PJ ’ S PIECE
LETTERS
Have Your SAY
Got something on your mind that you want to share , a burning question you want answered , or a good story to tell ? Then send it to letters @ modernathlete . co . za and add a pic if you can . ( Note that these letters may have been shortened due to space limitations .)
WINNING LETTER
SHOE EXPERTS EVERYWHERE …
down for a few metres and then boldly pronounce that they have deduced that the newbie must buy shoe X . Just like that …
I ’ ve noticed that most times they do not check the wear pattern on the newbie ’ s shoes , nor do they ask basic questions about any knee , shin , ITB or plantar pain , and usually they forget to even ask the newbie what type of running he or she intends to do . No , they just watch the newbie run for five or six metres and suddenly they know the answer . And more often than not , they recommend a shoe ( or brand ) they themselves run in !
I ’ m not saying that these veterans are wrong , or that they don ’ t know what they ’ re talking about , but I do find it hard to accept that they can just make instantaneous assessments , when my experience with podiatrists , physios , kinesiologists and biomechanists , as well as respected shoe retailers , involved much more detailed testing and evaluation . So my advice to newbies is not to just accept the first bit of advice you get . A second opinion never hurts . – SJ , Johannesburg
One thing I have noticed at my club is that there are some runners who really think they know it all , especially when it comes to running shoes . When a newbie runner arrives at the club and asks these ‘ veterans ’ for advice about buying shoes , they invariably tell the newbie to run up and
I can remember experiencing the exact same thing 20 years ago when I started running and joined my club . Since then I have written a fair number of shoe reviews , and yet I still do not feel qualified to look at a runner and recommend a specific shoe just like that . – Ed .
LOVING PJ ’ S PIECE
I am really inspired by the column in Modern Athlete written by PJ Moses . What I like about his writing is that he is down to earth and writes from personal experience . In the February 2018 edition , he talks about the challenges we all face when we have to go for a run , like allowing our social
PJ ’ S PIECE
By PJ Moses
PROMISES VS GOALS
ow many of us start each year by making all kinds of promises to ourselves , many of which never become a reality ? I used to do the same thing , until I
Hrealised that I was setting myself up for failure ! I was not setting goals and I was not planning properly . All I was doing was making vague promises that , if I was totally honest with myself , I was not intending to keep .
Let us say you promise yourself that you are going to lose weight … How much weight do you want to lose ? How will you go about it ? What targets have you set to check the progress you have made ? When you are contemplating life-changing decisions , I would advise against being spontaneous . Sit down and set yourself realistic , reachable goals . Make them daily targets to create good habits , and visualise success , then chase it down every day .
Every decision should be thought out , and every step backwards should be remedied immediately with a step forwards . Every wrong turn should be coursecorrected immediately to keep you on the path to your destination . If you know you need a run today , then do not make excuses about being busy , or moan that life is not playing along with your training schedule . Get out there , even if it ’ s just for a gentle 3km .
Sometimes you need a break , but we know when a break is really needed , and when we are just being lazy . Be honest with yourself , and work on a better you with every moment you are given . Think about it constantly . In the car , in the lift , in the bus or train , think about it while you ’ re making food for your family . Do crunches before you go to bed . Do sit-ups when you get up in the morning . Do push-ups before you jump in the shower .
You ’ ve got the same amount of time that Bill Gates , Richard Branson and Elon Musk have . Your potential is always in reach , but you must put in the effort to reach for it before it slips away . There is only one you , so be resolute about achieving your goals and go fulfill your promise !
life , work or family issues to sabotage our goals . That ’ s why I always encourage newer runners to go for a run , even if you have to borrow your neighbour ’ s furry friend for a 3km dog-jog , because both of you will get rid of any stress and the health benefits are superb . Lovely articles by all the other writers as well . Thanks , Sean , for your great team . – Franklin Smith , Cape Town
Thanks , Franklin , nice to be appreciated . I love PJ ’ s writing just as much ... that ’ s why I offered him a column in the first place . – Ed .
Images : Courtesy Trad Cruikshank
Images : Fotolia & courtesy PJ Moses
ABOUT THE AUTHOR : PJ is a former Cape Flats gangster who took up running , and writing about it , when he turned his back on that dangerous lifestyle in order to set a better example for his two young sons .
LITTER OF A DIFFERENT KIND
My partner and I are relatively new to running and have grown to love it . We started out with parkrun initially and have since progressed to road running , and joining a club as well . On reflection , however , our greatest reservation and misgivings of the sport concern litter , but of a different nature ... Spitting , gobbing and gwelling !
We have yet to compete in a road race where we ’ ve not had to duck , side-step , jump , brake or back-track to avoid an airborne ‘ green one .’ Ironically , we have not experienced this at club runs and time trials , nor at parkrun . One can ’ t expect race marshals to control this , but should it not receive as much media focus for being uncool as other types of littering ? – Clive Duncan , via e-mail
I have to agree with you Clive . I find spitting unsavoury , not to mention unhygienic , and hope your letter gets that message through to more runners . – Ed .
SALUTE THE BUS DRIVERS
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the bus drivers or official pacesetters . It really takes effort and responsibility . This year I tried my luck to be one of the bus drivers at Comrades – I did not write the time on my flag , but my target was sub-11h00 . In my mind was that I have Green Number 34522 , with 12 Comrades finishes , so now I can be a bus driver , but on race day , everyone was asking , “ What bus is this ?” I then started to realise how people really rely on buses , especially novices , and dropping people would be a disaster .
Images : iStock , Sean Falconer , & courtesy Jabulani Sigege , Maria Bendana
6 ISSUE 104 MARCH 2018 / www . modernathlete . co . za