Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 129, April 2020 | Page 13

The Crazy Kiwi’s Century
Runner: Paul Eichert,
Somerset West
Paul’s progress being carefully
tracked by his fur kids
W
hen the lockdown began, self-confessed
“crazy runner” Paul Eichert decided he
would continue running, no matter what,
even if it meant going round and round the garden.
Originally from New Zealand, he is passionate about
his running, having completed his first marathon in
Berlin, Germany in 1996, and he has finished the
Comrades 17 times, earning 10 silvers medals along
the way. These days he is also a regular podium
finisher in Cape trail events.
So it was inevitable that just running a few kays around
the garden was never likely to be enough for him, says
his wife, Mel. “As he’s got older, he’s got faster, more
determined and crazier. Obviously, he can’t run on the
road during lockdown, so he started doing 5km runs.
Then, one day, he told me, ‘I think I’ll just run a little bit
further…’ I knew he was up to something, because on
the Tuesday he ran a half marathon, on the Wednesday
he ran a full marathon, and then he said, ‘I think I’ll run
100km for CHOC, on Sunday.’”
CHOC is the South African Childhood Cancer
Foundation, and CHOC runners are often seen at races
around the country sporting the eye-catching CHOC
cow pattern outfit. Some CHOC runners even do races
in full-length cow ‘onsies,’ complete with udders!
Running the ‘U’
Paul began his run at 6am, repeating laps of a 140m
U-shaped route that went around three sides of the
property, because one boundary is not passable.
This included going around the pool and through the
carport, while also dodging the three dogs from time
to time. The enforced shape of the course meant that
Paul had to turn around twice on every lap, and this
took its toll on his body, says Mel.
Speaking after the run, Paul said it felt great to give
back to a good cause by running. “The children with
cancer deserve every cent - that’s what kept me
going through the tough times during the run – and
I’d like to encourage the public to keep donating to
this cause. I’d like to say one more thing: You can lock
the runners up, but you can’t stop us from doing what
we love. Hopefully, my run inspires people just to do
something, in their yard, whether it be 100m or 10km.
Just get out and do it ... there’s no excuse!”
Icing ankles that were “on fire”
“It’s wasn’t at all like road running, because he was
constantly having to take sharp turns – around trees,
plants, the car. He hit a bit of a rough patch at around
55km, and said his ankles were on fire, but he usually
runs stronger in the second half of his marathons, so
he was actually improving all the time.”
Throughout his run, Mel kept Paul supplied him
with his favourite running drink, a half-and-half mix
of Coca-Cola and water, as well as strawberry jam
sandwiches, banana bread and some salted potatoes.
The combination of determination, support and
refreshments worked their magic, and after 10 hours
and six minutes, Paul completed his 714 th lap to finish
off his epic 100km, with Mel and the dogs to greet
him and many friends and supporters watching on
WhatsApp and Facebook streams.
Staying Strong with a
Lockdown Marathon
Runners: Over 700 runners
all over the World
F
or many runners in SA, Easter weekend
means it is time to run the Two Oceans
Marathon, with many runners from around
SA travelling to Cape Town for the race. But with
the Cape ultra being cancelled this year due to
the lockdown, an alternative was needed. And
that is why over 700 runners and walkers took to
their gardens, driveways or whatever space was
available to them, on Easter Monday, 13 April,
to participate in a unique fundraising lockdown
running event.
Sponsored by FUTURELIFE, the Bambalela
(Stay Strong) Home Marathon challenged
13
Dean Wight (left)
and Paul Buxton