Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 108, July 2018 | Page 7

LETTERS
distance running – not that the top 10 times posted today in ultras differ
much from those achieved in the 1980’s and early 90’s, even with all the
finely tuned shoes and running gear.
Most runners in the old days worked and trained, except for a very few
lucky ones, and suffice to say, for a runner to earn enough money today
for a living, they need to concentrate on one or two big races during
the year. They then need to find a willing sponsor that recognises their
potential, which will enable them to have running shoes and gear, food
and training time for the rest of the year, building up to the chosen
races. ASA is supposed to be developing athletes from the bottom
up, but is severely lacking in their effort, with most of the star athletes
doing it on their own or through other institu tions. – William Douglas,
Johannesburg
I believe that increasing prize money at races will only benefit a small
handful of elite athletes, for a limited period of time, and all too often
will lead to over-racing and overuse injuries. The better route is to find
corporate sponsors for the national federation and top level athletes, so
that race organisers are not be expected to try pay the salaries of these
top athletes. – Ed.
RUNNING IS POPULAR AT SCHOOLS
A few months
ago I read a letter
in your magazine
in which the
writer noted
that athletics
and running in
particular were
not given enough
exposure at
schools. My
experience has,
in fact, been
different. Cross
country is the
most popular sport at our school, Muizenberg Junior, and I put this down
to the enthusiasm of the coaches and the encouragement they give to our
young athletes.
A well-organised league programme ensures that learners compete in
races weekly. At these cross country events, the hundreds of learners
who take part are motivated by the enthusiastic support of the hundreds
of parents and teachers who attend. In the process our learners learn to
be competitive and to set personal goals, and they reap the benefits of
living a healthy lifestyle. So, it’s up to parents and teachers to generate
enthusiasm around running and to set the example for children by
engaging in sport and other outdoor pursuits that encourage a healthy
lifestyle. – Vernon Erfort, Cape Town
challenges, but eventually started
again in April, finishing a 10km at
the Slave Route Challenge and then
joining a running club.
Each day is a challenge, but I look
at it head-on. Running has become
some sort of comfort in this trying
time. Its benefits are endless. I’m
also so proud to say that my other
two siblings have joined us in running
training sessions. We have been
encouraging each along the way, and
have grown so much closer. Our year
started off on a sad note, but look at
us now – and our parents are looking
down on us, ever so proud. – Inge
Bartman, Cape Town
Condolences on your loss, but
welcome back to the road, and
great to see you brought the rest of
the family along! – Ed.
COMRADES ENTRIES PROBLEM
The Comrades Marathon brags about being the people’s race, but it fails
some people from the poor community. With everything now made online,
people who don’t have access to the Internet must rely on people who
do have access to this technology, and I’m raising such a case. I was
entrusted to enter nine people for this year’s race, but I failed to update
two of these runners’ times by the 2nd of May, and when I picked up that
misjudgement on the 4th, I immediately contacted them and kept doing
so for weeks, with no help. I explained the plight of these athletes and my
responsibility, but nothing. These were novices and had invested into their
running, so I tried all the avenues, but to no avail.
You may ask why I’m sending this to you now. I feel I need to raise this
somehow, and this using the term people’s race should stop. It seems as
if profit is key to Comrades and not about the people, and I think we need
our sport to be put back to be not about profit first, but about servicing
people. – Thobile Ndzube, Cape Town
I think most readers will feel sorry for the two novices who were not able
to run, but I can understand the CMA saying no, because they probably
received many more late applications and requests, and they have to be
strict about cut-offs, or face not only a deluge of such applications, but
also complaints from those who did make the cut-off dates. It’s a hard
lesson to learn, but I’m sure you and those two novices will never let this
happen again. – Ed.
Great to hear that the kids are enjoying their running so much, and I
agree 100% about the health benefits! – Ed.
LOOK AT US NOW!
My brother and I have been running for a few years, but we put that
on hold last year to care for our ill mother. Sadly, she passed away in
February, and it was difficult getting back into running. We faced many
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