Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 91, February 2017 | Página 5

EDITOR ’ S LETTER Ma

I Just Love It !

PUBLISHERS Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen GENERAL MANAGER Craig Bannan craigb @ modernathlete . co . za DIVISIONAL HEAD Richard Laskey richard @ modernathlete . co . za CONTENT MANAGER Roxanne Martin roxanne @ modernathlete . co . za
EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR Sean Falconer seanf @ modernathlete . co . za RACE EDITOR Kyle Deeley kyle @ moderncyclist . co . za DESIGNER Caroline Collings caroline . collings @ gmail . com INTERNS Rachel Pienaar rachel @ moderncyclist . co . za
ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / richard @ modernathlete . co . za Celia Lightley 076 490 6652 / celia @ modernathlete . co . za
Images : Chris Hitchcock & courtesy Buks van Heerden

With this being the February edition , I feel it appropriate to talk about love in this month ’ s letter . After all , Valentine ’ s Day is around the corner , but the specific reason I want to talk about it is because of two recent ‘ running weddings ’ amongst my running friends .

The first was the rather unique wedding of Quinton and Kim Walker in Cape Town . Having met through running , and even gone for a trail run for their first date , these two decided to invite all their friends to run a few kays up the lower slopes of Table Mountain to a picturesque setting in the Newlands Forest for an informal but intimate ceremony . The men met at one point , the women at another , and the two groups then jogged up the hill , while a third group of non-runners , kids and elderly walked a shorter distance from the car park . It really was most enjoyable , with each guest even given a QuiKim ‘ race number ’ to pin to their running kit .
A few weeks later , Buks and Carolien van Heerden tied the knot in Johannesburg , also surrounded by their many running friends . These two also met through running and have been inseparable since , with Carolien usually accompanying Buks on his many pacesetting runs , including his sub-12 effort at the 2016 Comrades . That ’ s where he popped the question , on the finish line , and the photo of him punching the air in joy when she said yes still makes me smile . The lovely touch at their wedding was their wedding cake : Instead of a man in a tux and woman in a white dress on top of the cake , they had an exact replica of the proposal – even down to their running kit and the pacing flags Buks carried that day !
Carolien and Buks van Heerden
I want to take this opportunity to wish both couples all the best for the future . All of them are close friends of this magazine and it gives me great pleasure to see them all so happy .
In the Mag
Speaking of happiness , you simply can ’ t wipe the smile off the face of this month ’ s cover runner , Dominique Scott-Efurd . The US-based Olympian was home in SA over the Festive Season to visit her family when I caught up with her for an interview , and she was the epitome of joy as she talked about her Olympic experience , turning pro after a glorious college career , and of course , married life , as she also got hitched this past year – and she also met husband Cameron Efurd through running .
So I ’ m making love the focus of my own running this month . The last year or so was so jam-packed with deadlines and other work activities , that I had somewhat fallen out of love with running . I could still write about it , but getting out the front door was proving a challenge . Happily , that has already changed in recent weeks as I have rediscovered the pure joy of just lacing up and hitting the road or trail . And hey , you never know , perhaps this long-time bachelor will even meet his future wife through running this year …
Sean Falconer
Follow me on Twitter : @ sean _ falconer Follow the mag as well : @ modern _ athlete
MARKETING MANAGER Aurelia Masino Aurelia @ modernathlete . co . za
SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION info @ modernathlete . co . za
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Regulars : Christine Peters , Delaine Cools ( Comrades ), Derick Marcisz , Ernest Hobbs , Jeannie Jordaan , Kyle Deeley , Nonkululeko Mdlalose ( Comrades ), Norrie Williamson , Pierre Ferreirra , Rachel Pienaar , Ray Orchison , René Kalmer , Riël Hauman , Roxanne Martin , Sean Falconer , The Gentleman Racer , Tom Cottrell Guest Writers : Bailee Coetzee , Des Harris , Jennifer Joynt , Joey Gotkin , Lolly ( via E-mail ), Missy Njobe , Neal Stacey , Nina Bodisch
COVER IMAGE David Papenfus
IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers : Chris Hitchcock , Fotolia , Hayley Hagen , Jasper Coetzee , Jetline Action Photo , Reg Caldecott , Tobias Ginsberg Non-professional photographers : Moegsien Ebrahim , Jonathan Cross , Rene Scott , Sean Falconer , Toni Suddes Courtesy : Avhasei Makananisa , Belinda Padbury , Buks van Heerden , Cape Town Cycle Tour , Carien Du Plessis , Christine Kalmer , Comrades Marathon Association , Derick Marcisz , Dominique Donner-Rodd , Dominique Scott-Efurd , Fezeka Soyiselwe Mkhwa , IAAF , Jeannie Dreyer , Jeannie Jordaan , Jennifer Joynt , Jessica Freedman , Martin Dreyer , Michelle Cupido , Mindlo Mdhluli , Missy Njobe , Neal Stacey , Norrie Williamson , PUMA , René Kalmer , Ricardo Almano , Suunto , The Gentleman Racer , Two Oceans Marathon and various Race Organisers , Athletes & PR companies
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Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 53,516 ( Apr - Jun 2016 )

WINNERS ’ CORNER

Congratulations to all the winners of our January edition competitions .
HAVE YOUR SAY Win adidas Supernova Glide Boost running shoes for the winning letter Nadri Zitski , Klerksdorp
ATHLETES IN ACTION Win New Balance Fresh Foam trail running shoes for the winning photo Tanya Ho , Johannesburg
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