ROAD RUNNING
But then at 9:15 the phone rang and I was told she had collapsed while working and needed to be taken to hospital .”
“ I tried calling her to find out what was wrong , after I saw that my earlier WhatsApp had been read , but my son-in-law answered her phone , and told me she had passed away . It was so sudden … I just couldn ’ t believe it , because she was only 30 years young ! I rushed over to the house and found her there , still on the floor , as they were waiting for the coroner to come fetch her . I was still in shock , but I made her a promise right there , to live my life differently , to be more healthy , because she had wanted me to do that ever since I had put on all the weight from the cancer medication .”
Matters of the Heart
The autopsy later showed that Stephanie had suffered a massive heart attack , which Natascha says really came as shock to the whole family . “ She really was super-fit , and was entered to do the Grind obstacle race a few weeks later , so at the same time that I promised her that I would live more healthily , I also promised her I would do the Grind race in her honour .” A few days later , Natascha contacted the Grind organisers to ask if she could take her daughter ’ s place , and asked her daughter ’ s personal trainer , Tom Liebenberg , to help her prepare as best she could in such a short period of time . “ I turned 50 the day before the race , but I went out there and tackled those 30 obstacles over a 5km route . It took me over two hours to finish , but I did it … for her . Then I decided to keep training with Tom at Core Fittness , and began running again .”
A few days later , Natascha contacted the Grind organisers to ask if she could take her daughter ’ s place , and asked her daughter ’ s personal trainer , Tom , to help her prepare as best she could in such a short period of time . “ I turned 50 the day before the race , but I went out there are tackled those 30 obstacles over a 5km route . It took me over two hours to finish , but I did it … for her . Then I decided to keep training with Tom , and began running again .”
Later that year Natascha ran her first official race in many years , lining up for the 2017 Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail Run 22km , and that was another huge challenge to overcome . “ My sister , Manuella , had entered the race thinking it was road run , but when she realised it was a trail event , she asked me if I wanted to substitute in for her , as she didn ’ t want to run trail . I had trail shoes , even though they were a bit too big for me , but I was up for the challenge . In the end I was out there for four and a half slow , tough , painful hours , but when I eventually finished , the commentator made me feel like I had won the event .* I think Manuella must have told him my story , because he knew I was running in memory of my daughter , and mentioned her over the microphone . It was so incredibly special .” * Read the Ed ’ s Letter for more on this
Running to Cope
As the running bug had bitten again , Natascha began entering more races , running some road races with temporary licence numbers and taking on some of the local trail races . To her great surprise , she even finished on the podium in the 50-plus age category at one of the smaller trail events at the Spier Wine Estate . “ Eventually somebody suggested I join a club , so I signed up with Helderberg Harriers in 2018 , and the following year I won the club trophy for running the most kilometres in races in the masters age category for women .”
While Natascha ’ s longest races were half marathons , including the Two Oceans and Safari races in mid-2019 , she admits she probably overdid things a bit , and after a training camp in the Kalahari and returning to participate in the Cross-country league season , she ended up running herself into a second knee operation in June 2019 . “ The old injury from my netball days had flared up again , but by 9 August I was able to walk again and completed the 5km at the Totalsports Women ’ s Race in Cape Town , after downgrading from the 10km . That November I did a 10km in Edgemead with my sister and in January I ran another 10km in Century City , but then COVID arrived and we were locked down .”
Undaunted , Natascha signed up to do various virtual challenge , including last year ’ s Comrades Virtual 21km . “ It had always been my dream to run the Comrades Marathon , so I will cherish my Comrades virtual medal forever ,” she says . This year she added a second Comrades virtual finish as well as the
With her second Comrades virtual medal , and a dream fulfilled
Running has helped Natascha to cope and enjoy life again
Two Oceans virtual challenge . “ I have also enjoyed doing the 26virtual events , which allows us to run ‘ international ’ races all over the world , as well as the events put on by The Outdoor enthusiast , which offer three-day challenges for runners and riders , with nice prizes and race merchandise ,” she says .
The Sanlam Cape Town Peace Trail was Natascha ’ s tough first race back in 2017 . A year later , she had a far easier run
However , she admits that she can ’ t wait for real races to come back , as she is in the best shape she ’ s been in for years . “ I ran 59 minutes for 10km on my daughter ’ s birthday , 16 July , and recently ran another sub-60 time . Last year , on her birthday , it took me one hour and seven minutes to run 10km , so I can see how much fitter and faster I am now . Thanks to running I have brought my weight down from 80 kilograms to 65 kilograms , and last year I logged 2100km on Strava . Running really helps me to cope and enjoy life differently – it has helped me to see that life really is what we make of it , and that I have so much in life to be grateful for , and to share with others . I ’ m glad to say that both my grandchildren are very proud of me , and I think my daughter would be , too .”
Images : Courtesy Natascha van Zyl
26 ISSUE 144 AUGUST 2021 / www . modernathlete . co . za