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CONTENTS
In the Mag this Month
Welcome to the September-October edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .
WARMING UP
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SUPPLEMENT SECTION : ADIDAS ADIZERO
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The Ed ’ s Desk : It Won ’ t happen to Me …
As we are all too aware , the past 19 months have seen most businesses , projects and events disrupted by the COVID pandemic , but in recent weeks the effects of the virus really hit home for Team Modern Athlete . And I am just thankful it wasn ’ t as bad as it could have been … – BY SEAN FALCONER
Have Your Say
Readers with something on their minds that they want to share , including an emotional post-COVID return to running , beating speed cameras on the run , ‘ plakboek ’ memories , and running from the language police !
Runner ’ s High
Each month we publish a great running pic of a great running place , and this month we visit Eden Forest & Stellenbosch Mountain in the Western Cape with Nicole Hayes . We ’ re always looking for contributions , so feel free send us your pic !
Adidas Adizero : Fast is not Fast Enough
Ever since Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie breezed to a 2:03:59 marathon World Record in a pair of adidas adizero shoes in 2008 , the adizero range has only gotten better , with the current adios Pro 2 now the proud ‘ holder ’ of multiple World Records and an Olympic Marathon title . We put this shoe , and its training partner , the adizero Boston 10 , to the test .
On the cover
Tadu Nare and Glenroase Xaba at full speed during the SPAR Grand Prix race in Tshwane . Photograph by Reg Caldecott
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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021 / ISSUE 145
SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication www . modernathlete . co . za
SPAR Grand Prix
Tadu Nare Dominates , Glenrose Xaba Podiums
Recollections of Oyster Catcher
Father-daughter Team ’ s
Terrific Trail Experience
FAST IS NOT ENOUGH
Produced for adidas by
INSIDE : Adi Dassler ’ s adidas Legacy World Record adizero Shoes Reviewed : adizero adios Pro 2 Reviewed : adizero Boston 10 Inspired by the adidas Runners
EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION Win 2 Pairs of adizero Shoes ! adios Pro 2 racers &
Boston 10 trainers Winner takes home both pairs Prize Package Worth R7500 !
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C o
C o
C o
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ROAD RUNNING
l u m n l u m n l u m n l u m n
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Kalmer ’ s Corner : Thank You , Old Friend
Dear SPAR 10km , it is so good to have you back ! We dearly missed you over the past 18 months … A letter of appreciation to the SPAR women ’ s races that have meant so much to me and done so much for my running career over the last three decades ! – BY RENÉ KALMER
Standout Performer
The SPAR Grand Prix has injected life into the women ’ s elite racing scene in South Africa , with scintillating times being run throughout the series , and one of the South Africans to catch the eye was Glenrose Xaba , who eventually finished third in the 2021 Grand Prix standings . – BY SEAN FALCONER
The Running Mann : Run , Forest , Run !
With the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon just around the corner , I thought I ’ d take a ‘ pictorial ’ look back at the two Cape Town Marathons I ’ ve completed , in 2017 and 2019 , with a heavy focus on the latter , when I ran with a tree on my back as part of a moving forest ! – BY STUART MANN
The Long Road Back
Shortly after fulfilling her dream to earn her Comrades Green Number , Debbie Fass was given the devastating news that she needed a hip replacement , and she thought her running days were over . However , through determination and dedication , she has returned to the road . – BY ROXANNE MARTIN
Sport Man Says : Is Running Back ?
South African runners are chomping at the bit after 18 long lockdown months . They want to run real races again … Not virtual events , but real , flesh and blood , human interaction races , complete with a postrace boerie roll . And if the powers that be do it right , we may just get our races back soon . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER
Hope with Every Step
When musician Kabelo Mabalane learnt that one in four South African children under the age of five suffer stunted growth due to not receiving the correct nutrition , he knew he had to do something about it . With business partner and well-known runner , Peteni Kuzwayo , he undertook to run 600km from Joburg to Durban to raise R6-million to tackle the child hunger problem .
Out of the Box : Major Marathons Point the Way
The Vienna Marathon kickstarted what could be an exciting , yet unsettling , two months in road running . The fact that seven major mass-participation international marathons will be held between now and mid-November offers amazing possibilities , if we care to listen and act . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON
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Mindlo Mdhluli
From Non-swimmer to Ultra Triathlete
AND MORE …
Debbie Fass and her Bionic Hip Carina Horn on Doing Her time Sue Ullyett ’ s COVID Comeback
Kyle Blignaut to Give it Best Shot
Cover Image : Reg Caldecott
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Supplement : The World-conquering adidas adizero Range 1
Pg 69 ISSUE 145 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za
TRAIL RUNNING
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Unforgettable Footprints in the Sand
What better way to spend quality time with your daughter than a three-day stage run on the scenic Garden Route coastline in the Southern Cape ? That ’ s how Sabrina and I found ourselves running the Oyster Catcher Trail Run , and enjoying every step of the fatherdaughter adventure . – BY STEF MIGLIORE