Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 103, February 2018 | Page 7

LETTERS HOW FAR IS 10KM? But this time, I’m tired of struggling with running because I have to. I want to run for me, for the love of the run. I was not an athlete, but one of my friends who was registered me for the FNB Durban 10km CitySurfRun race. It was my first race, so I was clueless how it feels to run a 10km race. I asked my friend to show me the 10km distance, but he just showed me a place that was not far from where we were standing. I was convinced that I will just sprint for five minutes and easily finish the 10km without any difficulty! On the day, I stood in the first row, stretching my legs as other athletes were busy doing preparation for the gun, and once we started, I was OK up until the fourth kilometre. Then my body was telling me to stop immediately, otherwise something wrong is about to happen. I couldn’t breath properly, and couldn’t feel my lower body. An ambulance passed me slowly, so I took a deep breath and ran to catch it, but just when I was about to notify the EMS personnel, I heard the voices of the commentators not far from me. It was the finish line, so I said let me try one more time, because I am about to hit the finish line. However, to my surprise it was not the finish line, but 5km before the finish line. I was only halfway! The tears starting pouring down, and I was very angry with my friend, because I was convinced that he had intentionally misled me about the distance. Fortunately, my tears were wiped dry when I received a medal of victory at the real finish. It was like I had won the race! That medal is more important to me than any other medals that I received after that first race. – Zwe Mbuyazi, Yellowwood Park You see, 10km wasn’t so far after all! Just hope you forgave your friend afterwards, because he got you running. – Ed. CONFESSIONS OF A STRUGGLING RUNNER I want to run. To do what I always do, and have always done, for the last five years of my life. Escape, flee into the shadows, run happy, run free. Confession: I don’t think the marathon distance is for me anymore, or at least at this time. And I’m not even upset about it. I loved EVERYTHING about my training. I found my true strength during that training cycle, and it felt awesome. But this time is so different, and “I’m just not into it.” Now let’s not confuse that with I don’t love running anymore, because I do. I love the speed workouts, and random runs. I just don’t love the long runs. Why? My mind wants to go, but my body not so much… Among the crazy list of reasons why I’m not meant to be a marathon runner at this time is my heart. Running after an injury is ridiculously hard, and when it comes to long runs, I struggle. It isn’t getting easier. And for some reason, it seems in every long run of this training cycle something goes wrong, or something happens that causes me to get in my head, and then I can’t get out. The other day, about 3km into my run, I got fed up with my GPS watch. It was telling me my pace was 12 minutes per kay, and it didn’t matter whether I sprinted or stopped, it stayed on 12. It was messing with me mentally. I don’t even know if I was actually 3km into my run. I just wanted to quit… and I was annoyed with myself. Thankfully, my running buddy and best friend was able to walk me through this problem, but typically, the stubbornness in me didn’t want to stop my watch and start it again, because then I would lose those 3km I had done! I’m not giving up on marathons, or maybe even ultras. I’m just going to take it day by day, and get back to running because I want to, not because I have to. It’s time to change gears and redirect my focus! – Lizette Du Plessis, Rustenburg Lizette wrote this letter a wee while back. I’m willing to bet she’s already well on her way back to marathon training, if not already preparing for an ultra, because once the running bug has bitten… You just need to get over speed bumps like this now and again. – Ed. Write and WIN Each month the writer of our winning letter wins a pair of new running shoes, with various brands supporting this initiative and subject to availability. The Editor will select his favourite letter each month, contact the winner to get sizing and delivery details, and then the shoes or a voucher will be dispatched to the winner. So, get writing that letter today – add a high resolution photo or two if you can – and mail it to [email protected]. 7