Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 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.) SHARING THE RUNNING JOY Fifteen years ago my uncle blessed me with the best wedding gift ever, a Baby Jogger from America. What a gift, and I have run with all three of my daughters from birth to age five/six. It is my very last baby thing I have left, but it was time… ALL RUNNERS SHOULD KNOW FIRST AID I’ve done a first aid course about five times now, but I’ve never needed to use it, until recently. After I had finished running the Winelands Marathon and was walking to my car, I saw a lady wobble like crazy and collapse to the ground. People around her tried to help, but they didn’t know what to do. The advice was to “put her on her back,” and “give her water,” neither of which were appropriate. I was amazed how my first aid training automatically kicked in: Hazards – We were far from the road. Hello – Mildly responsive. Help – “Hey you, please run to that marshal and ask him for medical assistance.” Airways – Clear (unlikely to be choking). Breathing – Fine. CPR – Not necessary. Put her into recovery – She’s breathing fine, best to leave her like that. Ask friends about any conditions – None known. Check for Medic Alert – None. I’ll stop there – I think you get the point. The point is she (probably) was overheated and was fine after a few minutes, but without a first aider there... giving her water and letting her lie on her back could have been disastrous. A first aid course is a couple of hundred Rand and one morning every two years. I highly recommend that as runners we all get certified. – Craig Strachan, Cape Town You make an excellent point, Craig! I last did a first aid course around 2005, and realise now I am totally clueless due to the lack of a regular refresher course, so I am going to do something about that soon. Hope many other runners will do likewise. – Ed. A wonderful local athlete, Simphiwe Zulu, recently became a father, and I’ve been watching him race with his wife and daughter supporting, so after the Durban Old Boys 10km race I went home to fetch the Jogger to give it to Simphiwe. I hope this gift will bless him and his family as it did me and mine. This was a moment that warmed my heart and touched my soul. The excitement and joy on their faces was priceless. So happy running with little Precious, my friend! – Jenna Challenor, Durban I love it when runners pay it forward, so hats off to you, Jenna. Really is awesome to see an SA international runner and Comrades gold medallist giving back to the running community in this way. Truly inspirational! – Ed. BEST VOET FORWARD Running through pristine countryside it was good to see that most Voet van Afrika Marathon runners down in the Cape did #RunClean. Sadly, the route no longer goes through local farms, because despite polite requests, threats and pleas, runners kept throwing sachets around and the cows would eat them. – The Running Mann, Johannesburg So great to hear that runners heeded the call to keep things tidy on race day. If only they would do so in all other races as well... – Ed. WHEN RUNNING HAPPENED... You might know by now that I’m a sucker for a good self comparison! I ran my first marathon in 2015 and got hooked straight away! (Thanks @ pilotdunc for finding this old pic.) It has been an incredibly fun five years of experience and a lot has changed since then. As an athlete, I am aware that things can change in an instant, and that’s why I never take the long-term progress for granted. When I decided to quit my job as a quantity surveyor, I told myself not to look back and just follow my gut feeling. But since then, I’ve realised that looking back to see where it all started is probably my biggest motivation! Thank you, SA, and everyone else around the world, for being so supportive in my quest for “better-ness.” Running changed my life, and I will not stop here! – Gerda Steyn, Pretoria Your story has already inspired so many, Gerda, going from novice runner to Two Oceans and Comrades champ in just a few years, and I am just one of many that cannot wait to see what else you achieve in your running career going forward. – Ed. NEVER WRITE OFF THE BIG BOYS Well done to former Springbok prop Marius Hurter, it was an inspiration seeing you cruise through the finish line of the Maxi Race SA 100km like that. (Marius was the last finisher after 27 hours 57 minutes.) – David Papenfus (Event Photographer), Stellenbosch Now that sounds like a real running adventure, and I know how much Marius enjoys his endurance events! – Ed. 6 ISSUE 125 DECEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za courtesy EDITOR’S PICK