CONTENTS
In the Mag this Month
Welcome to the November edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .
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WARMING UP
NOVEMBER 2021 / ISSUE 146
Deirdre Larkin
Inspiring All at 90
Cleaner to Comrades Contender
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Comrades ‘ 22
New August Date Could Change SA Running Forever
JFK-Inspired Walk to Brakpan
Still Running ... For Now
With the President ’ s latest Family Gathering no having delivered the expected increased level of lockdown , we can all breath a temporary sigh of relief , but now it ’ s more important than ever to be careful , and to get vaccinated if not already done . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Have Your Say
Readers with something on their minds that they want to share , including anti-Sunday racing , trail etiquette , memories of the 80s , safety for women running alone , body-shaming coaches and questions about non-pitching pre-entrants .
Runner ’ s High : Swartberg Switchbacks
Each month we publish a great running pic of a great running place , and this month we are in the Swartberg Mountains near Oudtshoorn for the Rhodes Dryland Traverse , watching the runners zig-zag down the other side of the Pass .
Stats & Facts : Tanith ’ s Unique Record
Tanith Maxwell is unique among South African marathoners . In fact , she is unique among all runners who have run the Comrades Marathon , including illustrious names such as Wally Hayward and Vladimir Kotov ! – BY RIËL HAUMAN
On the cover
Candy & Gabby Cater high up in the Swartberg Mountains during the Rhodes Dryland Traverse . Photograph by Carli Smith for ZCMC
SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication www . modernathlete . co . za
Dryland Traverse
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Bucket List Stage Race
Tanith ’ s Unique Treble Record
Less is More for SA Champ
Paris PBs
First Sub-3s For SA Duo
ISSUE 146 NOVEMBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za
Cover Image : Carli Smith
Totalsports : WIN R5000 of Kit for Your Running Type 1 !
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Kalmer ’ s Corner : Hip , Hip , Hooray !
November is my favourite month of the year ! The Jacarandas are in full bloom and I love running on the purple carpet after the first spring rains , but there is plenty more reason for celebration . – BY RENÉ KALMER
On Course for a PB in Paris
After a few delays to our racing plans caused by the COVID pandemic , I found myself running the Paris Marathon in October , chasing a sub-3:15 finish , but instead , I found myself pushing for a sub-3:00 for the first time , much to the surprise of my training partner ! – BY WELLINGTON MPOFU
Sport Man Says : Less Racing , More Success
Four races , four PBs and a National Title for 20-year-old Tayla Kavanagh took the breath away in 2021 , and showed yet again why nt running every race on the calendar can be highly beneficial to an athlete . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER
Still Cruising at 90
Her transition from concert pianist to ‘ galloping granny ’ at 78 has brought Deirdre Larkin several World Records , countless media interviews , and a roomful of medals , but she continues to run just for the sheer enjoyment of it . And the 90-year-old does it all with a wicked sense of humour , too . – BY WES BOTTON
The Running Mann : In Search of Muscle Memory
As a self-confessed marathon addict , I was thrilled to hear about the Wolfpack Warriors Marathon in Tzaneen , as I had not been able to run an official marathon for way too many months , but I must admit , my legs were not so thrilled on the long drive home ! – BY STUART MANN
Cleaner to Comrades Contender
One of the fundamental laws of running is that it doesn ’ t matter what your job is , when the starter ’ s gun is fired , it all comes down to talent , discipline , mental strength and desire , and 37-year-old Kwena Mmonwa has bucketloads of all of those ! – BY CARLI SMITH , WITH SEAN FALCONER
Out of the Box : Good Time for a Shake-up
The planned move of the Comrades Marathon to a date later in the year presents us with an opportunity to totally revamp the entire sport of road running , and this could result in benefits across the spectrum of health , tourism , commerce and more . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON
TRAIL RUNNING
30 Ticked Off the Bucket List
I entered the Rhodes Dryland Traverse in 2018 , but was not able to take part due to work commitments , so when Modern Athlete Editor Sean Falconer offered me a chance to take part in the 2021 race , I jumped in with both feet , to see just why everyone raves about it . – BY SUE ULLYETT