Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 130, May 2020 | Page 6
Have Your SAY
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
MEMORIES OF FRITH AND BRUCE
I took a little walk
down memory
lane the other day.
I’m sure there are
many interested in
how Frith van der
Merwe blew many
of us men away? In
the 1991 Comrades
Marathon, I was
running my own
race, minding my
own business,
when Frith
suddenly appeared
alongside me.
Two things went
through my mind: (1) I can’t let Frith beat me, and (2) Frith had run 5:54 in 1990, so
I couldn’t ask for a better pace. I must say, it was nice running in Frith’s company,
as the crowds cheering her on helped lift me, too. We were cruising along at just
under 4 min/km, making steady progress through the field as we passed halfway,
Kearsney, Hillcrest, Fields Hill... in fact, it was going down Fields that I heard Bruce
Fordyce yell, “Come on, Alec, don’t let her beat you!” (Bruce was not having a
good day, and this was the first time since his first win that he was going to lose
Comrades.)
Fordyce, accompanied by Deon Holtzhausen and Stewart Peacock. Bruce
said I should join them, to which I responded that I’m done... and the next
minute, Bruce was sitting beside me. I asked why he had stopped, to which
he responded, “I’m waiting for the TV cameras, so I can tell them what a
woos you are!”
That got me going again, and probably the best 10km run of my life was
spent in the company of three Comrades greats as we laughed, winced and
cried all the way to Durban. Best of all, the crowd remained at the roadside
even though Nick Bester had already won in 5:40, followed by KZN hopefuls
Shaun Meiklejohn and Colin Thomas, and the cheering and interaction with
the crowds was like nothing I’d ever experienced in my life. It helped to
soften the blow of being destroyed by Frith. – Alec Riddle, Stellenbosch
Having had the honour to meet and interview Frith, Bruce and yourself,
Alec, I really enjoyed reading this. I can also remember the great
Fordyce years of domination in the Comrades, watching on TV as he
won year after year, and that 1991 race is etched into my memory, as the
cameras were right on Bruce as he let the leaders go. I still remember
how confused they looked. And then to watch Frith come through so
spectacularly. What a race, and in spite of your own disappointment, it
must have been incredible to be right there. – Ed.
Through Pinetown we moved into 15th and good friends Darren and Colleen De
Reuck were cheering me on, with Darren echoing Bruce’s chirp. At that stage, I
was feeling great and was plotting my move for Gold. Over Cowies Hill with Frith
and into the top 13, within two to three minutes of Gold as we descended, and
then I made my move. But it was short-lived, as within a matter of strides my legs
caved in and I succumbed to the dreaded cramps.
Frith glanced to see what had happened, but she was focused on a Top 10, too,
and I watched her run off into the distance as I lay writhing in agony. Having past
75km in approximately five hours, the next 3km took me all of 39 minutes as I ‘ran’
like the matchstick man, or Forrest Gump. At 78km I was sat on the side of the
freeway in Westville, thinking the only way to Durban was by car, when along came
GRATEFUL TO BE RUNNING AGAIN
People moaning and bitching about only being able to run from 6am to 9am may
have valid reasons for being unhappy, but still need to stop moaning and bitching
about it. No war is won in a single battle. Celebrate every victory, no matter how
small, because without every victory, no matter how seemingly insignificant at
the time, the war can never be won. Appreciate what you have and stop focusing
on what you don’t have, or you will always be unhappy. Happiness is just that: A
choice. You can either be unhappy or go for a jog when and where you can. Enjoy
what you have, because tomorrow it may be gone. – Johan Grassman, Delmas
That’s solid advice, Johan. This lockdown period has caused a ton of worry,
frustration and anger, and people are quick to complain or vent, but now that we
can at least get out for a run again, hopefully good moods will become more the
norm. – Ed.
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ISSUE 130 MAY 2020 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Images: Pexels & courtesy Alec Riddle