Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 68, March 2015 | Page 12

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FEATURE

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Vlam Pieterse is one of the most recognised Comrades runners of the last 15 years, despite
always finishing with just a few minutes to spare, thanks to his heroics as a long-time driver
of the sub-12:00 pacing bus, and in 2015 he will once again be part of the Modern Athlete
Comrades Pacesetting crew. – BY SEAN FALCONER

PACING PERFECTION

PACESETTTERS

With 23 Comrades medals to his name, the 57-year-old has
finished with 10 minutes or less to spare 18 times, so he is
an expert on getting the pace just right at Comrades. But
it all started in a half marathon, when Vlam helped some
clubmates run their target time, and his pacesetting skills
soon led to more requests, until eventually he found himself
the designated driver of the sub-12:00 bus at Comrades,
even before the buses became an official, organised part
of the race. Thus the legendary ‘Vlam se Bus’ was born,
and Vlam even used to bring along a huge weather balloon

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with his name on it, so that fellow runners would be able to
spot him amongst the crowd at the start! Another part of
the Vlam legend is the role his wife San plays on race day,
popping up at regular intervals along the route with her
marmite sandwiches – now just as famous as Vlam himself!
“I help runners who are hoping to reach the cut-off time,
including those who are capable, but don’t believe in
themselves enough,” explains the red-haired Vlam, hence
his nickname. “For me, the ultra-marathon is a spiritual
journey… we are fortunate to be able to run it, and knowing
we can do it strengthens the mind. But sometimes we
need a little bit of help to get home.” Thus Vlam breaks
the distance up into smaller, more manageable segments,
and keeps the group’s minds off the distance with jokes,
songs and a flair for making funny comments, like “Bolyfies
vorentoe, borsies uit, dames ook!” The group chants, sings,
waves their hands – anything to have fun while keeping
going – and every kay marker is greeted with the singing of
Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust.
Vlam actually says that he can’t run races without a
pack around him any more – he misses the camaraderie

too much! But driving the 12-hour bus is also a huge
responsibility, one that he doesn’t take lightly. “It’s really living
life on the edge – great if you make it, heartbreaking if you
don’t. I have learnt to remember that I am a pacesetter, not
a nurse, and I have to keep the best interests of the group in
mind. I must stick to my pacing chart to ensure that everyone
in the bus gets to the finish on time, and I cannot slow down
or stop for anybody who can’t keep up, even though it breaks
my heart to see them drop off the bus.”

Modern Athlete Comrades Pacesetters Programme 2015
The Modern Athlete Pacesetters will once again be in action at his year’s Comrades Marathon on 31 May, but this
year the volunteer pacesetters will be appointed well in advance and will be in action in some qualifying marathons or
shorter ultras leading up to the Big C. This will allow runners to meet and run with the Pacesetters before the big day,
to get to know their pacing style and strategies.
Vlam Pieterse is just one of our volunteer Pacesetters, and several others from previous years will also be returning –
watch the mag for more on them in coming months – but Modern Athlete is still looking for more pacers. If you are
willing to carry a flag at Comrades, please mail Sean Falconer at [e-mail] and include a brief
running CV. Please note that only experienced Comrades runners will be considered for this important but immensely
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