CONTENTS
In the Mag this Month
Welcome to our 171 st edition . You can click on the page numbers below to go straight to the article of your choice .
C o l u m n
C o l u m n
WARMING UP
SA ’ s Biggest Running Publication www . modernathlete . co . za
Jenet Mbhele
Setting Bigger Goals After Comrades Golds
Yeti Marathon
Suzette McIvor ’ s 100 th Marathon In the Himalaya
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The Ed ’ s Desk : Getting a Bit Loud Again !
My voice was a little hoarse thanks to the recent Paris 2024 Olympics , and I suspect the neighbours may think I have lost the plot , but what an epic 11 days of athletics action . – BY SEAN FALCONER
Stats & Facts : Celebrating Women
Through the years , South Africa has produced a number of world class female athletes , and given that August is Women ’ s Month , this statistical lookback is focused on some of the best ever seen in SA . – BY RIËL HAUMAN
Asking the Question : Tour de Paris
The enthralling Paris 2024 Olympic Marathons had me riveted to my television screen , and took the classic event to a new standard on so many levels . – BY NORRIE WILLIAMSON
On the cover
Action from the women ’ s 5000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics . Photograph by Christel Saneh for World Athletics
Pg 24
Pg 46
OLYMPICS
12 We ’ ll Always Have Paris !
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games produced an unforgettably 11 days of athletics with countless records , brilliant performances and too many highlights to mention . – BY SIMON TURNBULL with SEAN FALCONER
ISSUE 171
August 2024
Debbie Ivins
Comrades-inspired Comeback From Crohns Disease
Couple ’ s Goals
How Guillaume Smit Got His Wife Running
Pg 40
Pg 28
C o l u m n
C o
ROAD RUNNING
TRAIL RUNNING
l u m n
RUN CREWS
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40
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Jenet ’ s Thinking Bigger
After a milestone achievement in the 2024 Comrades Marathon , Jenet Mbhele has her sights set on an even bigger goal in the next few years , and she ’ s shown she has the drive to do it ! – BY TATHE MSIMANGO
Running With the Wife
Whether we run , walk or run-walk , I love doing races with my wife , Cindy , but getting her to take up the sport , and convincing her that hills were not so bad , was quite the challenge . – BY GUILLAUME SMIT
The Running Mann : Earning Your Easter Eggs
I ’ m a bit behind with my race reports of some of my 2024 races , but here ’ s one from the new Festival of Running Marathon in Gqeberha , where I put my 21st birthday present to some use . – BY STUART MANN
From Crutches and Crohn ’ s to Comrades !
From battling various health conditions to conquering the Comrades Marathon again , my journey began as a search for healing through running and evolved into a profound passion that transformed my life . – BY DEBBIE IVINS
Project 100
Suzette McIvor completed her 100th marathon or ultra at the inaugural Yeti Marathon in central Nepal , in a unique , spectacular , and scenic location with the high Himalayan Mountains as background . – BY SCOTT McIVOR .
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Trail ( Mis ) Adventures : Beating the Backyard Brrrr
The recent Backyard Ultra at Van Gaalens in the North-West made for another wonderful trail running memory , even if it was so freezing cold at times that we had to de-ice everything ! – BY CARLA FARINA
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ISSUE 171 | www . modernathlete . co . za
Image : Christel Saneh / World Athletics
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Paris 2024 : Highlights of an Incredible Olympics !
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Running To Coffee – Pretoria Edition
Uniting Passion for Running and Community : This the story of the Running To Coffee Run Crew in Pretoria , as told to us by group founder Amish Kooverjee .