Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 50

RACE WALKING
The Late Starter
vivor
Sur
Only a small handful of people start running at the age of 60, and even less do so after suffering heart failure, but Hester
Bekker defies the norms. She not only went on to complete the Comrades Marathon and many other ultras and marathons, but
at 83 she is still walking regularly on the roads around Durban, and fitting in a few of her favourite races. – BY SEAN FALCONER
I
This determination stems back to when she
was 60 years old and was diagnosed with
heart failure, angina, high blood pressure as
well as high cholesterol. The doctors told her to change
her diet and consider a more active lifestyle, or she
would probably not make it, so she took up running.
“To overcome something so huge, I knew that I had
to keep my heart and body healthy and strong, so I
started running, and I have never stopped. Running
allowed me to keep fit, despite my illness and health
issues, and I today I still train regularly to keep my heart
going, but instead of taking tablets daily for my heart,
I only have to take them two or three times a week. So
running changed my life in a great way.”
Another big step that Hester took was to join Stella
Athletics Club, because the clubhouse was near to
where she lived at the time, and soon she was not
only entering races, but quite often finishing on the
podium in her age category. “I had never done sport
and also walked three 50km races,
finishing first in the Grandmaster section
and winning three gold medals.”
as a child, so didn’t know what I was capable of, but
suddenly I was doing well in the races in the 60-plus
age group, and over the years I moved up to the 70s,
and that’s where I still race today, and still often finish
on the podium.”
Quite the Collection
After 23 years of racing, Hester has an impressive
number of medals, certificates and photos that adorn
the walls in her flat, including a Comrades Marathon
medal from the year 2000. “I did a combination of
running and walking to finish that Comrades at the
age of 65, achieving my biggest goal,” she says.
“Some of my other favourite races over the years
were the Indian Ocean Marathon, where I won my
age category quite a few times, and the Maritzburg
Marathon. I did a lot of marathons back in the day,
These days Hester limits her racing to a
few 10km walks each year, and says one of
her favourites is the Totalsports Women’s
Race in Durban. “I started entering the race
to see how well I could do, and now I keep
coming back to see if I can win in my age
category and better my time. I’ve taken
part eight years in a row, and I always
really enjoy the race. The route has always
been enjoyable and well supported, and
the vibe at the start of the race is always
exciting. There is always loads of laughter
and chatter amongst the ladies, and the
entertainment is great. I also love that
PinkDrive is the beneficiary, and that the PinkDrive
members come out on event day to create awareness
for the cause, while teaching women to do breast
examinations. It’s a fantastic event.”
Even though she has been advised to go no further
than 10km any more, Hester says there is one longer
event in Durban that she will still do, because it is
another of her favourites. “I just love doing the East
Coast Radio 20km Big Walk each year. I’ve done 10,
and have all the certificates on my wall, and I want to
continue doing the event. While my heart is still ticking
and I am still alive, I will still want to do the Big Walk.
Age is just a number, and I’ve been competing with a
heart condition, high blood press and high cholesterol
for over 20 years, so I’m just going to keep going. My
advice to all runners is to never give up, be sure to do
your best in every race.”
This article is
based on an original
media release by Stillwater
Sports about the Totalsports
Women’s Race. Entries for the
2019 races in Durban,
Johannesburg and Cape Town
will open on Monday 1 April. For
more information please visit:
www.stillwatersports.com.
50
ISSUE 115 FEBRUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
t’s fair to say that Hester Bekker really
enjoys her training sessions, heading
out from her flat for a brisk walk along
the Durban beachfront area. “I walk five
times a week down to the beach and near
uShaka Marine World, where there are a
couple of inclines I like doing, as well as a
few small hills near to South Beach. I make
sure to run up those,” says the mother of
three and grandmother of four. Fortunately
for her, Durban generally has great weather
for training, but even when it rains, nothing
stops her from exercising... that’s why she
keeps a set of dumbbells in her flat!