New York ,
New York
CONTENTS
In the Mag this Month
Welcome to our 175 th edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .
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WARMING UP
SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication www . modernathlete . co . za
New York ,
New York
Amputee Travis Warwick-Oliver ’ s Big Apple Run
Marathoning Breakthrough
Women rewriting SA Record Books
Clowning at The MadMac
Running Mann ’ s Trip to the Circus
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The Ed ’ s Desk : The Month That Was …
Here ’ s a little taste of what I got up to in the last month or so in the running world , from donning new club colours ( and a dress ) to doing some commentary and remembering lost friends . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Top of the World !
After a voting process that included input from global fans of the sport , the 2024 World Athletics Awards ceremony saw the winners of the coveted Athlete of the Year awards announced . – BY WORLD ATHLETICS
Stats & Facts : Fastest at 5km
While the 5km has traditionally been seen as a mere fun run in SA , its global recognition as an official racing distance has seen a new focus on 5km racing in SA , and changes to the all-time stats lists . – BY RIËL HAUMAN
The Ed ’ s Desk : Motivational Note
In its fourth major study into online abuse , World Athletics recently published more startling findings on the abuse that athletes suffered during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games . – BY WORLD ATHLETICS
On the cover
Louisa-Ann Ungerer enjoying the trails of the Dryland Traverse – more on page 38 . Photograph by Oakpics
ISSUE 175
December 2024
Lloyd Bosman
Great 2024 , High Hopes
For 2025
Dryland Traverse
Conquering Spectacular Karoo Trails !
Spartan
Babies
Charity Run Makes KZN Trail Debut
Image : Oakpics
In Live Well : Get Strong AND Flexible Hip Flexors
2 ISSUE 175 | www . modernathlete . co . za
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Pg 57
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ROAD RUNNING
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TRAIL RUNNING
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New York , New York !
A serious motorbiking accident in 2020 resulted in Travis Warwick- Oliver ’ s right foot being amputated , but today he is running ultradistance trails , and recently also completed the New York Marathon . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Asking the Question : Comrades Pure Gold
Saturday 30 November 2024 may go down in the history of the Comrades Marathon as the day the race , and the organisation behind it , made the transition into a new era . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON
Record-breakers !
For many years it appeared the SA Records for the marathon were simply out of reach , but the country ’ s top female marathoners are finally surpassing the best times of the 90s . – BY SEAN FALCONER with RIËL HAUMAN
Making Waves at Oceans
After a hugely successful 2024 , Lloyd Bosman is looking to step it up still more in 2025 , and he is being backed to do so by no less than an Olympic marathoner and former SA Record-holder ! – BY TATHE MSIMANGO
The Running Mann : A Cure for Coulrophobia
Given the ‘ clown show ’ that has been the norm in SA running circles much of this year , it seemed appropriate that the MadMac Marathon in the Vaal Triangle area had a clown theme this year . – BY STUART MANN
Mondo ’ s Motivation
Olympic pole-vaulting champion and World Record-holder Mondo Duplantis was recently announced as a global ambassador for the Wings for Life World Run . – BY RED BULL CONTENT POOL with SEAN FALCONER
38 Conquering the Karoo
Just two weeks after getting married , I swapped my wedding dress for trail shoes at the Dryland Traverse , alongside my Maid of Honour , and discovered that the right running partner makes all the difference ! – BY NICOLE FALCONER
Trail ( Mis ) Adventures : Missing the Trails
I ’ ve been suffering a bit of writer ’ s block , due to the fact that I ’ ve found it really difficult of late to get my a ** onto a trail , and the Editor said , well , there ’ s your column this month ! – BY CARLA FARINA