Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 118, May 2019 | Page 19

ROAD RUNNING
“My former cricket and football teammates don’t
understand, but deep down I know they’re impressed.
They don’t say it, but I know they’re in my corner for
the big events. Meanwhile, my non-sporting friends
are apparently in awe, because they always ask me
why I run so far, and what do I think about when I am
running? The answer is simply that I run because it is
fun, and I think about food!
Running to Give Back
Hansie Cronje and Steve Waugh when he was
younger. “They were leaders who backed their team
mates and had an incredible desire to win. Diego
Maradonna is also a hero, because he had no fear,
wasn’t afraid to speak out and be controversial,
flamboyant and an artist with the ball at his feet.”
In later years Angelo was introduced to running by a
friend at Avendale Cricket Club. “My friend dabbled
in a bit of road running and he seemed to be quite fit.
I thought it can’t be that tough, but I was so wrong!”
Since then he’s changed his lifestyle, and he now
prefers to consider running as his lifestyle. “I had to
learn quite a bit of juggling in my busy life, making time
for running and my family. My runs must not interfere
with the time I spend with my wife, so I run when she
sleeps. That way she gets to lay across the bed when
I’m out running around in the dark,” he quips.
Although he loves to joke, Angelo gets serious when
he talks about the other reasons that he runs. “Jokes
aside, I run to stay healthy, but I also love giving back,
so I create awareness for different organisations
wherever I can.” That sees him promoting or running
for various charities or initiatives, and he says he has
reasons for supporting each one. “There is CHOC,
because far too many families can’t afford the very
expensive treatment for cancer when their children fall
ill, and Starfish, because neglected kids didn’t ask to
come into this world. I also support Running4Pads,
because girls need to stay in school, too.”
up as kilometres clocked on my shoes. That’s why
one of my favourite sayings is ‘Dei Gratia,’ or By the
Grace of God. But training runs for the long ultras are
hard! One morning it proved even more of a challenge,
because I woke up late for a 40km long run, so I
quickly ate an apple for breakfast, put on my heart
rate monitor strap, got dressed, got into my friend’s
car, got to the start of the run, and then realised my
watch was still at home. You live and you learn.”
When asked if he has any advice for newbie runners,
Angelo says newcomers should keep it simple.
“Google and Facebook is not the answer. Try to avoid
getting caught up in all the hype, because running is
supposed to be an anti-stress activity, so just enjoy
it. Also, don’t wear earphones because you miss
the fun, and besides, it is dangerous. Eat before you
run, use the toilet before a race, do not litter, and
most important of all, apply Vaseline to the chaffing
hotspots. You’ll thank me later!”
Angelo and wife Tamsyn with friends Jill
Lategan and Shirnel van Breda
Angelo also runs for The Bumble Bee Fund, a non-
profit organisation aiming to improve the quality of life
for disabled children, by providing them with aids to
enhance their personal mobility and independence.
The Bumble Bee Bus is a bunch of friends running
and raising funds for those who can’t run.
But the jokes soon return as he turns the conversation
to some of the challenges he has faced in running,
and he says, “I don’t have a race bucket list...
whatever seems a bad idea at first usually just ends
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