Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 6

Have Your SAY LETTERS 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 [email protected], and add a pic if you can. Letters should preferably be no more than 300 words long, and pics must be high-resolution to be usable in print. (Note that letters may be shortened due to space limitations.) EDITOR’S PICK ENTRY OPTIONS TO LESSEN WASTE I’m sure you’ve had this question before, but why do races not offer the option of entering either without a medal or T-shirt? I am, as you are, passionate about decreasing waste, and I believe many people would forego this for that reason. On top of that, perhaps a decreased entry fee for each less item? If enough demand was there, how would we go about challenging race organisers to offer these options? – Roberto van Gaalen, via e-mail definitely cut down on race costs and race waste if we reduced medals, so if runners were given the option of not taking a medal when entering, it could go a long way to this double saving. – Ed. SURVIVAL RUNNING TRACK ETIQUETTE Before being promoted at work, I used to compete in sports quite competitively. As the monthly salary together with the added responsibilities increased, so did the stress and work hours as well. Quickly becoming overstressed and overworked, my under-rested health turned to depression. The depression was worsened by wanting to train for sport, which I had become accustomed to, and now couldn’t. I gained weight and the depression snowballed to trying to booze the situation better, regularly, which obviously wouldn’t work. Here are a few rules you should be aware of when training on a track. 1. On most tracks you will run in a counter-clockwise direction, unless otherwise posted. If you decide to run clockwise, run in the outermost lanes. 2. Observe the pace of other runners first, then place yourself accordingly. 3. Passing is usually done on your left. 4. Warm up only in the outer lanes. 5. Observe local fast lane arrangements. 6. Do not hold ‘conferences’ on the track. 7. Be considerate of the needs of other track athletes. 8. On completion of a run, move out of the inside lanes. 9. Stay alert, don’t use earphones. 10. The inside lanes are normally reserved for the faster runners. 11. If you hear “track” or “on your left” or “on the inside,” either move to the outer lanes, or step off into the infield (in the case of just walking or having just stopped from your run). 12. When you have finished training, step off the track. – Courtesy of Victor Peters, Gauteng Runners Facebook Page I started running again, even if it is at night after a thirteen-hour shift. Only, now I run for my sanity. I’ll probably not be competing any time soon, but for those thirty minutes to an hour sessions underneath the street lights, I feel happiness creeping back into my life again. I feel it can only get better by gaining a positive perspective on life again, thanks to running. – Jürgen Smith, via e-mail We all run for different reasons, but there are some that literally run for their health, sanity and peace of mind, due to stressful situations or lifestyles. I hope that the running continues to help you get through it all, Jürgen. – Ed. These ‘rules’ seem so obvious, but it is amazing how often athletes get it wrong on the track – and not just newcomers! I’ve seen seasoned track athletes getting in the way of other runners or causing painful collisions. As with basic rules of the road, if everybody follows them, the traffic flows smoothly. – Ed. 6 ISSUE 115 FEBRUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za Many race organisers believe that medals are essential, that they will get less entries if they do not offer medals. That may well be the case for beginner runners, who are incentivised to run by the prospect of earning a medal, and some long-time runners who still want a medal for each run, but many experienced racers do not take medals at races, or they take them home and simply toss them in a drawer, box or bag with their other medals, often without even removing the plastic wrapper. I agree that medals are not always an essential, and we could