Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 122, September 2019 | Page 4

Peaking My Interest T he phone beeped a few weeks back and I saw it was a Facebook message from Ray Chaplin. Given that he is an adventurer and gear guy of note, and very switched onto environmental matters as well, I was immediately intrigued, wondering what he wanted to chat about. Turns out his friend, trail runner Leigh de Necker, had just conquered the 13 Peaks Challenge dreamt up by Ryan Sandes, and would I be interested in publishing her story in the mag? Sure, I said, send it over and I’ll give it a look. Well, I began reading it and soon realised this was a proverbial ‘page-turner’ – brilliantly written, exciting, inspirational, the kind of article that literally makes you want to put on your running shoes and head out for a run. No, better than that, this article made me want to run up a mountain, to experience the same sights, sounds and smells that Leigh so exquisitely described, and the same emotional high that only the mountains can give you. Then I thought about my last run up a peak, at the Dodo Trail in Mauritius (which I will be telling you more about in next month’s edition), where I seemed to take forever to get up the last big climb of the 25km race. Honestly, I didn’t think that damned climb would ever end, and the heat and humidity were sapping what little energy I had left, to the extent that I would climb about 100m, then rest for 15 minutes. But oh man, when I got to the top and saw that view, I instantly forgot about the lung-busting, leg-shattering, sweat-soaked climb. It was all about the emotion of taking in that view and revelling in the fact that I had finally conquered that peak. But more about that next month... back to Leigh’s terrific tale of chasing peaks. As I read her article, I found myself picturing the various peaks on the Cape Peninsula that she and running partner Sean Altern had summited. I have only run up or on a very small number of them myself, and I am not remotely fit enough right now to even consider tackling a 115km challenge like that, but I nevertheless found myself day-dreaming about the 13 Peaks Challenge, and someday conquering it myself. So this month, I am using my Ed’s Letter to pay tribute to Leigh, not only for conquering this massive physical challenge, but also for telling a wonderful story (which you’ll find on page 40), one that I am sure will inspire many a runner to head out onto the Cape Peninsula peaks in coming weeks. (And thanks, Ray, appreciate the article lead!) While you’re here, you should definitely also take a look at the features on Wandisile Nongodlwana (page 12) and Dave Chamberlain (page 20), two more incredibly inspirational runners with wonderful stories to tell of their long distance adventures. Wandi’s description of running along the white cliffs of Dover, and Dave describing the claustrophobia he felt in the crowds during the Two Oceans Marathon, are more stand-out moments in stand-out stories for you to enjoy in this edition of SA’s biggest running mag. Sean Falconer 4 Follow on Twitter: 2019 @sean_falconer | Follow the mag as well: @modern_athlete ISSUE 122 me SEPTEMBER / www.modernathlete.co.za PUBLISHERS Richard Laskey Roxanne Martin Sean Falconer ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / [email protected] DIGITAL SALES & CAMPAIGNS Roxanne Martin 072 368 7390 / [email protected] EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR Sean Falconer [email protected] DESIGNER Caroline Collings [email protected] DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Roxanne Martin [email protected] EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Regulars: Anel Oosthuizen, Christine Peters, Derick Marcisz, Ernest Hobbes, Manfred Seidler, Norrie Williamson, PJ Moses, Ray Orchison, René Kalmer, Roxanne Martin, Sean Falconer, Stuart Mann, Tom Cottrell Guest Writers: Ayanda Tshiluvane, Carla Farina, Esmé Maré, Izimangaliso Malatjie, Keith Buhr, Philippa Dods, Randall Crisp, Su-yen Thornhill, Xoliswa Lebethe COVER IMAGE Courtesy Asics FrontRunners IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers: ABPhotoZA, Alfred Thorpe/Vuurtorin Media, Anthony Grote, Bigstock, Chris Hitchcock, Clarisse Henriques/ITU Media, Ewald Sadie, Janos m. Schmidt/ITU Media, Jetline Action Photo, Kody McGregor, Kyle Cestari, Mark Sampson, Rogan Ward, Roger Sedres/ImageSA, Shawn Benjamin/Ark Images, Terence Vrugman, Tobias Ginsberg, Val Adamson Non-professional photographers: Bridget Linderoth, Blake Wilkins, Sean Falconer Courtesy: Anel Oosthuizen, Carla Farina, Cape Town Marathon, Comrades Marathon Association, Izimangaliso Malatjie, Linda Doke, Murray & Roberts Running Club, Pinelands Athletics Club, PJ Moses, Philippa Dods, Randall Crisp, René Kalmer, Roelof Mostert, SABC, Sean Falconer, Su-yen Thornhill, Stuart Mann, Victoria Falls Marathon, Xoliswa Lebethe, and various Race Organisers FIND US GENERAL E-MAIL [email protected] EDITORIAL E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.modernathlete.co.za FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/ modernathletemag TWITTER @modern_athlete INSTAGRAM @modernathletemag Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 79,344 (Apr - Jun 2018) EDITOR’S LETTER