Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 77, December 2015 | Page 7

runner should, at least, have two pairs of training shoes. They do not come cheap but are
absolutely worth it! – Jacobeth Makala, Bronkhorstspruit
So true that good running shoes are the number one piece of equipment for runners,
but all too often the shoes are blamed for an overuse injury, when the actual problem
is too much mileage done too soon, or a muscle strength imbalance causing wear and
tear on a specific joint, muscle, ligament or tendon. – Ed.

BECOMING STILL GREATER
An athlete’s training is never done. Whether it’s your first 5km, the Comrades Marathon or the
Mont-Aux Sources, once you have achieved your main goal, you set another, higher goal, and
there is always one big bigger than the previous one, because as an athlete you always want to
push yourself harder and do greater things.
I’ve been running for 24 years, on and off, but in the last five years I have had three operations
in both hips and a knee from running ultras, and I thought this is it. But I have not given up.
After every operation I had to learn to walk again, before I could even attempt running, but I did
it. I entered the Mont-Aux Sources this year, which is one of the toughest races I have done, but
I made it, and now I want to achieve even greater things. I was wary to enter Comrades again,
as I don’t know if I’m ready for another possibl H[