INSPIRATION
Makgoale Magwentshu( continued)
pandemic, the idea of ice bath scares the wits out of me, so I now take a cold shower on the morning of the race. I eat bananas in the morning, and Marie biscuits with peanut butter, and then I always drink one or two cups of boiling water, to clear up my gastrointestinal system and make sure that stomach problems do not disturb my race and queues at the loos do not steal my time. I am also a prayer warrior, so I continuously pray to God for direction.
6.
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career? Well, they all stand out, but in my first sub-six, things were just flowing, the water points were up to the mark, the crowds were encouraging, and the vibe throughout the race was just amazing, pushing me to put one foot in front of the other. And when I got it, it was like I won the Lotto! Also, one year while descending Chappies, I tripped and fell on my knees, and immediately thought my race was over, but within a second I was lifted like a piece of paper by two strong guys who looked like rugby players. They checked that I am not injured and can still finish the race, and then we all continued. I finished that race, and once again appreciated the camaraderie that prevails during Two Oceans.
7.
What are your thoughts on Blue Number Club?
It means the world to me to be part of the Blue Number Club, and I wear my number with pride. The special treatment we receive is the real bonus, because when I still had to stand in long queues to fetch my running number and bag, I was dying to be a member of the Blue Number Club. Now I can walk straight in, and I also appreciate that we can enter early. It shows that we are appreciated and valued, and it also motivates more runners to become Blue Number members.
8.
What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older? I never used to listen to my coach, I would just throw caution out of the window, but now I have a coach that I listen to, so if he says do this, or don’ t overdo that, I follow those instructions. You learn from the best! Also, the fact that I now stretch, mind my nutrition, do strength exercises, get enough rest and more, all keeps me up to scratch healthwise.
1.
Nancy ran her first Ultra in 1992 and earned her Blue Number 1995 in 2001, making it a Double Blue in 2022. Her clame to fame is that she set a new 60- 69 age-category IAU World Best of 4:12:54 for 50km in the 2015 Ultra, and in both 2023 and 2024, she set new 70-79 age group race records of 5:41:41 and 5:29:53.
How does it feel to be one of the oldest BNCs in the 2026 event? I think you can say I have a love-hate relationship with Two Oceans, because I either have a good one or it humbles me. The plan is to run the Ultra again this year, because I really love the distance, and I’ m hoping to get to 25, to get that free entry!
2.
What’ s your main goal for race day, and what are you looking forward to most in the 2026 race? To have a strong run. I tend to go out too fast, and then it’ s a case of‘ vasbyt’ from the marathon mark and just trying to get up Constantia Nek in good shape. Last year I managed to run the whole way up, but this year, I don’ t know, so the goal is just to be strong and comfortable, and not have to battle. You just have to hope your body can survive the distance and those climbs.
The support along the route is amazing, and last year I had a great support crew to keep me refuelled along the way. I think that made a big difference from the previous year, because the cups and I just don’ t agree. I’ m also looking forward to the finish. My son, Damian, always meets me along the way near to UCT, and last year, when I wasn’ t sure if I could break five hours, he was there to tell me of course you’ re going to do it, so go, mum, go, and I managed to do it.
3.
Nancy Will
Age: 73 23 Ultra Marathon medals – Blue Number 1995 6 Half Marathon medals 2026 TTOM: Ultra Marathon
Do you approach the TTOM any differently now than when you started running the event? I cannot train as hard as I used to, twice a day with only one day off each week. Now I only run once a day and have two days off running – Mondays is a walk day with a friend, and Friday is always a day off. I try building up towards a big race by doing a hill session and a speed session per week. And I’ m addicted to races at the weekends.
4.
Do you have any race-day rituals that you always stick to?
I always have peanut butter and honey toast, and a banana and coffee. And then, of course, the pre-race warm-up is important. Coach Dave Spence always used to say, you’ re running a marathon, so why are you warming up for four kilometres before the race, but at my age, I feel like Pinocchio when I start, and it takes at least two to four kilometres to warm up. Sometimes you can’ t warm up at Two Oceans, because there’ s too many people.
5.
What is your standout memory of your Two Oceans career?
My very first one in 1992 was the really wet one, and I was so enthralled by the support that we still had on the side of the road, and in the years that followed. That support dropped off a bit when the half marathon started in 1998, so I’ m actually excited that the Ultra and Half are now split over two days, as you get the support on the route again.
Of course, that 50km record in 2015 is a highlight as well. I’ d stopped running in 2010 and then come back in 2014, so I wasn’ t expecting anything. In 2015, we ran the alternate route over Ou Kaapseweg and Southern Cross Drive, and I actually walked up Southern Cross. It was still a wonderful run on the day, but I wasn’ t aware of any records until after I’ d finished, when Ifound out about the 50km record, and that I had just missed the grandmaster age category race record by a few seconds.
6.
What are your thoughts on the Blue Number Club?
The Blue Number Club means a lot to us, and I have great memories of when the Blue Number Club had the big area at the finish. It was amazing. We would all go in there, as long as we had a Blue Number, and there were snacks, you could talk to people, and you could take one or two friends or family in with you, so we were all together. When they started saying we couldn’ t go in unless we were running that day, and couldn’ t take a partner or family in with us, it took something away from the experience, so we’ re hoping it’ s going to go back to the way it was. Chris Goldschmidt is talking good things there, which I think is wonderful.
7.
What’ s your secret to staying strong and injury-free as you get older? I think it’ s just luck and the good genes I inherited. And thanks to God, I can still do it. I don’ t get injured too often, just little niggles, and I’ ve only had one stress fracture in my whole running career, so that’ s not too bad.
Look out for more mini-interviews with BNC members in coming editions of this mag!
25