Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 54, January 2014 | Page 6

Editor’s Letter That Madiba Spirit PUBLISHERS Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen [email protected] and always so positive. As endurance athletes, we can take a simple leaf from his book by living each day as if it is a gift, embracing life and the opportunities we are given, and giving our all when we undertake something, seeing it through to the end. Whether it is your first 10km race or an ultra-marathon, I believe we can run like Madiba would have. I think that would be an appropriate way to celebrate his incredible spirit, which will always remain with us. T he one thing that was on everybody’s minds as we put this edition together was the passing of former President Nelson Mandela. It was a sad time for our country as we said goodbye to a great man, but at the same time we celebrated his life, his achievements and above all, his spirit. Few people make as big an impression on others, and affect their lives so greatly, as Madiba did, not just in SA but all over the world, and I hope that we can all live up to the legacy that he leaves behind. Even as athletes we have an opportunity now to do so, by running, cycling or swimming in honour of him. Madiba was a great lover of sport and those who met him at the finish of the Comrades Marathon still talk of it many years later – how he joked with them about wanting to train for the race himself, so could they give him some advice, please? I’d like to think that had Madiba not spent the prime of his years in jail, he would have trained for and run the Comrades himself. I can just picture him running into the stadium, wearing race number 46664, with Bruce Fordyce and Andrew Kelehe running either side of him as pacers, and a whole bunch of body guards in tow, looking shattered, while he waves and smiles at the crowd. Now that would have been something to tell your grandkids about! What I mean about living up to his legacy, even in our Modernsport, is that he was so full of hope for this Page 1 Athlete November.fh11 10/18/13 8:06 AM country, 6 Composite ISSUE 54 JANUARY 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za Sean Falconer [email protected] JOURNALIST & RACE EDITOR Lauren van der Vyver [email protected] DESIGNER & JOURNALIST Nicole de Villiers [email protected] RACE CORRESPONDENT Donald Mathipa ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER GAUTENG When I look at some of the elite athletes this country has produced, like Wally Hayward and Bruce Fordyce, I see that same drive, passion and spirit that I saw in Madiba. And when I look at the current elites, like the ones featured in this edition – Lusapho April, Annerie Ebersohn, James Cunnama, Thabang Madiba, Kyle Buckingham and Alae Brand – I am filled with wonderment at the passion that they exude for their sport, and for living life in general. These are driven people that go out there and give it their all. And it is a privilege to meet them, write about them and tell you their stories. Robin Hide 082 777 0988 / [email protected] SALES MANAGER WESTERN CAPE Lynette Higgo 082 835 0668 / [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION Lauren van der Vyver 011 454 1542 / [email protected] EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS CMA, Two Oceans Marathon, Jacques Marais, Tom Cottrell, Delaine Cools, Ray Orchison, Derick Marcisz, Georgie Thomas, Salome Scholtz, Michelle Rozowsky, Ironman SA & parkrun SA Sean Falconer COVER IMAGE Getty Images IMAGES CMA, Jetline Action Photo, Craig Muller, Jacques Marais, Two Oceans, adidas, Andrew King, Dylan Haskin, Wildrunner, Gill Fordyce, Michelle Rozowsky, Gwen Sparks, Two Oceans Marathon, Kate Armstrong, Kyle Buckingham, Ironman SA, Chris Hitchcock, Race Organisers, Sean Falconer, Lauren Van Der Vyver, Simon Smith, Carli Venter, Nico Walters, J-P van Staden, Jacques Le Roux, Illovo Sugar, Darrell De Wet, Sharon Schubach, Shaun Naidoo, Peter Kirk, Annerie Ebersohn, Greg Beadle, James Cummana, Alae Brand, Ashleigh Pasio, iStock Flickr, adidas & Karen Zimmerman Follow me on Twitter: @sean_falconer A special salute to the Bedfordview Athletic Club for taking 60 members on a 24km Saturday morning pack run to Madiba’s house in Houghton to pay their respects after his passing. That’s one long run I wish I could have joined. –CM MY CY Ed. C M Y Images: Courtesy adidas & Bedfordview AC The Ed with Lusapho April and adidas ambassader, weatherman Derek van Dam. EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR CMY FIND US TELEPHONE [phone] E-MAIL [email protected] PHYSICAL ADDRESS 92, 1st Avenue, Edenvale WEB www.modernathlete.co.za FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/modernathletemag TWITTER @modern_athlete K Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 29 059 (Jan – March 2013).