CONTENTS

Welcome to the January edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .

WARMING UP

The Ed ’ s Desk : Just What is Normal Anymore ?

For the last two years we ’ ve had the ‘ new normal ’ of the COVID pandemic , but now that things appear to be slowly returning to normal , are we going back to the ‘ old normal ,’ or a ‘ new-new normal ,’ or perhaps an ‘ old-new normal ?’ – BY SEAN FALCONER

Have Your Say

Notes from readers with something on their minds , including memories of the 1960s , lost and found keys , sour milk , Fordyce and Meiklejohn expert advice , PLUS hot debate on 2022 licence numbers

Stats & Facts : Fast Starters in the New Year

Taking a look back through the annals of the history of SA athletics and road running , these are a few of the standout performances in the month of January . – BY RIËL HAUMAN

Runner ’ s High : Great to be Running Again

Each month we publish a great running pic of a great running place , and this month we are at the Dis-Chem Half Marathon , Bedfordview , Johannesburg as races start to come back again .

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ROAD RUNNING

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The Running Mann : Great Small Ultras

South Africa is famous for having the biggest and best ultramarathons on the planet , but we ’ ve also got some brilliant small-field ultras that are worth working into your running plans . Here ’ s a list of 10 awesome low-key ultras to bookmark .– BY STUART MANN

A Marathon a Day …

Between September 2019 and July 2021 , Rupert van Vuuren averaged a marathon a day for 658 consecutive days , in a remarkable running challenge that saw him cover some 28,000 kilometres as he ran for a cause close to his heart . – BY SEAN FALCONER

Out of the Box : Time to Look Forward

Given all that we have endured the past two years due to the COVID pandemic , now more than ever a New Year is a time for a retrospective view of the previous year ’ s highlights and lowlights , but then time to focus on the future . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON

Building on Momentum

So , what does an elite athlete wish for in the New Year after experiencing a year that brought him four new personal bests , three national titles and a first trip to the Olympics ? Even more , says Precious Mashele . – BY SEAN FALCONER

Precious Mashele in action during the Absa DURBAN 10K CITYRUN & SA 10km Championships Photograph by Anthony Grote / Stillwater Sports

JANUARY 2022 / ISSUE 148 SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication

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Winning Titles in 2021 , Chasing More in 2022

Record-breaking Otter Win International Circuit Next !

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Sport Man Says : The Magic of the 5km

Ask any coach how fast you can run a 10km , half marathon , marathon or even beyond , and they will ask you for your best 5km time . That ’ s because if you want to run fast , you need to train for a 5km . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER

Viva , Akanani , Viva

The second Akanani Charity Run recently traversed rural KwaZulu- Natal in a team effort to raise funds for two worthy causes , and the inspirational stories of the team members show just how powerful running can be as a force for good . – EDITED BY SEAN FALCONER