Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 50, September 2013 | Page 19

My Story brought to you by
Leendert Van Rooyen has just completed his first Comrades Marathon, but realises that without good friends and their belief in him, this would never have been possible. This is his story.

COMRADES RUNNER IN THE MAKING
A friend of mine from Pietermaritzburg needed help with the handing out of medals at the finish line of Comrades 2012, and it was the first time ever that I attended such a huge running event. After the last competitor finished, I set my sights on running Comrades 2013. I also wanted to be an athlete, a competitor, and a part of something good and beautiful, though I weighed 127kg at that stage! But as the winter of 2012 arrived my excitement for Comrades had disappeared. That which I desired so much had disappeared along with the summer sun. Lu ???????????)???Y?????????????$???????????????????????????????????A????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????$??????????????????????????)???????A????????????????????????????????$???????????????????????????????????????????
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