Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 56, March 2014 | Page 34

Dare to Tri

g on
Takin
ne!
Big O
the

At the end of January, 60 Modern Athlete Dare
to Tri athletes took on IRONMAN 70.3. Now
14 of them are ‘doubling up’ from the ‘half
Ironman’ to take on the full IRONMAN South
Africa in Port Elizabeth on 6 April.

Images: Chris Hitchcock & Courtesy Dare to Tri athletes

– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

and this positive lifestyle choice will hopefully filter
through to my kids. I am also blessed to be able
to run for Ironman for Kidz, which supports local
children’s homes in the Eastern Cape as well as the
Happy Ethan Project NGO. I wouldn’t be realising any
of these dreams if it wasn’t for Dare to Tri. I wouldn’t
have the confidence to attempt this were it not for
coach Derickand all the members.”

Elizma Jordaan: “I

W

ith a new route as well as a bigger field of about
2000 competitors expected, the 10th edition of IRONMAN
South Africa – the only full IRONMAN on the African
continent – is set to be the best yet, and part of the big
day will be a number of Modern Athlete Dare to Tri
team members, fresh from their success in finishing the
IRONMAN 70.3 in Buffalo City. For most it will be a first
taste of the full when they line up at the start on Hobie
Beach, and we asked them why they’re tackling the big
one

Brenda Pritchard: “I knew
I had to attempt the full distance!
It can be compared to runners
who say they will never run
Comrades, and then there
they are, crossing the finish
line at Comrades, collecting
their medal. The human spirit
gives us all courage to tackle the
impossible! I am
hoping to cross
that finish line and collect my
medal.”

Dave Bennett: “From
a 40-a-day smoker 18 months
ago to this is a transformation
I certainly never envisaged,

34

ISSUE 56 MARCH 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

attempted my first 70.3 this
year and I was only on the
waiting list for Ironman
(890th, I may add), so
I wasn’t planning on
getting in. When I did get
an entry a week before
70.3, I was excited. I can
do much more than what I
ever dreamed of. The training
is not always easy, but it taught me
so much about myself. Ironman will be my ultimate
challenge. I know it is going to b HH