Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 142, June 2021 Issue 142, June 2021 | Page 18

ROAD RUNNING
me watch in the middle of the night – he would go to bed and let me watch till 3am or 4am . He deserves a medal after last year ’ s op , because it was hectic for him !”
Now retired from athletics , LJ is working in the Education Department at Pretoria University , lecturing in exercise science while working on a second Masters degree in Olympic Studies from the University of Cologne in Germany . Irvette says they juggle their work and training programmes to make things work . “ LJ worked from home for much of the lockdown period , so we learnt to go with the flow , but the kids taught us even more so . Louis is especially active , including gymnastics , but when he is doing that , I can go for a run . LJ helps a lot , especially on days when I need to do long sessions , and that ’ s why I call him the Super-Daddy … but I do the cooking . He does make a lekker steak on the braai , though . I never liked steak , but now I do .”
No Lack of Motivation
Of course , as the record books now reflect , Irvette has bounced back from the operation stronger than ever . That saw her go to Italy in April and improve her marathon PB by some three minutes , qualify for the Olympics , then take 10th place at the SA 21km Champs in spite of not feeling well , followed by a new IAU World Record for 50km . Not bad for two months ’ work after such a long lay-off and recovery from a near career-ending injury and operation !
Looking ahead , Irv says she is excited about going to the Olympics again , but adds that she is just taking it one day at a time and not getting ahead of herself . “ If anything , COVID has taught us to go with the flow , so I am excited , because going to the Olympics is a great goal to have , but I understand that it may still be cancelled . If it does get cancelled , then my goal will be to go to the 2024 Games in Paris , as I simply have to finish the Olympic Marathon . I hope Tokyo does happen , though , because I know I am in good form , and confident I will finish this one !”
Irvette ’ s motivation to get to Tokyo and complete the Olympic marathon stems from her unfortunate history in the event . She had to withdraw from the 2012
Irvette the World Record holder , Olympian , multiple SA Champ and SPAR Grand Prix winner
Irvette with LJ and their boys , Louis and Gideon
London Olympic Marathon around mid-race with an injury , and then disaster struck again in 2016 in Rio , when she was forced to withdraw just a few days before the race with a stress fracture in her foot . “ I think I am more motivated this time , as I am getting a third opportunity to finish the race . Not many athletes get that ... but that is not making me more nervous , because I feel that if I can just get to the start , I can get a good finish . After many years of running , it had started feeling like a chore , but I ’ m enjoying my running again , and have seen a constant improvement since training started in January .”
“ I also think most athletes will be motivated to do well in Tokyo , after all the hardships and barriers in the way of qualifying . I was chatting to race walker Wayne Snyman recently about how hard it is to get a visa to compete overseas at the moment , due to COVID – I literally only got my visa to go to Italy the same day I had to fly – but we ’ re all so determined to train and
compete harder after this past year . They say absence makes the heart grow fonder , and we have missed racing . You can only train so much and do time trials so many times … now we want to race , and everybody is hungry and motivated .”
Looking still further ahead , Irvette says that after the Olympics , her focus will shift to the Two Oceans Marathon , which she describes as “ more unfinished business ,” but she also says she thinks she has a faster marathon in her legs . “ I ’ m grateful for the 2:28 , but after the knee op was successful , I want to push myself and see if I can go still faster . After that and Oceans , I eventually want to try Comrades , but only after I feel finished with the marathon . Comrades was always the goal for someday , and it ’ s a family thing for us , as everybody in the family runs it . But most important , I just want to enjoy my running now , because it ’ s quite amazing to have a knee that works again after 16 years .”
Images : Deon Raath & Reg Caldecott
18 ISSUE 142 JUNE 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za