Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 63, October 2014 | Page 48

Ma race report

O

kay, so it was only 5km, but I had something to prove. I wanted to
finish within 40 minutes – I’m normally a slow, take-photos-on-the-go kind
of runner – and the country course wasn’t something I wanted to miss.
Winter hadn’t quite left the Highveld yet, so the freezing start was ideal
to get me going quickly to warm up, and with a first 2km stretch of flat
paths through the estate, I found myself going easily, taking in the silence
surrounding the farm houses, where residents with piping hot coffees
watched us pass. Just in front of me, a couple were running together, but
eventually he sped ahead and then turned back to meet her again – and she
was clearly not impressed!
The 3km mark gave us a slight hill to the water point, and it was time to
take out the phone and snap some of the tranquil surroundings, secluded
from the bustling Sunday morning traffic to church or the mall. Maybe that
was what made it seem so alien – no cars! Then it was a fast finish, winding
down to the tar roads just outside the estate. I managed a 41-minute finish
– I blame my photo-taking – and kept hearing positive comments from the
half marathoners and 10km runners about the great new course.

Ain’t nothing
gonna break my

ArthroChoice Midrand Striders Half Marathon,
10km & 5km, Central Gauteng, 24 August

With a magnificent new venue at Kyalami Equestrian
Estate providing the runners with a challenging, hilly but
scenic race, Modern Athlete’s Lauren Van Der Vyver
decided to stretch her legs as well.

48

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

A big thank you to Happy.Me and Mangwanani Spa for being loyal
partners to the Modern Athlete Chill Zone! A cold bubble tea and
neck rub down was exactly what I needed after my ‘tough’ run.

Images: Lauren Van Der Vyver

stride