ROAD RUNNING
Looking ahead , Rory says that the running bug has bitten so hard , he reckons he will always be running something . “ It ’ s my therapy , that thing that I need . It ’ s meditation , and thanks to running , any mental issues like anxiety or stress simply disappear . When I had an injury recently , and I was out for about three weeks , I could feel myself becoming more anxious , and everything was annoying me ? So I ’ ve come to rely on running completely . I need to do it now .” He adds that while he was not the most talkative runner on the road when he started running , it was thanks to running with clubmates at Riverside Harriers , and later Hillcrest Villagers when he and Yoshen moved to Gillitts , that has helped him enjoy his running still more .
In terms of races he ’ d still like to run , Rory says that Comrades is high on the list , after his great 2023 run , but one race he has pencilled in on his bucket list is the African Bank Soweto Marathon , and he says he would love to repeat his Two Oceans feat in the future . “ So , I don ’ t know all the other marathons out there , but I have wanted to run Soweto for a while . I think that would be a really cool one to do . I ’ d also like to mix travel , work and running , because what I can do then is mix my two passions with a race and a comedy show . That would also be super cool !”
Are You the Mayor ?
Of course , as a comedian who regularly puts out funny videos on social media , often about running , Rory is quickly building a large fan base , and he is getting recognised more and more when he is out on the road . Typical of Rory , he turns that into a joke … “ During the Comrades , there were two guys from a Cape Town club running near me most of the day , and eventually , the one guy asked if I am the Mayor of that area , because everyone ’ s shouting my name and wanting to talk to me . I just said , no , I don ’ t know why they ’ re doing that . Then a bit later , in Pinetown , it happened again , and the guy said , ‘ Wait , now you ’ re the mayor of Pinetown , too ! Why is everyone shouting your name ?’ Again , I was like , I don ’ t know , bru , it ’ s crazy !” says Rory , with a naughty twinkle in the eye .
Images : Marathon Photos , Yoshen Nair and courtesy Rory Petzer
Feeling the love after a terrific 2023 Comrades run
This is where Rory does get serious ( for a few seconds , at least ). “ In previous years , having so many people recognise me probably would have heaped the pressure on me , because I was feeling weak and not doing things right . But this year I was like , yes , I ’ m going to finish , everything is great , so ‘ Howzit , everyone , so nice to see you .’ Carol and I had spoken about my upcoming Comrades a few times on the show , so I think that contributed to more people knowing me or following me , and all I can say is thank you , thank you , thank you for all the love and support out there . It contributed to a terrific Comrades for me !”
To follow Rory , look for @ RoryPetzer on Facebook and TikTok , and @ RoryMarc on Insta .
Running is about meditation , writing jokes and closing tabs for Rory
Loads of Tees
Rory ’ s lodshedding T-shirts have proven quite a hit
While loadshedding in South Africa is generally no laughing matter , Rory cannot resist going there , which is what prompted him to come up with his loadshedding T-shirts idea . “ I ’ m full of ideas , and one day I randomly thought , I want to make a Halloween T-shirt for South Africans , so that got me thinking , what ’ s the scariest thing you can wear on Halloween ? I reckoned it would either be the petrol price , or the loadshedding schedule . Nothing else is as scary . So , I decided to put the loadshedding schedule on a shirt , but it needed something else , so I put 100 % South African on the top .”
He says people have gone crazy for the shirts , and every time he promotes them , he gets flooded by e-mails and orders , which means more work for Rory , as he dispatches them all himself , to any destination around the country . “ It ’ s like an extra job , but I like the fact that the shirts are proving so popular .”
For more info or to place an order , contact Rory at rory @ ecr . co . za .
38 ISSUE 162 | www . modernathlete . co . za