Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 120, July 2019 | Page 50

promise in a certain discipline, my interest would run its course and I would move
on to the next thing. Also, our family was not a very sporty one – I did have a
cousin that was a very good golfer, but that’s about it.” Nevertheless, he says that
in spite of being very sporty, his family have been very supportive of his sporting
journey. “I am very blessed to have them, because they are my biggest fans.”
The running bug bit during his first trail race, the Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail in
2014, and he says the racing really appealed to him, and gave him an outlet for his
competitiveness. Also, his love of the outdoors made trail running a natural choice,
too. A year later he found himself on the podium at the Ultra-Trail Cape Town 65km,
and says, “That’s when it clicked that I have something, and I started working even
harder at it.”
Since that early success at UTCT, he has notched up several more podiums,
with the most significant being his win in the Tsitsikamma Ultra a week after the
shooting, and then finishing second in the George Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) in
June. Roelof says the choice to focus on ultra-distance races was driven by his
competitive nature, and that the toughness of running for a long time, through
difficult terrain, appealed to his adventurous soul.
“It was always going to be the hardest, the furthest and the most uncomfortable
races and distances that made me happy. There was no other choice, to be honest.
I love how it strips you down to nothing. You have to go deep inside yourself and
pull out of the debilitating physical distress you’re in with only your mind. That
attracts me to the ultra life.”
Stepping It Up
Looking further ahead, Roelof says that he would love to see his running and
racing develop still further, and thus he wants to put in the hard work now, while
not taking his eyes off the proverbial ball. “I can see myself becoming one of the
most successful trail runners in South Africa, and hopefully one day be fortunate
enough to race abroad. We all have different running goals, but if you are looking to
compete and possibly climb the ranks, then do not take your foot off the hammer.
It is imperative not to get distracted by the noise around ‘making it’ in this sport.
You need to push on regardless, and every session is a conquest, a step closer to
something potentially life-changing.”
Now coached by Robert Henning from Pacer Coaching, things are really falling
into place as Roelof levels up, as seen in his recent results – and in spite of the
shooting. “Coaching is a total game-changer for me. I was self-trained for many
years, and I just put my shoes on and crushed it all day, every day. I had no
structure, no plan, and would end up injured and out for long periods of time. Now
I am guided by someone with a clear head and an outside view that can put things
into perspective for me.”
Trail running is not the cheapest of sporting activities, though, especially if you are
doing it at a high level. Expenses tend to add up, and without assistance, you can’t
always perform at your best, especially when worrying about how you are going
to pay the bills. “Sponsors definitely help, especially when they are able to assist
financially. Every little bit helps, so that we as athletes don’t have to worry about
gear, race entries or logistics. That is a tremendous weight off your shoulders,”
says Roelof.
Long-term Effects
When he is not running around the roads and mountains, or at home making
homemade gourmet pizzas, you will find Roelof working at Gone Outdoor in
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ISSUE 120 JULY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
With the memory of being shot still fresh in the memory, Roelof would be forgiven
if he chose to hide away from the world for a while, but that is simply not his
way. Instead, he got straight back up on the proverbial horse and is still there. “I
admire people who uplift themselves from adversity through sport. The best way of
dealing with the things that weigh you down, is to lace up your running shoes and
head out onto the trails.”
Neverthless, the shooting has definitely left its mark, both physically and mentally,
and Roelof says he still has no idea what the motive of the attack was. “Trauma
is an individual thing. Some people are traumatised by the most mundane things,
like walking into a Woolies and finding that their favourite brand of Hummus is sold
out... Seriously, though, for any traumatic experience, I would suggest seeking
counselling, and to not let it brew too long. Talking about it, and allowing time to
heal, will ultimately be the best remedy in dealing with it.”
“I still experience bouts of paranoia and mild anxiety, but the training helps me to
deal with it. I am also surrounded by incredible and uplifting individuals, who keep
me in a positive frame of mind and focused on my goals. There is a quote by Travis
Rice that I like: ‘We will never know our true potential unless we push ourselves to
find it. It is this journey to self-discovery that will inevitably take us to the wildest
places on earth’.” Well, I am hungrier than ever, and my life could not be better.”
Longmarket Street.
“I love my job, and
if I’m not there or
training, then I’m doing
the other thing that I
am good at, which is
eating. Working at Gone
Outdoor has helped me
with my running, because
I have a boss that also loves
the outdoors and understands my
needs and goals as an athlete, which
makes it easier to train any time of day. I
also have to travel for extended periods of time
for races, and he gets that.”