Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 68, March 2015 | Page 14

Ma

Then in August 2007, I was discharged from the
Oncology Centre in remission, with a warning that the
loss of my ovaries and the six rounds of chemotherapy
would result in weak bones, so I was advised to give up
running to avoid stress fractures.”

Feature

KEEP ON GOING

However, Bev refused to give up, and two months
later she ran the New York City Marathon for charity
(Livestrong), raising R56,000 for Cancer support and
research, most of which was donated to CHOC South
Africa. “Six months later, my dream of lining up at the
start of the 2008 Comrades Marathon came true, and
9 hours 36 minutes later I crossed the finish in a flood
of tears. As with most things, the pain you experience
during an ultra is soon forgotten and I lined up again in
2009 to run down to Durban for my back-to-back medal.”
Unfortunately, Bev’s luck ran out in the 2010 Comrades
as she was forced to withdraw at 30km with a stress
fracture in her left hip. “Three months later and there
was no improvement, so I underwent surgery to fix the
fracture, and again I was advised to give up running.
Refusing, I entered the Wild Coast Wild Run, which I ran
eight months later.” Shortly after that, she completed
her first triathlon, the day before her 50th birthday, and
three months later she completed her first Ironman
70.3, followed two months later by her first full Ironman!
“Since then I have completed two more half Ironmans
and one more full Ironman event. I also went back to
settle a score with Comrades in 2013, only six weeks
after Ironman.”

Bev, you are an Ironman!

I’m NOT DONE Yet!
Bev Baker’s impressive Ironman record is all the more remarkable when you
factor in her fight against cancer, and the fact that the doctors keep telling her
to stop running! – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

One of Bev’s three Comrades finishes

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then in March 2014 she won a gold medal at the SA
Olympic Distance Triathlon Champs and was selected
to represent SA at the 2014 World Champs in Canada.
But it has been a long, hard road for Bev after being
diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

EVERYTHING WAS ON TRACK…

As Bev explains, the cancer diagnosis came as a big
shock. “After supporting friends for years at Comrades,
2007 was going to be my year. After building a good
base running Two Oceans and other marathons during
2006, I prepared myself to run the Johnson Crane to
secure a solid seeding for Comrades, but it was not
to be. After a routine visit to my gynaecologist, I was
advised not to run, because I had to prepare for surgery
instead. No-one could’ve prepared me for the diagnosis
of ovarian cancer, which is known as the silent killer since
it’s so difficult to diagnose.”
So began eight months of surgery, scans, blood tests,
doctors, countless needles, chemotherapy, hair-loss,
weight-loss, strength-loss and emotional stress. Despite
this, Bev maintained a level of fitness by running 5km a
few times a week, even a few races. “With support from
my club mates at Fourways Running Club, I ran one or
two 10km and 21km races while still receiving treatment.

ISSUE 68 MARCH 2015 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Happy to still be
running, here in the
Two Oceans

NO FEAR

Even though running could result in more serious
injuries, Bev says the benefits outweigh the risks.
“The possibility exists of my cancer returning, and
the compromised bone density could set me back if I
broke a bone while running, but I refuse to live in fear,
because I believe that the weight-bearing exercise helps
with strengthening my bones and immune system, and
with the not-so-obvious side-effects of a woman not
having ovaries! So, on 29 March, I will be attempting
my third full Ironman. I have accepted that the intensity
of training might result in permanent damage in my
hip, so sadly it might have to be my last, but I’ll always
be active, and I plan to participate in events within my
limitations as long as I can. And I would urge everyone
to get active… the benefits are endless.”

Images: Courtesy Bev Baker

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his past January, Bev Baker of Cape
Town (formerly of Johannesburg) came
home second in the women’s 50-54 age
category at the Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 South
Africa in East London, to add to her already impressive
triathlon scorecard as an age-grouper: Third at Ironman
70.3 SA in 2012, third at the 2012 full Ironman SA,
fourth at the 2012 Ironman 70.3 in Phuket, Thailand,