Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 64, November 2014 | Page 20

Ma feature

Big Mac
of the Trails

– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

H

aving won the Pronutro AfricanX, Lisa’s
Forest Run, Northern Trail Challenge and Mnweni
Marathon in 2014, Megan Mackenzie was in the
SA team to go to the USA for the World Long
Distance Trail Champs in August. However, a fall
at the Mnweni Marathon put paid to her World
Champs dream, and she described that race
experience as both a best and worst moment.

Powering up the climbs at AfricanX.

“I trained hard for Mnweni because it was a
World Champs qualifier and I won, but the fall
affected me. It started as little fractures in my
hip and expanded like a car window cracking
when I fell.” Two months after falling, she
still hoped she would be ready for the World
Champs, but training just made the problem
worse and Meg ended up on crutches for eight
weeks. “I injured myself more. It was a huge
disappointment withdrawing, but all I’ve done is
shift my goals instead of giving up.”

20

Meg coming home to win the 2014 ProNutro AfricanX Trailrun with Andrew Erasmus.

Natural Talent

Learning Curve

Born on a farm in Cato Ridge in KwaZulu-Natal,
Megan went to boarding school at St Anne’s in
the Midlands and went on to study economics
and politics at Rhodes University before
completing her Honours in International
Relations in the USA. Later, she completed her
Post-graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
and did a specialised course in dyslexia, and
now works at Bellavista School in Johannesburg.
Growing up in an active family, she tried her
hand at canoeing, cross-country and adventure
races, but says she only took up competitive
running in 2011, and found her niche in trail
running the following year.

Looking back, Megan recalls her mixed category
win at AfricanX earlier this year with teammate
Andrew Erasmus as something that stands out.
“I didn’t know what to expect because I hadn’t
raced with anyone before,” she says, “but it
was unbelievable, because Andrew and I just
gelled. We didn’t win stage one, then we won
stage two, but we were behind so we needed to
catch up time on day three and it was incredible
being able to do it!” The pair finished tops, even
though they had to wait a minute before they
figured out they had clinched it. “What relief!
The great thing was that we got to share that
feeling…”

“It was July 2012 at the Rhodes Ultra Trail where
I won and broke the ladies’ record,” she says.
“I wasn’t trained properly and I didn’t wear a
watch. I just ran. Salomon then approached me
to be an ambassador and put me on their elite
team and everything spiralled from there.” Last
year, Megan won the Mnweni Marathon, Redbull
Pyramid Challenge, Thule 4 Peaks and Rhodes
Ultra, also bagging podium spots at the Redbull
Lionheart and 3 Cranes Challenge. She was also
fourth at the Otter. “I’ve got a strong mind for
the bigger distances,” she explains. “I find in
stage races, it’s three days where you can get
absorbed. You spend time with athletes, you
reflect, you work out what you can do better. I
love strategising!”

Later in the year she then found out how to deal
with the lows that followed. “I could have easily
let go after three months out, but my brother,
family, friends, my team and work colleagues
have been so supportive!” Now Meg is focused
on getting up and running again, keeping up
cardio by cycling and swimming a couple of
hours a day, going on the anti-gravity machine
and doing rehab and strength work. “My coach
Neville Beeton has been positive and we’ve been
able to start from scratch again properly.
Next year there is World Champs
in July and the Otter to aim for,
and my mantra is ‘Run happy,
light and free.’ I just remember
that I’m doing what I love,
bouncing along a trail!”

ISSUE 64 NOVEMBER 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Stay in touch with Megan’s
progress on her blog at
www.megmackenzie.co.za

Images: Terence Vrugtman, Jeff Ayliffe, Jetline Action Photo

It was all going to plan for trail star
Megan Mackenzie earlier this year
as she picked up win after win, until a
nasty injury sidelined her and forced
her to withdraw from the Trail World
Champs, but she’s determined to
bounce back stronger than ever.