Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 67, February 2015 | Seite 4

Ma Editor’s letter
PUBLISHERS
Mike Bray &
Craig Van der Westhuizen [e-mail]
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR
Sean Falconer [e-mail]
JOURNALIST & RACE EDITOR
Lauren van der Vyver [e-mail]
DESIGNER
Caroline Collings [e-mail]
ONLINE EDITOR
Rob Squire [e-mail]

I

n the latter half of 2014, I made a long-awaited, muchdelayed, careful return to full-time running after a most
frustrating series of injuries picked up on the soccer field,
including two torn calves. The result of those injuries was that I
had run only a tiny number of races for the past four or so years.
(Before you ask, yes, I have finally decided to retire from playing
league soccer, but at least I went out on a high: The over-35 team I
was playing for won two league titles and earned promotion twice
in the past three seasons!)

As a result, waking up early to go run a race is not exactly
something I am ‘used to’ right now. Yes, I still went to many races
while injured, to do commentary or to cover the event for the mag,
so getting up early on the weekend is no problem, but getting my
mind right the night before a race… now that is a different story. I
also have to watch what I eat and drink the night before. Haven’t
had to do that for a while!
Having done a number of trail races to get my legs going again
on softer surfaces, I ran a few 10km road races late last year, and
it felt terrific to be back on the road. Then early in January I lined
up for the Ocean Basket Bay to Bay 15km and Brooks Hohenhort
15km races in Cape Town, which would be the longest runs on tar
I had done in four years, and I will admit that I started them both
a little anxious, worrying whether my calves and Achilles would
hold up. Consequently, I found myself asking the age old question
as I tentatively took on the first kay or two: “Why am I doing this
to myself?”
But then I got my answer, as a runner I have known for years
pulled up next to me and we began a lovely catch-up chat. When
Modern Athlete March.fh11 2/21/14 1:28 PM Page 1
we parted ways a little further down the road, I soon found another

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friend to chat to, and this went on virtually the en ѥɔ