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 letters @ modernathlete . co . za , 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
KEEPING THE FAITH
I appreciated reading your weekly mailer email today , it gave me some hope after what has been a miserable running year for us all and the industry . Entering as many virtual events as possible has been one of the ways I ’ m coping with the lockdown and hoping I may be helping in some small way to keep these races alive makes the frustrating part of running them , alone , bearable .
Kaapsehoop was my last hope for 2020 , and now with it too falling foul of , well , 2020 , I ’ m going all in : Cape Town Marathon , Africa Challenge , Versus / Asics virtuals are next up on my list of entered runs after seeing them in your previous email , and I ’ m so peeved at COVID-19 and the lockdown , I even went and bought a bicycle , just so I could start riding virtual events as well . Believe Ride will be virtual ride event number two .
Keep the faith , we will get back out there , and thanks for a great mag and for keeping me sane . – Sean Victor , Pretoria
Love your can-do positivity in spite of the year we ’ ve had . Some runners do not see the value of virtual runs , and that ’ s their prerogative , but I ’ m glad that these events have kept you going – in various ways , too . – Ed .
John Neale enjoys his post-race high
A REAL TOUGHIE …
On 6 September , Randburg Harriers hosted the Deirdre Larkin Virtual Challenge , offering 5 , 10 & 21.1km distances , in place of the real event . It gave me the opportunity to run the half marathon route for the first time , instead of volunteering . Wow , it ’ s tough ! – John Neale , Randburg
Nothing like a few hills to show you how lockdown has affected your fitness . I speak from experience … – Ed .
Images : Pexels & courtesy John Neale
RUNNING FOR THE VIEWS …
This pandemic has taught me not to take anything for granted . I don ’ t usually take breaks when I run , let alone stop to take pictures , but being locked up at home has taught me to appreciate the scenery during my runs . This afternoon I thoroughly enjoyed my 10km run , and truly appreciated my surroundings . – Phelokazi Mbebe , via Facebook
As much as I enjoy racing and chasing times , I decided early in my running career to enjoy the views , and thus I can look back on 26 years of spectacular sunsets , memorable mountain vistas , and more . I believe it keeps me young , and gives me a reason to continue running . – Ed .
SAFETY IN NUMBERS …
Hi all , sharing what a male friend who was attacked in Pinelands , Cape Town at 3pm on a Sunday posted : “ Just want to raise some awareness . I saw a lady
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