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
RUNNING FOR THE TURTLES
Hi ! I need your help . I ’ m raising money for the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation ’ s Turtle Rescue Programme . They do exceptional work for an ocean animal that is very close to my heart . In December I will be running my second 13 Peaks Challenge – 100km , taking in 13 peaks with 6000m elevation gain around the Table Mountain chain – and would like to try and make it under 21 hours .
My funding target of R60,000 will cover the rehab care for 13 turtle hatchlings , including X-rays , ultrasounds , CT scans , etc … and if I can raise more , then we can cover the costs for more turtles ! This effort will also be to raise awareness around the issues of turtle bycatch , entanglement and plastic ingestion . If you can , please donate to my fundraising project on GivenGain :
FREE 2021 LICENCES , PLEASE …
It seems that the issue of Licences for the 2020 year is a thorny issue , as due to the Lockdown , no-one has been able to run any club runs . Surely ASA should decide that the licence fees for 2021 should be waivered , or at least be reduced for 2021 . Many South Africans are feeling the pinch financially due to the Lockdown – some have even lost their jobs – so it would be a good gesture if this were possible . Any comments from them ? – Mike Gordon-Van Dyk , Middelburg
I have not seen anything official yet on this topic , but can tell you that ASA is due to make an announcement around the end of December or early in January as to whether the sport will be further opened up after the trial period in November / December with limited racing ( no further than 10km with maximum 500 runners ). I therefore reckon we will all need to wait until then to hear whether any special dispensation will be given for 2021 licence fees . However , I also know that the national and provincial federations are cash-strapped after this year , and will need funds in order to keep the sport running , which means they will be hard-pressed to waive or discount licence fees . – Ed .
IF THE SHOE FITS ……
We ’ ve all got that one friend that so needs to be tagged in this pic ! – Craig Scholtz , via Facebook
Ha , so true ! Runners speaking about hills is like a fisherman talking about the size of the fish he caught … – Ed .
www . givengain . com / ap / karoline-hanks-raising-funds-for-two-oceans-aquariumeducation-foundation . Thank you ! – Karoline Hanks , Cape Town
As a regular contributor to this magazine and a stalwart of the # RunClean and # ICarryMyOwn campaigns , I am proud to share this message and appeal our readers to support Karoline ’ s run . Every donation helps , no matter how big or small , to help these gentle creatures survive . – Ed .
SNAKES ON A RUN ……
In my last five runs I have had three snake encounters along the bike route from Melkbosstrand to Big Bay and Big Bay to Sunset Beach . I am not afraid , I just got a fright or two , as you only see them just off the path when you are almost upon them . So just keep your eyes open and ahead to the side of the paths so you can avoid them when they ’ re warming up in the summer sun . – Richard , Knaggs , Cape Town
Snakes generally leave us alone if they can , only attacking if they feel threatened , so by running carefully , runners will hopefully remain safe . Nevertheless , I think most runners would break the World Record for the high jump if they came across a snake in the path on their next run ! – Ed .
SHARING THE TRAILS ……
Don ’ t assume that everyone is your enemy , they might just be the company you need to help you reach your destiny . This is me on Devil ’ s Peak , with new running mates , on the last summit of my 13 Peaks Challenge . – Valentino Arendse , Cape Town
Baboons have such an unfortunate reputation , all too often because of interaction with humans , or people encroaching on what little remaining natural habitat they have . Runners should be careful if you come across a troop while running , but like snakes , they will likely only attack if they feel threatened . – Ed .
Images : Courtesy Karoline Hanks , Valentino Arendse & Wildlifeanimalz
6 ISSUE 135 NOVEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za