Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 117, April 2019 | Page 20

ADVERTORIAL
SHE’S
SLOW,
BUT SHE
GOES
While it still amazes her friends
and family, petite 25-year-old
Gauteng-based civil engineer
Jessica Hempel will run her
third consecutive Two Oceans
Ultra Marathon this month.
Formerly a determined ‘non-
runner,’ she is now an ardent
campaigner to get more women
joining her at marathons.
J
essica’s running journey started out as a “crazy, out-of-the-blue idea,” as she
describes it. In late 2015 she stunned her family by announcing she wanted
to run the following year’s Two Oceans Half Marathon. Her family’s disbelief
was understandable... While her parents are seasoned runners, each having their
Comrades Green Number and 25 medals between them, Jessica defined the term
‘not sporty,’ and had never shown an iota of interest in running. Three-and-a-half
years later, she’s racked up thousands of kilometres and completed numerous half,
full and ultra-marathons.
Running in the Family
“Starting running wasn’t too hard, as my parents helped me so much with advice
and guidance. Learning how I should run was way more challenging,” says Jessica.
“Initially, my biggest adversary was my height, or the lack of it! Being only five feet
tall, I had to accept, no matter how hard I tried, I was never going to be a speed
queen. It was so frustrating. Then I heard this saying: ‘I’m slow, but I go,’ and
figured that if I can’t be fast, then I can endure. And that’s when I actually learnt to
run. Seeing as my little legs can only go so fast, I focussed more on building my
stamina and seeing what my body and mind could do.”
Bitten by the Running Bug
“The Two Oceans Half Marathon was meant to be my first and only half marathon
ever. But I was so hooked, so fast, I ended up running three half marathons in the
two months before the race and getting my then PB at Two Oceans! After that, I felt I
could do better. The camaraderie of the ultra-runners and spectator support was so
inspiring, and I wanted to be part of that world, so that was the following year’s goal,
and now I’m doing my third ultra-marathon! Who’d have thought?” she laughs.
Running Lessons
“Running’s taught me loads. Firstly, how strong my body and mind are. I believe long
distance running is more a mental sport than a physical one. With enough fitness,
your body will be able to run comfortably for a while, but it’s your mind that keeps
you going and gets you over the finish line. It’s taught me to enjoy the process. Once
I stopped focusing on going after fast times, and more on understanding why I run,
it got easier and so much more enjoyable. I learnt to look for the good in every run,
even if some days it feels as if I have two flat tyres for legs.”
Runners Make Running Better
“Runners truly are amongst the most amazing people you’ll ever meet. Just having
a chat about random things with a club member or even a stranger makes any run
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ISSUE 117 APRIL 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
a great run. I’ve made the best friendships with runners, too. You tend to form the
strongest of bonds with people who are out training with you before sunrise!” says
Jessica.
A Good Supplement Helps
“We have some quality sports supplements in SA. One I’ve recently found to be
a game-changer is THRESHhold Real MSM. Essentially, THRESHhold is a natural
anti-inflammatory and protects joints and connective tissue, and it’s really helped
me run faster and longer. I’ve had very little discomfort and stiffness in my legs
during and after runs. Less than two months after starting to use it, I took nine
minutes off my marathon time, giving me a D-seeding for Two Oceans. I was also
able to complete three marathons, a 32km and a half marathon, all within five
weeks. I think THRESHhold helped immensely with that.”
My Wish…
“Long distances and marathons are still largely dominated by men. I’d love to see
more young women running these, too. I’m hoping I can show women out there
that if my little legs and I can do it, then so can you! You don’t have to be a fast
runner. Slow and steady is the name of the game for marathons,” she concludes.