the ed ’ s desk by SEAN FALCONER
Sean Falconer
THE ED ’ S DESK
the ed ’ s desk by SEAN FALCONER
Things to Be Happy About
The first time I spoke to Thabang Mosiako was back in 2018 , not too long after a vicious attack in Potchefstroom that left him in a coma . He went on to make a full physical recovery , but I clearly remember when interviewing him , that he still sounded bewildered by what had happened , and seemed to be struggling with the mental and emotional side of the recovery process . I remember wondering to myself , would he ever get back to the same level of running that had seen him start to win big races , and earn SA colours .
As you will read in our latest interview with Thabang , he did indeed go through some really tough times , with his form and confidence deserting him for long periods , on top of dealing with the financial and social challenges of the COVID lockdown period . He also had to make huge personal sacrifices to keep pursuing his running dream , but it has paid off handsomely .
The results he has posted this year , at the recent World Road Running Champs in Latvia , have seen him go from being one of our top runners , to becoming one of the all-time greats of SA road running . I mean , he ’ s run sub-28 for 10km and sub-60 for the half marathon … only nine SA runners have done the former , and just three the latter , and Thabang is just the third to record both of these milestones , after Hendrick Ramaala and Stephen Mokoka . That ’ s why he fully deserves being on our front cover this month , and I hope you will be inspired by the feature on him . before when it really counts , at the Olympic or World Champs level , and our athletes really delivered . After the disappointment of the recent track and field World Champs in Budapest , where Team SA came home with zero medals , this felt like winning the lottery !
I still remember the days when South Africa returned to international sport in the early 1990s . Much of the focus was on our rugby , soccer and cricket teams , but our athletes were challenging for and even winning Olympic and World Champs medals and titles , winning big city marathons , and breaking World Records . The latest results from Riga do not mean we ’ re suddenly back at that level , but damn , this is a solid step in the right direction !
Making a Comedian Laugh
Most who have met me through the years will know that I love humour and laughter . I have an irreverent sense of humour – that ’ s what you get for growing up watching the Monty Python films over and over , to the point of being able to recite the whole French Knight ’ s speech from Monty Python and the Holy Grail – and so I love chatting to genuinely funny people , like comedian and runner Rory Petzer . ( If you haven ’ t seen any of his videos yet , we ’ ve got a few good ones right here in the mag , with the feature on him .)
I discovered him by chance a year or so ago thanks to social media , and his deadpan delivery of punny humour hits the spot with my quirky sense of humour , but what really struck me when chatting to him was how easily he laughs . I literally found my spirits lifted just from chatting to him , in spite of him telling me all about how terrible his 2022 Comrades run was , leading to his decision to bail at 60km . Thankfully he had a much , much better run in 2023 , and you can read all about his ‘ alternative ’ nutritional plan for Comrades success .
These are just a few of the great reads in this edition , so that ’ s it from my side for now , friends . It ’ s time to tuck in to the read , top up on inspiration , and then get those running shoes laced up . Enjoy the read !
Sean Falconer
Back Where We Belong
Thabang ’ s tremendous sub-60 in Latvia was just one of the many great performances by Team South Africa at the revamped World Road Running Champs ( also covered in this edition ). The headlines were deservedly dominated by our men ’ s team taking the bronze medal in the half marathon team competition – our first medal at these Champs since 1999 – and our women came oh so close to doing likewise in the women ’ s half marathon team competition , but what also really pleased me was that many of our athletes posted personal bests on the day , across the street three distances raced .
As they say , you can ’ t ask for much more from an athlete than for them to perform better than ever
Well , of course I ’ m French !
It turns out irreverent comedian ( and runner ) Rory Petzer studied French Literature at varsity – he obtained an Honours degree cum laude , no less – so I think it ’ s absolutely appropriate to take this opportunity of mixing some irreverent humour and French outrageousness . I give you the French Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail .
Images : Chris Hitchcock
6 ISSUE 162 | www . modernathlete . co . za