Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 4

EDITOR’S LETTER PUBLISHERS Richard Laskey Roxanne Martin Sean Falconer ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / [email protected] DIGITAL SALES & CAMPAIGNS Roxanne Martin 072 368 7390 / [email protected] s I was compiling my story list for this edition, I came across a number of great stories that I wanted to tell in the mag, so I set up the interviews, did the initial research, then chatted to the various athletes. At first I was looking at them in isolation, within the scope of road running, trail running, multisport or track and field, and I didn’t realise that there was a pattern forming across the edition, but then it dawned on me that I had several stories with a common theme. I realised that I had a number of stories here about survivors who had come back from a traumatic or life-changing experience, and bounced back stronger than ever, not only in terms of their lives, health and happiness, but also in terms of their running or their sport. Talk about inspirational stories! Thus I chatted to Joburg-based businesswoman Lee den Hond, who survived being stabbed by a mugger in New York City, returned home to rebuild her life after a failed attempt to make a living in the Big Apple, and turned herself into an award-winning businesswomen who climbed Mount Everest and ran the gruelling Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert. Then I caught up with Cape Town-based pro triathlete Matt Trautman, who I had last interviewed in 2015. In late 2016 he was hit by a car while out on a training ride, and underwent multiple operations to have his back repaired, but after a hard recovery period, he was back in training, and went on to get back to winning races within a year of the accident. A third great chat I was privileged to have was with Durban walker Hester Bekker, who survived heart failure and various other medical ailments and complications at age 60. She was told by her doctors to get more active in order to strengthen and keep her heart going, so she took up running, even going on to run-walk the Comrades Marathon, and today at 83 she is still a regular at the races in the Durban area. Last but not least, I was sent a ‘My Story’ piece by Cape Town’s Herman Cronje, who I have gotten to know a bit better over the last few years, but to be honest, it was just a typical bare basics relationship... Hey, hope it goes well, have a good run, etc. Then he sent me a piece he had written, about drug abuse, gangsterism and being shot in a gunfight, only surviving because the bullet lodged in the small Bible in his pocket! Now he is pursuing his newfound dream of becoming a pro runner. Besides being survivors, another common theme in these stories is the attitude and outlook of these athletes. All of them made the decision to focus on the positives instead of the negatives, to accept that sometimes bad things happen and the challenge is bouncing back, and to live life to the fullest, embracing their opportunities, their talent, and their lust for life. Like me, I think you will find these stories inspirational. Sean Falconer Follow me on Twitter: @sean_falconer | Follow the mag as well: @modern_athlete EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Regulars: Anel Oosthuizen, Christine Peters, Derick Marcisz, Ernest Hobbes, Manfred Seidler, Norrie Williamson, PJ Moses, Ray Orchison, René Kalmer, Roxanne Martin, Sean Falconer, Stuart Mann, Tom Cottrell Guest Writers: Francis Buti Letwaba, Herman Cronje, Jacky McClean, Jürgen Smith, Paul Murphy, Roberto van Gaalen, Spencer Moraope, Thulani Mlangeni, Victor Peters COVER IMAGE Jetline Action Photo IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers: Bev Corser/Memories 4 U Photography, Chris Hitchcock, Fotolia, Gines Diaz/ Red Bull Content Pool, Greg Beadle, iStock, Jacques Marais, Jetline Action Photo, Kelvin Trautman/Red Bull Content Pool, Oakpics, Rogan Ward, Roger Sedres/ImageSA, Sam Clark, Tobias Ginsberg, Wikipedia/defenseimage.mil, Wikipedia/Flickr, Wikipedia/Iconographic Collections, Wikipedia/IOC, Wikipedia/Mohanan Photo Non-professional photographers: Brenda Human, Bridget Linderoth, Colleen McNally, Emily Lilford, Francis Buti Letwaba, Gesant Abed, Keith Linderoth, Moegsien Ebrahim, Mogamat Shamieg Allie, Nonku Ndlovu, Norman Johnson, Paul Murphy, Sean Falconer, Simangaliso Ngalwana, Sinead Hattingh, Stuart Mann, Tania Zwiegelaar Courtesy: Amanda Du Rand, Amoija Events, Anel Oosthuizen, Anele Songelwa, ARD Athletics, Athletics Federation of India, Cathedral Peak Challenge, Christo Joubert, Discovery, Franscis Buti Letwaba, Frans Marais, Grant Schuleman, Herman Cronje, Hillcrest Harriers, Ironman SA, Leatitia Du Toit, Lee den Hond, Lindi van Tonder, Murray & Roberts, Natalie Carelse, Neil Massey, Nkhetheni Masupa, Nobothwe Thidzi, Nuno Thomaz, PJ Moses, René Kalmer, Russell Sclanders, Salomon SA, Sipho Skosana, Spencer Moraope, Swayam Maharaj, Thurstan Cole, and various Race Organisers FIND US GENERAL E-MAIL [email protected] EDITORIAL E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.modernathlete.co.za FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/modernathletemag TWITTER @modern_athlete INSTAGRAM @modernathletemag Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 79,344 (Apr - Jun 2018) Congratulations to the winner of our January edition competition. 4 ISSUE 115 FEBRUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za ATHLETES IN ACTION Win New Balance Fresh Foam running shoes for the winning photo Suzanne Twentyman-Jones, Cape Town SURVIVORS’ STORIES A EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR Sean Falconer [email protected] DESIGNER Caroline Collings [email protected] DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Roxanne Martin [email protected]