from a racing perspective . Hopefully the second wave of the pandemic will soon abate , the vaccine will become widely available , and we can return to what we love doing . – Ed .
TRIBUTE TO MY COACH …
I know he is a coach and an inspiration to every athlete in SA , but today I just want to express my words of gratitude to Coach Hendrick Mokganyetsi . Thank you for inspiring us to keep working hard ! Thank you for being my guiding light , for encouraging me , and for making me who I am today . I am extremely thankful for everything that you do .
Having you as my coach helped me realise what I need to do to be successful – not only in sports , but also in life . Thank you for caring for me . You helped me to identify my weaknesses and turned them into my strengths . I will always be grateful for your valuable input and investment in my life .
I am so thankful for your commitment and willingness to help me grow . Your motivation , encouragement , and support constantly inspire me . Thank you for everything you ’ ve done for me . You taught me that success does not come by working alone , but only when we work together as a team . You ’ re the best professional I have ever worked with . I ’ m lucky to have found a trainer who is friendly and always willing to help . – Milton Kekana , Pretoria
Wonderful to see a former SA champion , record-holder and Olympian putting his expertise , experience and passion back into the sport , and inspiring the next generation . – Ed .
JEPPE ’ S JOINT EFFORT …
100km in 10 days ! A huge “ well done ” to the 200 K-Way Jeppe members that took on this awesome challenge to raise money for the Theo Jackson Foundation ! We rounded off the last day of the challenge with some champers and delicious cupcakes from Pat and Andy . – K-Way Jeppe AC , Johannesburg
Even in the midst of a year full of hardship , the incredible spirit of giving of the running community continues to burn bright . Well done to all at K-Way Jeppe for this group effort . – Ed .
can fully justify the effort . The act itself becomes the destination . It ’ s not just that there ’ s no finish line ; it ’ s that you define the finish line .
Whatever pleasures or gains you derive from the act of running , you must find them within . It ’ s all in how you frame it , how you sell it to yourself . Every runner knows this . You run and run , mile after mile , and you never quite know why . You tell yourself that you ’ re running toward some goal , chasing some rush , but really you run because the alternative , stopping , scares you to death .” – Stephen Papale , Johannesburg
Not sure stopping scares me to death – at the end of a good run , stopping is actually rather enjoyable – but the rest of that rings true for me , too . – Ed .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !…
6th January ... It ’ s my birthday today ... So I went for a run and spoilt myself with a nice and easy 38km nyana , to celebrate my 38th birthday today , and I thank God for another running year added to my life . Yaaaaz , it was pouring the last few kilometres , but I continued celebrating my birthday running as it rained on me , receiving more blessings !
I ’ m looking forward to more running days in 2021 , and I ’ m wishing you all in my running family a happy and safe crossover to 2021 . I speak grace and protection in your life and the life of your family . Run happy , be safe and be blessed . Na nkhensa Xikwembu . – Wendy Nkata Mabongani Khalanga , Pretoria
Lovely to see somebody just enjoying the simple pleasures in life , and embracing the running lifestyle so wholeheartedly . All the best for your 2021 running , Wendy ! – Ed .
NOW THAT ’ S DEDICATION !…
Here we have Hewat Athletic Club runner , Carder Tregonning , demonstrating his photography skills at a recent WPA Cross Country event , whilst still having the time to run the race . Talk about peer pressure for the rest of us photographers ! – ABPhotoZA , Cape Town
You have to admire somebody whose passion for the sport will make them lie down to get a better shot . Love your work , Carder , and yours , ABPhotoZA ! – Ed .
Carder Tregonning in photographic action !
WORDS OF WISDOM …
I love this passage from Nike founder Phil Knight ’ s book , Shoe Dog : “ For that matter , few ideas are as crazy as my favourite thing , running . It ’ s hard . It ’ s painful . It ’ s risky . The rewards are few and far from guaranteed . When you run around an oval track , or down an empty road , you have no real destination . At least , none that
7