Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 121, August 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 A COMRADE IS A FRIEND I conquered Comrades not because I practised better than others, but through the help of other runners. I am confident and disciplined on the road because of the belief other runners had in me as a novice. In one year of running, I did over 20 half marathons,11 full marathons and 3 ultras prior to taking on the Ultimate Human Race, which I completed in 11:32:06. This feat was due to the support I got from other runners on the road, and through social media. I have since transposed the same attitude, discipline and consistency to other aspects of my life, and I am seeing a lot of improvement. Today I dedicate this day to all the runners out there, those who have offered a helping hand to us novices when we were battling on the road, those who wished to have ran Comrades but never did due to unforseen circumstances, those who ran Comrades and kept pushing us on the road, those who kept offering us advice on how to improve on our training... Runners, I thank you, I am a better human being today because of you all. Let’s meet on the road when the running season starts, but for now let’s build the strength and tone those bodies for the gruelling season ahead. – Jappie Monele, Makong Village, Qwa Qwa RYAN’S EATING CHALLENGE? OMG guys, I was scrolling through Ryan Sandes’ 13 Peaks website. On the day he ran all 13 Peaks, he ate 12 chicken Viennas, 8 boiled potatoes, 1 avocado, 1 Madeira loaf, 3 sandwiches, 2 wraps, 4 coffees, 3 Cokes, 6 chocolates, 10 Jungle Oats bars, 4 Rush bars, 12 date balls, 3 GUs, 6 slices of banana bread, 6 milkshakes, tailwind nutrition, hammer perpetuem, 500g nuts, 300g biltong, and close to 12 litres of water. And still he lost almost 6kg! What am I even doing with my life? – Vessela Hobson, via Facebook If you haven’t heard of it yet, the 13 Peaks Challenge is over 100km in distance and ascends the 13 major peaks of the Cape Peninsula. The idea was dreamt up by trail running pro Ryan Sandes, who then challenged all trail runners to give it a try, be it within 24 hours, 48 hours or multiple days. No medals or prizes, just a personal challenge with a hall of fame list on the challenge website (http://13peaks.co.za/ the-challenge), and as you can see it’s a toughie that requires a lot of nutritional support! – Ed 6 ISSUE 121 AUGUST 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za READERS REPOND... Nicola Huisamen Leach: Yes! If only people could treat each other every day as they do on the day of Comrades. To me, the Comrades Marathon is so much more than just the run, it gives me hope for the future of our country. Tommy Gibson: Don’t you just wish we could transpose the gees, UBUNTU, whatever it is, from running groups to the rest of South Africa? Dana Davies Daniels: As a fellow novice who finished this year, and also someone who has only been running for a year, you have just put into words exactly how I feel. In running there are no gender, race or language barriers, but plenty of love, determination and hope. It gives me so much hope for our beautiful country. Just love what you’ve written, Jappie. I have been running for over 20 years, and the friendship and camaraderie is one of the biggest reasons I am still part of this wonderful SA running community. The way we support, inspire and look after each other is simply terrific, and it’s also one of the fundamental pillars of this magazine. – Ed. FOAMING FEET! What do you do when you notice your left foot foaming during a rainy run? Aim for the next puddle and call it the rinse cycle! Seriously, one of the weirdest running experiences of my life this morning #toefoam #unrinsedsock #laundrypowder #rainrun – Kim Stephens, via Facebook READERS REPOND... Karoline Hanks: No FOMO Owen Mokwala, One thing I learned from the Comrades Marathon, and my one-year running journey, is that we are a team of fellows who want nothing but to finish the race as a team. No runner will leave you on the road struggling, even if they do not know you. Runners are the most sincere human beings I have come across in my life, and I will forever be grateful that I chose running as part of my lifestyle.