Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 139, March 2021 | Page 8

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 should be high-resolution . ( Note that letters may be shortened due to space limitations .)

EDITOR ’ S PICK

MUST-HAVE MUSIC !
Greetings runners , can anybody help me with the name of the song or hymn that plays just before / after the National Anthem before the Comrades Marathon race takes off , please ? That song really touches my spirit in a very inspiring way , and I also hear the song played on Metro FM , on Wilson Nkosi ’ s Poetry in Motion show . – Zakes Dlamini , Durban
That is Chariots of Fire , composed by Vangelis , which was used as the theme music for the film of the same name , all about the British Olympic athletics team at the 1924 Paris Olympics . If you want to see poetry in motion , watch the opening scene of the athletes on the beach , in the video here . – Ed .
PUTTING OUT THE FIRES …
To the trail runners of the Western Cape , If you were appalled by the destruction of the recent devastating fire that swept through 16,000ha of veld in the Overberg , Hottentots Holland Mountains , Jonkershoek Mountains , Blaauwklippen Valley , and Stellenbosch Mountain , and you ’ d like to play a meaningful part in wildfire suppression , here ’ s your chance .
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The Volunteer Wildfire Services is recruiting for the upcoming training season , and there are multiple roles that you can fulfil – firefighter , driver , operations and planning , logistical support , fundraising – all of which are equally important in keeping our firefighters on the line .
Whatever role you choose to take , it is immensely rewarding work . I joined in 2017 , so this is my fourth fire season , and I ’ ve loved every minute of it . To register your interest and learn more , visit www . vws . org . za or email recruitment @ vws . org . za . See you at training ! – Norman McFarlane , Somerset West
I know several people from the running community are already involved with VWS , and I hope this letter published here will see more volunteers stepping forward for the cause . Thanks for your service , Norman and co . – Ed .
RUNNERS COMING THROUGH ……
Did my first run with the adidas Runners Cape Town crew the other morning , and one of the leaders felt she had to stay with me . We got to the Green Point side of the Promenade and felt slightly irritated by a group of people walking abreast across the whole pavement , so we could not pass them . Must say , the one guy ’ s tracksuit looked familiar from some place ...
ISSUE 139 MARCH 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za
The leader asked him if he would not mind moving over so we can get past . She then realised that the person was none other than President Cyril Ramaphosa ! Embarrassed to say I did not even notice , and only realised when she told me the story afterwards . – Marjie Jean , Cape Town
You were probably too busy staring at the sea , Marjie , but still , that ’ s quite some story to tell your work colleagues . You know , the day you asked the President to let a faster runner go by ... – Ed .
STILL ON HOLD ………
COVID-19 has pulled up the handbrake on some people ’ s dreams and milestones in the Two Oceans and / or Comrades . Spare a thought for these runners :
• Completed 9 runs and have been waiting 2 years to reach the magical Blue and / or Green .
• Completed 8 and could have been gunning for 10 this year .
• Completed 10 ( in 2019 ) but have never had a chance to run in their hardearned permanent numbers .
Are you one of the above ? Then my heart goes out for you . – Tendani Mufamadi , East London
While it continues to be most frustrating for those runners stuck on a certain mark in these races , I know the races will eventually be back on the calendar , and then hopefully all these runners can get on with business . – Ed .