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EDITOR ’ S PICK
MEMORIES OF BEERS AND A BRAAI
John Ball held the record for running across America , from New York to Los Angeles . This is a photo from September 1966 of our running the marathon from Stutterheim to King Willams Town . We ran sensibly until the last mile when a challenge was issued and accepted . He beat me into 8th place – my time was 3:14:50 – whereafter he invited me to join him for beers and a braai .
John Ball and Alec Wainwright in 1966
I was a 16-year-old boarder at Dale College and because even one beer meant certain expulsion , and being thirsty and in congenial company , we drank several together . Later he helped me to stagger up my hostel stairs , watched by numerous scholars . He told the bemused , sceptical onlookers the implausible tale that their prefect ’ s unsteady gait was solely due to marathon exhaustion ! – Alec Wainwright , Johannesburg
I think we can all look back on those priceless , unforgettable moments in our running careers , even better when we have photographs like this to help jog the memory . Just glad the school never found out about your post-race rehydration that day , Alec ! – Ed .
POST-RUN DISASTER AVERTED …
To the person who picked up my car keys on 31 January and handed them in at Newlands Forest Fire Station … Thank you ! May you have a super blessed 2022 . – Marius Heydenreich , Cape Town
Marvellous to know there are still caring people in this world . When I run , I compulsively check my back pocket at least once every two kays , to make sure the car key is still there . Rather safe than sorry , as they say . – Ed .
Nobody wants to lose their car key during a run
SHORT-LIVED SOUR MOOD …
So , I woke up with that typical 1st Jan optimism that this year is going to miraculously be so much better than the previous year . I made a coffee , getting ready for a run , and poured in some milk . The milk was sour ! This made me realise the strike of the clock at 00:00 doesn ’ t bring about miracles … We live the life we live by Grace .
2021 , you were tough , but you were not so bad , thank God for the Grace he bestowed on us throughout the year . 2022 , you tried to sour my coffee off the bat , but I was on to you . Bring on what you may we will , by Grace , deal with the good the bad and the ugly because that ’ s life . Happy New Year , beautiful people . – Adrian Vincent Saffy , Bloemfontein
No , no , no ! Sour milk will not be tolerated … especially not after the 2021 we ’ ve all had . Love the positive response , though , Adrian . As they say , that ’ s the spirit ! – Ed .
DONE WITH COMRADES …
Unfortunately , COVID-19 , lockdown , etc , has finally “ washed ” the Comrades Marathon out of my schedule . I ’ m grateful for having run it six times . If I still live , I might return with my son ( just to induct him ). As for the training and morning jogging , it ’ s a lifetime commitment I ’ ll never stop . – Henry Baba Wami Mngomezulu , Soweto
The Comrades bug bites deep , and once it has sunk its teeth in , it ’ s hard to ignore , so never say never , as the old saying goes . – Ed .
ENOUGH SAID …
One day I will be a real runner again ... but today is not the day . – Marjie Jean , Stellenbosch
Marj , I ’ ve known you for nearly 15 years , and you have always been a so-called ‘ real runner .’ It has nothing to do with how fast you run , it has everything to do with the fact that you run . Enough said ! – Ed .
THE BEST DO THE BASICS CONSISTENTLY …
I ’ m a big fan of Bruce Fordyce and Shaun Meiklejohn . With 60 runs and 21 gold medals between them , they know a few things about the Comrades . In a recent podcast , Shaun was talking about people asking him what the secret of a good Comrades is . He says that people often don ’ t believe him when he tells them that it ’ s as simple as doing the following for eight to 10 weeks ( before a two- to three-week taper ): A weekend long run ( 30km to 60km ) at slower than Comrades race pace , two speed sessions a week ( hills / Fartlek / track / tempo
Images : Action Photo SA , Keith Linderoth , Pexels / Brett Jordan , Pexels / Decha Huayyai & courtesy Alec Wainwright , Marjie Jean , Shaun Meiklejohn
6 ISSUE 148 JANUARY 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za