Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 123, October 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.) AND THEN I MET MONIQUE… I have been a long distance runner and a pacer for a while, with 11 Comrades and 10 Two Oceans to my name. Another opportunity for me to pace at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon presented itself this year, and I was meant to pace a 5h30 bus, but with the Berlin Marathon just two weeks later, I decided to pace a 6h00 bus. And then I encountered Monique Schutte. Whenever I come to Cape Town, I am always guarded because of the infamous stories about racial divisions in Cape Town. And of course, my initial reaction to the fact that I would be pacing with Monique was no different. But she contacted me whilst I was still in Joburg, and she was extremely helpful, including offering to print the pacing chart for me. My guarded self told her not to worry, I’ll be fine. We eventually met at the Expo, as we needed to discuss our pacing strategy. I cannot fully describe my thoughts when I met her; all of my guards came down. The raw and pure happiness she displayed when she saw me, the energy that she has... I couldn’t do anything else but to reciprocate. Whenever I drive a bus, I always tell my passengers that energy is contagious, so when you are in a bus, just make sure that you are giving off positive energy and supporting other runners in the bus. Monique is just that; her positive energy forces you to be positive! Jappie Monele We found out that our pacing times were separated by two minutes, so we then decided that our pacing strategy would be to converge at some point during the race if an opportunity presents itself. Unfortunately, during the race, I asked my passengers whether they had the energy to push and catch up with Monique, but we just couldn’t, so I decided to let her go. But I caught up with her again at the finish line, and we took pictures. She introduced me to her family and her boyfriend, and I cannot shake off the warmth that her family and boyfriend had. So I walked away thinking that Monique is surrounded by good people. It was not surprising, though, after the effect that she had on me. So why am I sharing this? There’s something about long distance running that forces people to vibrate at a different level. Is it because we know that for us to get to the finish line, we are going to need each other? Is it because long distance running reminds us of our vulnerabilities? Is it because it reminds our souls that, after all, we are one? I don’t have an answer for this. All I know is that Monique has given me another reason to continue to put one foot in front of the other. She reminded me that running presents an opportunity to connect with another human being at a soul level, and that this world is a good place to live in. So next time there’s an opportunity to pace with Monique, I will definitely grab it. – Thabile Mathe, Johannesburg I have not run in a bus led by Monique, but I have seen her pacing many times, and I too have met her family and boyfriend many times, even run with them, so I know exactly what you are talking about, Thabile. Incredible people, with a wonderful attitude and spirit. – Ed. A COMRADE IS A FRIEND 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. 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 around 20 half marathons, 11 full marathons and three ultras prior to taking on the Ultimate Human Race, which was completed in 11:32:06. This feat was due to the support I was getting 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. So today I dedicate this to all the runners out there, those who have offered a helping hand to us novices, those who kept offering us advice on how to improve on our training, those who ran Comrades and kept pushing us on the road... Runners, I thank you, I am a better human being today because of you. – Jappie Monele, Makong Village, Qwa Qwa 6 ISSUE 124 OCTOBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za EDITOR’S PICK