African team mates set off for Moncton, Canada, to match their skills against their counterparts from all over the world. Werner and his team mates not only experienced international competition at the highest level, but more importantly learnt how a shared passion for sport unites different cultures from all over the world. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS

 

He had dreamed of the moment forever: walking into the stadium in Canada representing South Africa at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships. And finally on 19 July his dream came true! Werner, a matric pupil from Afrikaans Ho?r Seunskool in Pretoria and one of the country’s top junior 110m hurdlers, was part of the 18 boys and five girls who made up the South African team. Though they only managed to bring home two medals, they all gained valuable experience in the international arena. “If only everybody got close to their PBs, we would have performed much better as a team. Nevertheless we had such great fun and made so many friends from different countries,” says Werner, who qualified for the World Champs in June.
The qualifying time for the 110m hurdles was 13.90;
Werner ran a PB of 13.87.

 

OPENING CEREMONY

The opening ceremony was something Werner will remember forever. Youngsters from all over the world came together at an indoor track next to the stadium where the Games were held before marching into the stadium. “It felt like the Olympics!
I knew some of the athletes from other countries as I competed against some of them last year. We all got along so well.
This year the South Africans became very good friends with athletes from Germany, Sweden and Finland.” The South African team stayed on a university campus 50km outside the city.

 

PUTTING THE WRONG FOOT FORWARD

Unfortunately Werner did not perform at his best as he had broken a small bone in his foot only days before he had to compete. “I was with a friend and I was wearing sandals.
Just as I wanted to get into a car, I slipped and stepped into a ditch! I immediately knew I broke a little bone as the same happened last year while wearing the same shoes!” Werner used painkillers to try and manage the pain and got some physiotherapy, but it still had an influence on his performance. “It was not sore but I could feel that I lacked strength in my foot when competing.” Despite this Werner missed going through to the semi-finals by only 0.1sec!

 

SUPPORT

Werner’s parents as well as his coach, Irma Reyneke (a former 400m and 400m hurdles Springbok) supported Werner at the Games. “Initially when I heard about his foot I thought he was joking! Then I got angry, but we all accepted it and made the best of the situation,” says Irma, who believes Werner has the ability to become a South African record holder. She has been coaching Werner for a little over a year. For her the highlight of the Games was watching the 110m final hurdles event.
“These kids are all so good. There is very little difference between them. The finals were so exciting because the favourites did not win!”

 

NEW FRIENDS

Werner has made many new friends and can’t wait to go and visit them! “We communicate on Facebook and sms each other daily! They are all great and we all got along so well. It was awesome competing, but for me the highlight of the trip was the after party. All the teenagers from all the different countries came together and partied!”

 

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDALS

Werner is very proud of his medal-winning team mates, Luvo Manyonga and Tazmin Brits. Boland long jump sensation, Luvo, won the long jump gold medal after producing a final leap of 7.99m. After his win he dedicated his medal to Caster Semenya’s return to international athletics. His win was Team South Africa’s second medal after North West University javelin star Tazmin Brits collected a bronze with an evening best of 54.55m on her fourth throw. Other elite athletes in the South African team included Waide Jooste (100m), Gideon Trotter (100m), Shaun de Jager (400m), Ratlale Mokone (800m),
Rocco van Rooyen (javelin), Dan Goosen (javelin) and Gert Swanepoel (decathlon), all ranked among the top ten in their respective disciplines.

 

MORE DREAMS

Werner plans to study civil engineering at the University of Pretoria next year and hopes to secure a bursary to further his studies in the United States. For now he is taking a break from athletics and concentrating on his studies before starting training later in the year for the African Junior Champs next year. And of course he has a new dream, to compete at the Olympics in 2012. “I will have to run a time of at least 13.5sec to qualify. Also, by then I will be a senior and the hurdles will be higher. It will be very hard but nothing is impossible.”

He is one of the most experienced and well-known coaches in the country under whose watchful eye many elite athletes and average Joe’s have achieved the ultimate running glory and elusive personal bests. Now you too can be coached by John Hamlett himself! This month sees the launch of the Modern Athlete coaching programme which will make it possible for anyone – from an average walker or runner to an elite athlete – to be coached by the Modern Athlete coaching team, headed up by one of the best in the business. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS

Many of us have been running for years, chasing elusive PBs and hoping each year that it would be our best running year ever. Often we are disappointed when the opposite happens and our times actually get slower and slower. Sometimes we get advice from running buddies or from articles in sporting magazines and our times do improve slightly, but more often than not our running stays stuck in a rut!

Then, on the other end of the scale there are the novices who end up frustrated with injuries due to incorrect training methods. This sometimes completely puts them off the sport of running and often even drives them to cycling!

Our very own Modern Athlete online coaching programme now gives you the opportunity to receive an online coaching programme from one of the best coaches in the country.
Don’t be fooled into believing that coaching programmes
are just for long-distance junkies. Our programmes cover
all distances, which means that if you are a 10km addict,
a goal-driven walker or a Comrades devotee, an individualised programme can be constructed for you.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The programmes will be available for beginners to advanced runners.
Your first step is to log onto
the Modern Athlete website
(www.modernathlete.co.za) and complete a questionnaire to help us individualise your programme.

You will then receive
bi-weekly programmes
from our team headed up by John, who will take all of your goals, current training methods, injuries, previous best times, personal and work circumstances, medical history and much more into consideration before we supply you with the best programme to suit your needs!

Also, an interactive online feedback programme will be available, on which you can interact with John and our team and keep us updated on your progress or bring up any worries you might have regarding your training. We will help with slight adjustments to your programme if need be.
You will be coached in
eight-week cycles for a monthly fee of R249, that’s only R8.30 a day to be
coached by the best. Further to this, Modern Athlete will hold regular coaching seminars for members.
We don’t want to give it all away right now, so for more information log onto our website and find
out how our coaching team can take you from zero to hero!

MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACH
John is no stranger to running. He ran his first marathon at the age of 15 and has been coaching elite and average athletes
for over 30 years. He has a marathon PB of 2:20 and a 10km sub-34min PB.

John is more recently known for his successes with top athletes such as Andrew Kelehe (2001 Comrades winner), Yolandi MacLean (two times Comrades gold medallist), Fusi Nhlapo (2003 Comrades Champion), Lindsay van Aswegen (eighth lady and second South African woman home at Comrades 2010) and Fanie Matshipa (fifth in a time of 5:39 at Comrades 2010).

This former police colonel has come a long way in running circles and has helped more than 30 athletes achieve Comrades gold and more than ten achieve Two Oceans gold. In earlier years he was very involved with the former Liberty Nike running team, which won the team trophy at Comrades a few years ago.

John was recently appointed by South Africa’s top selling car manufacturer, Toyota, as coach of the up-and-coming Team Toyota running club. The new team produced brilliant results at the recent Comrades Marathon and all eyes are on this team to become a powerhouse in years to come.

Don’t feel intimidated; John does not only coach elite runners. Over the last few years he has made a name for himself as the Average Joe’s coach. In many cases his average athletes have achieved not only what they thought was impossible, but more often than not have lost weight in the process. “One of the runners I have coached went from 140kg to 75kg and a six pack in only one year.”

On top of this John has coached schoolchildren, duathletes, triathletes and track athletes. “In all sport disciplines the same training principles apply; the principles of the body don’t change, only the mechanics of it. All disciplines need the same facets; the only difference is how you apply it.”

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO
For any training programme to be successful, you have to be prepared to put in the work, warns John. “Firstly, you need to be prepared to change your eating habits if you are currently eating unhealthily. Believe it or not, an average runner has between 15-21% body fat! Runners believe they can eat anything because they run.”

John knows all about incorrect eating habits; in days gone by he was known as the Kentucky King. “I ate Kentucky at least four times a week! Then I went to Russia where I met a professor who taught me all about the science of nutrition. It made a big difference in my life and in those of my athletes.”

John believes that for any training or eating programme to be successful you need to be determined, seek professional guidance, concentrate on quality training, persevere and have realistic goals in place. He does not believe in so-called ‘bucket training’. “You can’t throw people in a bucket and make them all train the same way. Some might improve but only to a certain point. I believe it is important to first establish the individual’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Many of us find time an obstacle in our training; John’s training programme ensures that you train wisely in the time you have available. “If you only have an hour a day to invest, we will make sure that hour counts and that you train smart. Well-known runner Bob de la Motte only had 90 minutes a day to train and he made sure he spent this time well.”

WHY INVEST IN A COACH?
If you train alone without any guidance your running sometimes becomes a bit of a guessing game, says John. “While
I was running competitively I was constantly guessing. One always wonders if you are doing the right thing. Also, often you can’t judge yourself objectively and worry if you have done enough or should have done more. Often many runners don’t even know when they are peaking while others rest so many days before Comrades that they are actually unfit come Comrades day! Runners are too emotionally involved in their training. With a structured coaching programme you know exactly what the next phase is and what you are working towards.”

Runners also tend to find the easy way out and not always the best way. “Many times we run the same 10km route every day and think that what we are doing is okay because we are building up enough kilometres to log in our logbooks. The sad thing is this will not make you a stronger and faster runner.”

Someone once asked what makes for a good elite runner and was answered, “What God left out, I can’t put in.” John believes that every runner has an ability that can be refined, often surpassing their wildest dreams. “There are so many things we can strengthen and perfect in our running. Look at Andrew Kelehe; in 2001 he ran an average of 3:39min/km for the whole 89km. Scientists would have told you earlier that those times aren’t possible. Then along came Leonid Shvetsov and he ran even faster! I believe with the right guidance and training we can all do so much more than we ever thought possible.”

WITH PASSION YOU WILL GO FAR
John has what all brilliant coaches should have: passion!
“I can’t imagine a better job in the world. Every day I meet new and amazing people. People involved in sport are out there to better themselves. You will not find a washout that runs everyday!
Most runners want to improve and everybody
out there has their own goals that make them
special. With the right coaching most runners
will achieve brilliantly!”

Most Modern Athletes have a special sporting goal: it keeps us on our toes and makes for great conversations once we’ve achieved them! We spoke to an elite triathlete and a novice runner about their different upcoming sporting goals.

Richard Murray

Former World Duathlon Champion and top SA mountain biker. He is currently based in the UK and competes on the European racing circuit.

MAIN GOAL
To become the world’s number one triathlete and get to the Olympic Games.

What are your major triathlon goals at the moment?
Becoming the best triathlete in the world is my big goal, but first I need to improve my swim! Right now I want to race International Triathlon Union (ITU) events and gain enough points to race World Triathlon events. Then I want to get a top ten place at the World Triathlon Championships in Budapest on 11 September. My other big goal is to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games in 2012, then go on to win the Olympic triathlon in 2016 or 2020.

How do you intend to achieve your goal?
I want to be able to swim with the top 30, which is vital to gaining a bunch on the bike. That’s going to take a year or two of suffering in the pool before I will be able to really excel.

Tell us about your sporting background and how you got into triathlon.
I began as a cross-country runner at about seven and then did my first triathlon when I was 13, going from stone-last in the swim to winning as I caught up big time in the run. When I was 15 I was the best SA cross-country mountain biker in my age category, and then at 18 and 19, I was two-time World Duathlon Champion. But I asked myself, can I make a living in duathlon? The answer was no, so from last year I focused on triathlon.

Do you have any short-term goals?
Racing is an important factor to improve fitness and see progression in training. I will do about five races in Europe and some swimming events before World Champs to improve my swim and gain open water experience, and this will give me vital fitness, skills and direction to improve for the big race in September. I will also do quite a few African Cup events to get ITU points, which are vital for me to enter the major races in the year to come.

What will you do after you reach your goal?
After ITU triathlons I want to go back to my roots and move into XTERRA. Mountain biking, trail running and swimming in lakes sound like great fun to me. When I’m past my competitive peak, I want to move into coaching and become the TSA coach, to help triathlon become stronger in South Africa. I want to help turn the real potential in our country into world-class athletes.

Dan?l Blaauw

A Johannesburg-based journalist and novice runner.

GOAL
Completing the Spar Women’s 5km Challenge in August in Pretoria.

Why did you choose this specific goal?
I realised that I had to start exercising and I also wanted to lose some weight. I knew the only way to do it was to commit to something and set a goal for myself. I promised two of my girlfriends I would do the Spar ‘fun run’ – as they described it – with them. I thought setting a goal and training for it was the best way of getting into a routine of working out. So now I am going to keep my promise and I am getting a great workout at the same time!

Have you competed in any road races or other sporting events before?
No, I have not exercised for years! Even at high school I was never much of an athlete. I played a bit of netball and tennis and continued for a while after school. Over the years I occasionally worked out in the gym, which involved a bit of running on the treadmill. But other than that I have never competed in organised sporting events.

How do you intend to achieve your goal?
With hard work, commitment and by the looks of it, a lot of exercise, which is so not me! I am sure I am the most unfit person in the whole of Johannesburg. I started going to the gym twice a week since the beginning of July. I increased it to three times a week after three weeks and hopefully I will be in the gym five times a week soon. This will be a huge achievement for me. I am also working out with a personal trainer and a friend gave me a five-week 5km training programme so I can be ready for the Spar Ladies’ Race.

I know for sure that on the day I won’t be able to run the whole 5km without stopping, but I know I will be able to walk/run the distance. I must admit I don’t really like running, but I know it is good for me. This combined with a healthy eating plan will also hopefully put me on my way to shedding a few kilograms by the end of August.

What has been the hardest part of your training?
I am not the most disciplined person and I love my sleep, especially in winter. It has been really hard to get up in the mornings and go to gym. But luckily I paid my gym membership in advance and I know I have to go in order to achieve my goal.

And then of course there is the promise that I made to my girlfriends. I can’t disappoint them! My working hours are getting in the way of my training; I am in and out of the city a lot and I’m also going on holiday. I am worried I won’t stick to my training programme, but I am determined to try.

What would you like to achieve on the day?
I just want to complete the 5km without having to drag myself over the finish line, or asking my girlfriends to drag me! I want to have enough fitness by then so I can enjoy it. I am not setting a finishing time for myself. I just want to run, walk and have fun. And if I can burn lots of calories in the process I’ll be in seventh heaven! I am looking forward to crossing the finish line knowing that I set a goal for myself and achieved it! It is also going to be great being surrounded by so many women all having fun and working towards different goals.

Any plans to reward yourself if you achieve your goal?
If I finish and also manage to lose a few kilograms by race day, I will definitely be rewarding myself with a pair of Lee Cooper jeans!

What are your sporting goals after you reach your goal?
I want to swim the Midmar Mile in January… another promise to two girlfriends…

 

Many of us visualize Russia as a mysterious country and in the running world, a country that produces top athletes year after year. In fact, some of the Comrades greats hail from this former communist country. Nick Bester, Manager of the Nedbank Running Club, caught up with Dmitri Grishin, Comrades Champion of 1996 and 1998, and other international Russian athletes in their home town of Vladimir.

A ROUND TRIP!
Dmitri and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. Though we have been great competitors we have built up a special friendship over the years. I visited him for the first time in October last year when my son took part in the Junior World Cycling Championships held in Russia.

This year my wife and I visited our son who is currently cycling for a professional team in Spain. We decided to travel from Spain to Russia and visit Dmitri, who is always complaining we don’t see each other often enough. We travelled from Moscow to St Petersburg and then eventually to Vladimir, about 200km from Moscow.

CATCHING UP
One of the first things I realised when catching up with Dmitri was that he certainly knows how to turn running success into business success. When Dmitri retired from competitive running in 2005 he did not fall into unemployment and poverty like many top runners. He started with a totally new career that he knew nothing about and turned it into a great success story.

At the end of 2005 he started to build houses in his hometown, Vladimir. Since then he has completed and sold 14 luxury houses with the biggest measuring 600 square metres. Some of the houses are being sold for about R5 million. The residents are naming one of the streets in Vladimir, Dmitri Prospect, as he has built four outstanding houses in this street.

The houses are incredible inside and the workmanship is amazing; some have indoor swimming pools, underfloor heating systems and electricity as well as gas facilities with sophisticated operating systems.

A PROUD HUSBAND AND FATHER
Dmitri is married to Nikita and they are the proud parents of three strong boys. He says he will try for a daughter once again but not before 2016 because in true Russian fashion his doctor advises him that his genes and blood are too strong and dominating, so the chances are that he will not produce a girl before then!

He does not train much these days, but is still as lean as ever. He ran a 5km race the other day just for the fun of it.

While the Spanish fill up with bread and pasta, the Russians enjoy mostly protein, salad and vegetables. Physically the Spaniards are a bit ‘rounder and softer’ while the Russians are more like lean machines. They are very health conscious and thrive on fresh fruit and vegetables. One day we travelled to a small town just to buy fresh cherries and berries from people who grow them in their backyards.

FAMOUS FRIENDS
Another Comrades gold medallist and Comrades runner-up in 2000, and one of Dmitri’s best friends and training partners for many years, is Alexi Volgin. He lives around the corner from Dmitri with his wife, Natalia. She is also a Comrades gold medallist who is now concentrating on marathon running. She recently ran a great time of 2:29 at a marathon in Frankfurt.

We also met up with Andrei Pisminiy, former President of Ultra Runners in Russia. He is currently the manager of the biggest professional running club in Russia. There are no social running clubs such as in South Africa, only some big professional clubs.

One evening when we all went for dinner at a local restaurant, we realised that between the four of us we have a total of 20 Comrades gold medals! I have nine gold medals, Dmitri has four, Alexi has six and Natalia has one. Not bad for a table of four in a quiet Russian town.

Natalia belonged to the former Harmony Running Club, which I managed in earlier years. She won the Two Oceans Marathon in 2002 and got that gold at Comrades. We had such a good time and strangely enough we did not talk much about running. We actually spoke about everything and anything, life in general which was nice and refreshing.

DOING IT THE RUSSIAN WAY
One thing about the Russians that I admire is their hospitality and friendliness! They always send you away with gifts. While Dmitri was in South Africa, he stayed with Piet Botha, son of Pik Botha, former SA politician. Dmitri sent me away with a Special Edition bottle of Hennessey, a brand of cognac, that he wanted me to give to Piet. One can’t buy Special Editions; Dmitri specially phoned a friend at the head office to ask for ten bottles!

While visiting Dmitri, the Russian twins, Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva, phoned and said they heard I was in the country. We had a nice chat, and they invited me to visit them sometime. They were taking a break after Comrades, but were slowly starting to train again despite being on holiday.

Dmitri is very keen on South Africa. When he was here the last time he shot some game and I recently helped him get his trophies back to Russia. He will be visiting South Africa towards the end of the year with friends.

It was awesome visiting them; I will go back any day! They are like family.

A FAMILY MAN
I have always been a family man. I live for them! I remember the days my kids were born; I was the proudest man alive. Over the years they have excelled at so many things, making me even prouder, if that is possible!

My wife, Daphne, is my soulmate. She has always supported me and never complains. My son, Clayton, is my driving force in life. When he is up I feel good and when he is down, I feel the same. And then there is my daughter, Candice (who I call Nunks). She is still young but I learn from her every day. I love her discipline and determination; when she puts her mind to something she does it. She also puts me back in place when I need it! I have always loved running and have excelled at it. I have a sub-30 minute 10km time and a 2:46 marathon PB. I have never really enjoyed the long stuff. I have completed Comrades but not in a great time. Over the years I have kept running, but not seriously or regularly. Often life just got in the way and I also dedicated most of my time to my family. My biggest passion is my family, but I always knew I would get back into running eventually.

When Candice and Clayton decided to start running in 2006, it ignited my passion to start running again too. We started training together in the mornings. Clayton and I ‘pushed’ each other; we were never overly competitive, but rather motivated each other. Also, I was so proud to run with my daughter. I can’t describe the feeling of training with your kids.

Initially my wife wasn’t interested in running, but she always supported us at all the races. In my heart I knew that soon Daphne would be running too! That’s why I wasn’t too surprised when she entered her first race! Our family started ‘living’ running. Running was all we spoke about. The first thing we would ask each other every day and on weekends was: “How was your run?”

Over the weeks my own running started taking a backseat and I started helping my family achieve their running goals. Seeing them get through their challenges became so rewarding. I was still running with them but my role started changing slightly to that of coach. I was happy to give of myself to see them succeed. One of my proudest moments was seeing my wife and daughter cross the finish line of the Harrismith Mountain Race together. Soon my daughter’s husband, Shaun, also started running! This was really turning into a family affair.

A DREAM COME TRUE
In October 2009 Nunks told me that she wanted to run the 2010 Comrades. I was a little surprised as I did not expect her to want to run Comrades so soon. I had always said that I would only run Comrades again if it was with my children. I guess it was my turn! “Let’s do it!” I said to Nunks. I entered myself and Nunks, as well as my niece, Cindy, who was also keen to do it. I was to run the Comrades with my daughter and niece; what an awesome experience it was going to be. As the days went by I had to remind myself to calm down.

I had to put together a programme for the two of them and take many things into consideration. The most difficult thing for me was my own training. At that stage I was racing at under 4min/km but was running much slower with the ladies. My wife quickly reminded me to put my own racing goals aside as I had promised Candice that I would train with her and get her through Comrades.

We started planning our races and slowly built up to our qualifying marathon. In between I was already prepping them for what to expect on the day. I could see my daughter becoming a well-oiled machine: stronger, fitter and faster. Daphne supported us at all the races and in many cases, also ran the race in her own time.

We prepared for our first marathon in February and were hoping for a D seeding. We had a great race and ran into the stadium in a time of 3:50. We got our D seeding. Our training was on target; we covered 1 390km from January to May.

THE BIG DAY
Finally the big day arrived. The crowd sang the national anthem, the cock crowed and the canon signalled the start of our epic journey. I got cold shivers knowing that together, Nunks and
I would be running the Ultimate Human Race. I cannot describe the feeling
I felt as a dad being able to run with my daughter.

We looked forward to the halfway mark at Drummond and went through in 4:45. That was when Candice told me that she was so happy to run with me, and that she would love to run with her child one day. At the top of Drummond we saw our seconds (Mom, Clayton and Shaun). I knew from this point that I had to work with Nunks’ and Cindy’s minds and reassure them that they were going to complete the race. The crowds that lined the roads were amazing. They certainly helped us along. In the last 4km before entering the stadium, it hit us: we were almost at the finish! Finally we entered the stadium. We crossed the line in 10:07. We had decided beforehand what we would do when we crossed the line. When the moment came, we took each other’s hands and finished the Ultimate Human Race together! Candice immediately said that she would do it again in 2011. I felt overwhelmed and knew I have done my job!

WHAT LIES AHEAD
Clayton was so inspired by our performance at Comrades that he asked me to run Comrades with him next year! What an honour it would be to run my son’s first Comrades with him! Since Comrades our family has kept running together. In fact, running has actually spread like wildfire amongst our friends; some of my son-in-law’s friends have even started running!

I am looking forward to another year of sharing the passion for running with my beloved family. There are so many races to look forward to. My wife has not shown interest in running Comrades, but who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be running Comrades as a family, or perhaps one day, I will run it with my grandchild! It would be awesome to cross that finish line hand-in-hand with the people who matter the most to me.

Known as the world’s best ultra marathon runner, Ryan has become a household name within the global sports fraternity whilst fellow athlete Tatum is known internationally as a top adventure racer. Both are leading athletes in their respective disciplines, and both have a strong desire to see talented youngsters achieve through sports.

The camp was made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship from Salomon and Velocity Sports Lab in partnership with the JAG Sports and Education Foundation. Each of the 26 children was given a goody bag with kit and shoes from Salomon and Velocity Sports Lab, watches and bands from Imazine, and the all important headlamps for their late night run from Black Diamond.

Starting on the first day of the FIFA World Cup™, the young runners were treated to challenges that encompassed all the soccer excitement. Ryan and Tatum created a very clever treasure hunt around the soccer theme to kick the camp off, followed by the children watching the opening Bafana Bafana match against Mexico.

On the Saturday Ryan took the kids on a 22km run/hike up to the mast on the Constantiaberg Mountain in Tokai as a teamwork exercise. Ryan and Tatum split the kids into groups – each aptly named after the Group A soccer teams – with each team having to work together and, more importantly, stay together on their run up the mountain. “It was great to see how the kids worked as a team on this run. We had the stronger guys helping the smaller girls; everyone focused on their strengths and not their weaknesses,” says Ryan.

“Many of the runners have not gone further than 5km previously so it was a great achievement for all of them to run 22km on a trail and over tough mountain climbs. Even though you could see that at times a lot of them were struggling, not once did they want to give up. They showed tremendous courage and team spirit, which is what the ProNutro JAGRunners programme is set to achieve,” says Kathleen Shuttleworth, ProNutro JAG runners programme manager.

Tatum’s knowledge of the mountains and her experience in the adventure sports industry added a great twist into all the activities set out for the kids and made them that much more exciting and challenging. “It was a real ‘feel good’ weekend. We had a load of fun and a thousand laughs! No shortage of good humour in that group, or talent for that matter,” says Tatum.

On the Sunday morning children were split into two groups headed by Ryan and Tatum for the 10km trail challenge. The faster group led the pack, marking the route for the slower group, which had to find markers and get to the finish on time. The camp finished with a feedback session from the kids themselves. What stood out the most for the majority of the kids was teamwork and learning to work together and help each other.

Some of the activities that the kids were challenged with included:
  2km time trial runs
 8km sprint for the faster runners
  Boot camp-style aerobic workouts
  Treasure hunts
  Adventure night races
 Fun skit plays

The camp was a phenomenal success and highlights the simple power of sport in creating a change in young people’s lives. Ryan took two kids from the camp with him to Knysna for the Oyster Festival, and to compete in some races up there with him. Niklas Dlamini and Odwa Mbangatha were chosen after showing exceptional talent at the camp. “Niklas and Odwa were the two ‘stand out’ runners at the camp, and I believe they have huge potential to develop into world-class athletes. It is great to see that they are also team players, helping some of the younger runners on the longer runs during the camp Tatum and I held,” says Ryan.

And what an adventure it turned out to be! Niklas and Odwa came first and third respectively in the shorter Salomon Featherbed Trail Run of the day. Niklas also won the DueSouth XTERRA Lite! Ryan was second overall, over the three races of the day with the second fastest time on the day.

Modern Athlete commends all involved for this great initiative and looks forward to seeing some great new talent ‘defining themselves’ in the near future.

 

Ask Joyce Keeling about her first, long-awaited trip to Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape and she is likely to roll her eyes in exasperation before launching into a story about her husband’s absolute dedication to his running. Because while Vic refused to take her there for many years, all it took to change his mind was a road race…

“My parents got married in Port Alfred, so I asked Vic to take me there to see it. He refused because there was no race there to run. It went on for years like that! Then one day he turns to me and says, ‘We’re going to Port Alfred’, so I asked, ‘Why now?’ Turns out it was because he wanted to run the Washie hundred-miler. At first I said, ‘You can go on your own,’ but then I thought I was cutting off my nose to spite my face, so I eventually agreed to go. As I always joked, he was married to running and I was his sideline!”

Still, for all her mock indignation, Joyce was always there to second Vic in his running. Little wonder the Golden Reef Club awarded her numerous ‘Agter Elke Runner’ certificates for her many years of support.

LATE STARTER
Vic only took up running when he was 47, after playing hockey for 30 years – but he was bitten hard by the running bug after seconding his eldest son, Brian, in a race. He ran his first race at the 1975 Marits Mini Marathon 16km in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg, but says, “That was more of a trail fun run, and my first real road race was the Spring Striders 32km in 1976, which I ran in 3:44:10, finishing 864th out of 870 finishers.”

Throughout his running career he kept a meticulous hand-written record of all his races, which Brian recently added up to find that his father has finished 1 018 races, including 243 marathons or ultra marathons, which in turn included 17 Comrades and 17 hundred-milers. His total race mileage comes to 29 097km. Even now, aged 81, Vic still has clear memories of his early races. “My first marathon was the Vaal Marathon in 1977. I remember I was told by some chaps to follow the legendary Mavis Hutchinson if I wanted to finish, so I stuck with her the whole way. I finished in 4:23:20, a few seconds ahead of her.”

His first Comrades followed in 1978, the same year he helped start his beloved Golden Reef Road Running Club. “People told me to walk when I got to a hill, then run the flats and downs, but I ran everything and finished in 9:52. The following year Johnny Halberstadt gave a talk at our club, and he said he rested on the uphills – and that was when he was still running to win it, so this time I listened and ran 9:17!”

Vic went on to finish 17 of the 22 Comrades Marathons he started. One near miss saw him finish just four minutes outside the final cut-off in the big race in 2000, and he still reckons he would have made it that year if not for the congested roads. “The first ten kays took me one hour and 32 minutes. It was impossible to get going.” He also ran to halfway in 1999 and 2003, his last Comrades at the age of 74, because he enjoyed the atmosphere of the race and wanted to be part of it even though he wasn’t fit enough to run the full distance.

Another of his favourite races was the Washie, which he finished seven times, and it was his first Washie in 1981 that provided one of his proudest running moments. Having finished that year’s Comrades with Brian, the two then tackled the Washie together. “As we came over the last hill and saw the finish at the bridge, we forgot our blisters and accelerated. Then, as we neared the finish, we heard them say over the loudspeaker, ‘Here come Vic and Brian Keeling, father and son, the first time in South Africa that a father and son are finishing a hundred-miler together.’ That was something else!”

EARLY YEARS
Born in Kenilworth, Johannesburg, Vic started his working life as an apprentice fitter and turner at Consolidated Main Reef Mine on the West Rand. Along with some friends, he sent an application to the Overseas Tank Ship Corporation, and when he received a job offer, he flew to Mombasa, Kenya to join his first ship, despite all his friends pulling out. “It was my first time in the air and my first time out of the country, so I sat there asking myself what I was doing! But I had discussed it with Joyce, who was then still my girlfriend, and we decided that it would be good for me, that it would help me grow up.”

So from 1949 to 1951, Vic sailed the world, fetching crude oil in the Persian Gulf and delivering refined kerosene and gasoline to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and more. He started as a machinist, and then worked his way up through fourth engineer to third engineer before returning home, where he married Joyce and joined Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mine in Western Transvaal as a draughtsman. After two years he transferred to Rand Mines Limited, where he rose to chief engineering design draughtsman, giving the company 45 years of service until his retirement.

“I had a pressurised job, so I loved my runs
home after work, which I did twice every week. But that was not always so safe. One time I ran home from work in the dark and the gravel road had been graded that day. I stepped in a big hole where a rock has been removed and smashed my 25-year service wristwatch as I fell. Luckily the company fixed it for me and now Brian has it – and it still works!”

RUNNING BOOM
Vic started running as the Running Boom swept the world in the late 70s, so he saw the rapid growth in the sport. “When I started, the only big race was the Springs Striders 32, which had about 1 200 runners while most others were about half that size. I saw how races grew quickly in those years, and suddenly it took longer to get going at the start.”

The increase in fields saw personal seconding replaced by manned water points, which Vic still has mixed feelings about. “We lost the closeness of the personal seconds. I met seconds of other runners, especially in the hundred-milers, and the next year when you went back you’d meet the same people again. Even today I still see some of them and we still have something to chat about. I loved meeting people during events and making lasting friendships.”

“But the development of watering points was also a good thing. The roads were becoming too congested with all the seconds, especially the youngsters on their motorbikes, who were rather a nuisance because they were getting in our way. As the years passed, the watering points got better, especially in Comrades, and it is quite nice to reach water tables now and enjoy the vibe.”

Vic has seen other things change over the years, notably shoes. “When I started, a lot of the long distance runners used Tiger Ultra-Ts, which had virtually no midsole. You simply can’t believe what they used to run in! Shoes are much better these days, but I think they’re too expensive. Also, these days, people throw their shoes away as soon as the heel looks a bit worn out. I used to cut a wedge out of the heel when it was worn down and use contact adhesive to glue on a new homemade plastic heel section.”

ULTIMATE CLUB MAN
Last year Vic left Golden Reef after 32 years when he and Joyce moved down to a retirement village in Fish Hoek, Cape Town. Brian says it took him years to convince his father to make the move. “I believe my dad comes from a different era. He lived in Johannesburg for 80 years, has been married for nearly 60 years, worked for the same company for 45 years and ran for Golden Reef from its inception in 1978 until March last year. You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to get him to move!”

“My dad was a ‘routine guy’. He did the same training runs and routes on the same days and at the same times. He ran home from work twice a week; on Wednesday nights he did the club time trial, then it was long weekend runs with clubmates – the same routine for 30 years. And he wouldn’t miss a time trial. He ran more than 1 100 of them before he stopped counting. It didn’t even matter if there was a marriage in the family, he still wouldn’t miss one. And if there was a function at Golden Reef, the rest of the world could be falling apart and he would still go to the club! He is still running and has now joined Fish Hoek Athletic Club, but I think he will always consider himself a Golden Reefer.”

VIC’S REMARKABLE RECORDS
Thanks to Vic’s meticulous hand-written race diary, we know that he ran the following races and mileage:
  17 x hundred-milers
  1 x 100km
  17 x Comrades
  41 x 51-60km
 46 x 50km
  2 x 43-49km
  119 x 42.2km
  101 x 32km
  35 x 22-31km
  326 x 21.1km
 45 x 16km
  143 x 15km
  125 x 10km
Total number of races: 1 018 races
Total race mileage: 29 097km

 

Being overweight was always a part of his young life; in fact, he can’t remember a time when he was not chubby. As a kid he loved food and would eat everything and anything! His chubbiness eventually led to him being extremely overweight and with the extra kilograms came disappointment and sometimes even embarrassment, because he was never able to join his friends playing sport or fulfil his one secret wish… to run!

In spite of his body size Ketan was an avid Comrades supporter as his dad, Natvarlal Mistry, is a Comrades runner. He followed the build-up to the Comrades Marathon and looked forward to race day even more than he looked forward to his birthday! He supported his dad on the route or if he could not make it to race day he was glued to the TV screen. And when it was all over, Ketan would picture himself one day also running the Ultimate Human Race…

THE DAY HIS LIFE CHANGED
Ketan was not active in primary school in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, but it never really bothered him. When he enrolled at Parktown Boys’ High School things changed. “Suddenly I was in a hard core boys’ school where sport was a priority and a means to bond with your mates. By the time I started high school I weighed about 100kg and it didn’t bother me, but in high school it became an issue. When I went shopping I had to look at clothes in the ‘up size’ section. I could not buy Levi’s jeans because they did not have a size big enough for me,” remembers Ketan, who by the age of 16 weighed in at 110kg and had a 42-inch waist.

In Grade 10 Ketan’s cousin, Kaylash Bhana, approached him. “Bru, this is just not on. You need to lose weight.” Ketan respected his cousin’s opinion and that day he realised for the first time that he had to lose weight before it was too late. Kaylash gave him a book called Body for Life, written by Bill Phillips. “That book changed my life. It was the first book I ever read from start to finish. It took me a week to finish the book. I knew nothing about nutrition and excercise, but the book explained everything clearly.”

STEP BY STEP
It’s not easy to lose weight at any stage of life, and even more so when you are a teenager, but Ketan was determined to do it all on his own. The first thing he did was to cut junk food, sweets and crisps from his diet.

“The meals at home were always quite healthy, but the problem was my portion size. I used to eat about six or seven rotis at once. Then I started halving my portions. I have never told anyone this before, but sometimes I was still very hungry when I got up from the dinner table! I then forced myself to fill up with water. I also told myself that I did not need the extra energy as I was off to bed anyway. I knew if I allowed myself an extra serving of food it would lead to two or three extra servings the next day.”

Initially Ketan did not tell anybody about his weight loss plan. But when his parents became aware of their son’s determination to lose weight, they supported him wholeheartedly. “My mom loves baking! She used to make samoosas at least every second week, but in the nine months it took me to lose weight, she only baked about three times! I told her if you are going to bake, I am not going to have anything. I even refrained from chocolate, something I love. Once someone held a chocolate right in front of my mouth. I refused to have it. In nine months I did not touch one single block of chocolate.”

One day a week Ketan allowed himself to eat whatever he wanted, but even on this off day he would not indulge excessively. “On a Sunday night I would allow myself one samoosa or a handful of crisps. That was it.”

THE FIRST STEPS TO A LIFE OF FITNESS
Ketan convinced his dad to buy an Orbitrek exercise machine. “I woke up at 4:30 in the morning and trained on the Oribtrek. Initially I could not run, but started walking with my dad every other morning. The first couple of times I was huffing and puffing. We used to walk only 20 minutes. I stuck it out because I just wanted to be thin and feel normal.”

Walking with his dad had other advantages too; it became a bonding session between father and son. “We saw many runners while walking and my dad used to encourage me and say soon I would be running too. Though I could never run because of my weight, I always knew running was somehow a part of me.” Walking progressed to running and before Ketan knew it, he was running 3-5km every second day.

His weight slowly started coming down and Ketan felt great! For the first time he could fit into ‘normal’ clothes. He remembers buying his first pair of Levi’s jeans, a size 36. At school he started participating in sport and even played squash. After he lost 20kg he progressed to 7km runs on weekends. “From there my running just took off.”
 
A NEW ME!
Ketan eventually lost so much weight that his friends did not recognize him. As he was attending school in Parktown, his buddies from Lenasia did not get to see him very often. “I remember going to a function and chatting to a girl. My friend asked her if she knew who she was talking to. She had no clue and could not believe it was me.” There were many other funny moments, like the time Ketan’s pants fell off his hips while he was standing in the school bus. “Though I was wearing a belt, my pants were just so big they did not stay up. Everyone started laughing!”

Within nine months Ketan lost 40kg, weighing in at a healthy 70kg. He kept his weight stable and by the time he started studying accounting at the University of Johannesburg, he was still the same healthy weight.

THE ATHLETE
Ketan and his dad kept training together and Ketan built up to running half marathons. “The first time I felt part of the running community was at my first 10km race in Lenasia.” Ketan has since run several road races, including the Two Oceans Half Marathon last year. His longest race so far has been the Colgate 32km race in Boksburg. Part of his daily training includes an hour yoga combined with breathing exercises.

Today Ketan, now 23, is a dedicated runner with a big dream of running and finishing the Comrades Marathon hand in hand with his dad. By the end of the year he wants to tackle a full marathon. “Running has become part of my life,” he explains. “I can’t imagine my life any other way.”

Ketan’s advice to anyone wanting to lose weight is that the decision to shed those extra kilograms has to come from inside yourself. “You don’t lose weight for anyone else. You do it for yourself. It is all about you.”

He gets his inspiration from the back markers who run Comrades. “The front runners are great, but they run professionally. The runners who inspire me are those ones who have nine to five jobs; the labourers who run to work and back just to get their training done. I have the utmost respect for these people. One day I will be one of them. I will be at the Comrades Marathon. Maybe even next year…”