Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014 | Page 28

Engineering

Ma balancing act

the way

Dr Stephen Meijers finds that fitting a run into your schedule
works wonders in getting to it, and the CEO of top engineering
group, the ELB Group Ltd, chats to Modern Athlete about his passion
for ultra-marathons and involving his business in the sport he loves.
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

W

hen it comes to balancing work and
running, few are as good at it as Dr. Stephen Meijers
(53), and that gives him the energy and motivation
to take on many annual challenges, including the
Two Oceans, Comrades and Washie ultra-marathons,
but also a personal challenge involving a few shorter
races. “Every year I run the Chamberlains Half in
Pretoria in around 1 hour 40 minutes, immediately
drive all the way to Harrismith just to get to the
start of the Harrismith Mountain 15km, and then it’s
the RAC Ladies 10km Challenge the next day,” says
Stephen.
“There was a time when I did four ultras, one
marathon and three half marathons in three weeks.
That’s what I enjoy – challenging myself to crazy
stuff!” he says. “Running keeps you going and it is
that space where you can put life in a logical
sequence. Heading out on a run energises me just
before work, like a Duracell Bunny, and it’s the biggest
sanity pill you can take. If you want it, you’ll remain
efficient to find the time.”

Bringing wellness to ELB

Stephen uses Comrades for
Washie training.
It’s still my ringtone today!” Next he moved up to
the Washie 100 Miler: “Now I pick out Oceans and
Comrades for Washie preparation, which is a unique
experience, taking on 160km. Your mind needs to be
strong and it takes something to get through the ups
and downs. You need a strategy – just like running a
business.”

Giving Back

In between a heavy work schedule and travelling,
Stephen takes pride in being part of ELB Group Ltd,
which focuses on the supply of engineered materials,
handling solutions and appropriate modular plants to
the mining, minerals, power, port, construction and
industrial sectors. As CEO of the Group and Chief
Executive of ELB Engineering Services in Rivonia, he
is not only focused on business, but also on spreading

wellness to his employees. “We have a running and
cycling group, there is a gym in the building for staff,
and we enter all the business challenges,” he says.
“We also sponsor the ELB St Vincent Colour Run,
involving the community to be active for a good
cause.”
Furthermore, Stephen will join 24 other runners and
30 cyclists in the ELB Extreme Road Challenge later
this month to raise funds for St Vincent School for the
Deaf. The relay teams of five runners will try trump
the cyclists in a journey from Stonehaven on Vaal to
Pietermaritzburg, a grueling 512km, and they’ll be
racing for 50 hours non-stop. “This will be similar to
Washie, where you almost pass out on your feet,”
says Stephen, “but I’ve learnt to plan and pace, and
that’s how running and business link up. You learn
discipline.”
After that, there are still more challenges he’s eyeing,
including the Iceland Marathon and the Marathon des
Sables in the Sahara Desert. ”I want to leave a legacy
and have fun! Many people get business done on the
golf course while I settle for the road, and it’s a simple
idea I go by: Train harder, work smarter and manage
your time.”

Going Long

Surprisingly, this endurance junkie was totally focused
on his career in his thirties, but took up serious
running in his early forties after undergoing a health
check. “I landed in ICU with stomach problems, so
there was a need to change my lifestyle,” and so he
did a complete 180-degree turn and now runs six
times a week, with longer runs over weekends.
“Running became a part of my life to become fit, and
eventually I got tired of buying temporary licenses,
so I joined Nedbank Running Club and Comrades was
the next step.” That saw Stephen take on the 85th
edition of the race in 2009 and come home in 9:54.
“I remember coming into the finish and Rihanna’s
Russian Roulette played throughout the stadium.

28

ISSUE 63 OCTOBER 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Relief at the finish of Washie.

Images: Jetline Action Photo and courtesy Stephen Meijers

Stephen and friend Arthur all
smiles at the Outeniqua Marathon.