Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 120, July 2019 | Page 7

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 GENTLE PUSH IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION I remember that warm December morning in Cape Town about 10 years ago. We were strolling along Sea Point and what caught my eye was all the men and women who were jogging. They looked so beautiful in their different running outfits and very healthy. I said to my husband, Kgwathame, who was about 98kg at the time, “Honey, I think we should start walking when we get back home.” This was our early New Year’s resolution. True, indeed, when we got back home we started taking afternoon walks during the week, and early morning over the weekend. Little did I know what this meant to my husband. In January of that year we did a 10km walk at the Wonderpark race, and this was the beginning of the long journey to the Comrades Marathon. Coach Malatjie, as he is affectionately known in the running circles, has gone from 98kg to a healthy and good-looking 68kg. He ran his sixth Comrades this year and finished in 8:10:08, and he has done six Two Ocean Marathons as well. He has gone from walking with me in the mornings to finishing Comrades and is also coaching other team members. He wakes up at 4:00 every morning to help people lose weight and to achieve their personal running best. He is committed to the development and wellbeing of other runners. One can truly see his love for running in his eyes as he lines up at the beginning of each marathon! I am a super proud supporter and marathon spouse who always waits at the end of each marathon with a bag of goodies and a towel for Coach Malatjie. I salute all the Comrades runners and all the supporters alike. For now I am content as a number one supporter, but who knows, maybe one day I might also be bitten by the running bug. Till then, “aluta continua!” – Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie, Cape Town I, too salute you, Coach Malatjie. Inspiring stuff, and keep up the good work inspiring others.– Ed. THANK YOU! Thanks and thanks again Modern Athlete staff for this inspiring yet informative mag. I can’t wait for another bumper to bumper edition. – Ayanda The Runner Tshiluvane, via e-mail Amazing how a short, simple message can brighten an Editor’s day! – Ed WON ’ T BE WORN... When I started running Comrades in 2013 I made this promise to myself to never wear my T-shirt if I haven’t finished. I did 67.8km of this year’s Comrades Marathon… Therefore this T-shirt will remain in this pack till I run my next Up Run in 2022. I did line up, but didn’t finish... but this will motivate me to train well for this monster, and also to never take it for granted. I am a perfectionist… I believe that when I start something, I need to finish it. I am really in a perfect space, not hurting at all, I’m just being true to myself, and also respecting Comrades. See you next year. #MyMotivation – Xoliswa Lebethe, via Facebook Many runners I know subscribe to the unwritten rule of running that you don’t wear the T-shirt if you didn’t run the race. It may sound harsh when you’ve put so much into just getting to the start line of a race like the Comrades Marathon, and after running nearly 70km of the race, but good for you for adopting such a positive outlook about that shirt. – Ed. THE LITTERING CONTINUES Just want to add my voice re #RunClean: I ran three races before the Two Oceans Marathon (OMTOM). At every one, runners went out of their way to throw away their sachets, etc in the bins provided. OMTOM was the exact opposite. It seems runners from outside the Cape couldn’t care less. The entire route was littered with empty sachets, bin bags, supplement packets, etc. It was revolting. I would add that there seemed to be far fewer bins than, for example, at the Slave Route race – not that this is an excuse, but the entire OMTOM 7