Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 164 December 2023 | Page 9

WHAT ’ S THAT

What ’ s That You Say ?

YOU SAY ?

Compiled by SEAN FALCONER

The running community has interesting , informative , thought-provoking , humorous and entertaining opinions and conversations about many things , so each month we pick a few that caught our eye .
INSPIRED BY ASICS
I saw this posted on social media the other day , and realised I had never before heard anybody explain what the name of the ASICS brand means . “ What if doctors prescribe regular exercise ? The world could be a healthier , happier place . ASICS knows the power of movement for both body and mind . That ’ s why our name stands for ‘ Anima Sana In Corpore Sano ’ – A Sound Mind in a Sound Body .” Turns out my favourite shoe company is also a philosophy that we should all live by . – Johan van der Westhuizen
WORLD CLASS ATHLETES
Two of South Africa ’ s all-time greatest athletes , Elana Meyer and Matthews Temane , pictured in Cape Town following their respective victories in the Champion of Champions ( 10,000m track , 10km cross country & 10km road ). Elana set one 15km and three 21,1km World Records in 1991 , 1997 , 1998 & 1999 . Matthews broke the World Half Marathon Record with a phenomenal 60:11 in 1987 , sadly unrecognised owing to international sporting isolation of South Africa . – Cheryl Winn
Images : Dean Venish , Sherab Melvin , Steve Attwell & courtesy Annaline Roffey , Akani Simbine , Cheryl Winn , Asics
SAFFERS IN THE USA
Great meeting some South Africans in the Chicago Marathon in November ! – Sherab Melvin
CHASING GOALS
All in @ paris2024 – Akani Simbine
MARATHON MAN
An update on the social running G . O . A . T . Julian Karp . The weekend of of 11 / 12 November was Julian ’ s fourth consecutive weekend of back-to-back marathons , so it was highly appropriate that he was given the race number 4242 at the Cheetahs Marathon . That was Julian ’ s 923rd marathon , and he had another double lined up the following weekend . He was aiming to get to 930 by the end of the year , so that he can “ relax ” over the next two years to achieve his millennium marathon milestone . – Stuart Mann
Eloi De Oliveira : Fantastic athletes . I was there when Mathews and Zithulile ran that time . If I recall , it was not recognised because of the % drop in elevation from start to finish . I could be under correction here , though . Cheryl Winn : Eloi , the drop in elevation was entirely within the prevailing rules at the time . It was , however , never even considered by IAAF , as South Africa had been formally expelled in 1976 . Zola Budd ’ s 5000m time set in 1984 was also never ratified as a World Record .
Ant Gear : I was running with flu , so was on the previous lap as they sped past me with about 400m to go , with Zithulile in the lead . They dropped down to the finish , so I couldn ’ t quite see the finish , but it remains one of my special memories . For years , I used Temane and Sinque as passwords . Cheryl Winn : Ant , it was a phenomenal race between two extraordinary athletes and remarkable human beings .
NOT FALLING FOR IT
When I try to convince my daughter Lily that I run because it is fun ... But then my face looks like this . Needless to say , she is not convinced . – Anneline Roffey
CHEERS , MOSSEL BAY !
My fourth half ironman of the year and my best one of the year . Mossel Bay is sure to become the home of triathlon in South Africa . The whole town comes out to support and embrace the athletes . What a vibe ! Perfect weather for the event , a full swim in glorious pool-like conditions . Embark Tri gets on the podium of the Ironman Tri Club again . Happy coach ! Now we shift out focus to the full ironman and 703 in April ! – Steve Attwell
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