CONTENTS

Welcome to our 163 rd edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .

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C o l u m n l u m n

WARMING UP

The Ed ’ s Desk : True Speed !

An article about the new World Records for the marathon got me thinking just how fast that men ’ s record really is , and how that would feel to a mere ‘ Average Joe ’ runner like myself . – BY SEAN FALCONER

What ’ s That You Say ?

The running community has interesting , informative , thoughtprovoking , humorous and entertaining opinions and conversations , so each month we pick a few that caught our eye . – COMPILED BY SEAN FALCONER

News : Race for Athletes of Year Nearly Run

With the 2023 World Athletics Awards just around the corner , the finalists have been confirmed by World Athletics , and now we wait to see who will take home the various titles in December . – BY SEAN FALCONER

Stats & Facts : November Highlights

The world of running produces scintillating times and interesting statistics , including these standout performances in November from the annals of SA running . – BY RIËL HAUMAN

Irvette van Zyl on the way to her fourth win in the African Bank Soweto Marathon Photograph by Tobias Ginsberg

ISSUE 163

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ROAD RUNNING l u m n

Runner ’ s Highs on Road

A great race image will make you wish you had been on the start line of that race … like these pics from the recent African Bank Soweto Marathon and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon .

Road to Redemption

After missing half the year due to injury and struggling with motivation , Irvette van Zyl hit the ground running in the latter half of 2023 , culminating in her fourth win at the Soweto Marathon . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER

The Running Mann : Back in the Saddle ( on Dead Donkey Hill )

The Shikhumba Marathon provided a solitary route that gave me plenty of time to think about mosquitoes , flies , donkeys , music , beer and more . My kind of marathon ! – BY STUART MANN

Viva Soweto , Viva South Africa

The African Bank Soweto Marathon saw 21,000 runners once again warmly supported by the community of Soweto , and a welcome local flavour on the podium . – BY SEAN FALCONER with SOWETO MARATHON TRUST

Sport Man Says : Calendar Conundrum

I have heard people ask whether we need a national calendar in South African road running . Here ’ s why I think the answer is a most definite yes . – BY MANFRED SEIDLER

SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication www . modernathlete . co . za

Marathon Maestros

Both World Records Rewritten

Adriaan Wildschutt

The Records Keep Coming

November 2023

4 th Soweto Win Caps Comeback

Tale of an Otter T-shirt

Cover Image : Tobias Ginsberg

New-Look Road Racing : Street Miles & 5Ks

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l u m n

Shiny New World Records

In a remarkable span of just 15 days , both the men ’ s and women ’ s World Records for the marathon were broken , and the stories of the new records deserve telling . – BY SEAN FALCONER with WORLD ATHLETICS

Go , Shortie !

We take a look at some of the street mile and official 5km races , some well established , some new , that are bringing an exciting new challenge , and a change in perceptions , to the SA race calendar . – BY SEAN FALCONER

Ask Yourself Why … Lessons From China

I have been privileged to work at and experience a number of Chinese marathons , and I feel that the South African running industry can learn a lot from these events . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON

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2 ISSUE 163 | www . modernathlete . co . za