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In The Lead
SETTING THE PACE
In the last few years Buks van Heerden has built a solid reputation as one of the most reliable pacesetters in South Africa, helping many athletes achieve their running goals. That included bringing the sub-12:00 Comrades bus home in 2016, although he will tell you that it was a very stressful run! – BY SEAN FALCONER
At the recent Pick n Pay Marathon in Johannesburg, well known Gauteng Pacesetter Buks van Heerden brought his sub-5:00 bus home on time, once again helping many runners to qualify for the Comrades Marathon. It was his 50 th consecutive successful delivery of a bus within the‘ advertised’ target time since January 2016, including not only the sub-12:00 bus at Comrades, but also six marathons in four weeks that culminated with that milestone 50 th bus. Now Buks says he is aiming for 100, all with his trademark PinkDrive armwarmers, which he always wears to support the cancer awareness charity.“ It may be arrogant to aim for 100 consecutive successful pacing races, but it motivates me,” says the 45-year-old from Meyerton, near Vereeniging, adding that he loves giving back to the sport by volunteering as a pacesetter.
However, he adds that it can be a challenging job.“ Everybody wants to run in front, right next to the pacesetter, and quite a few runners think they know better than the pacesetter what the right pace should be,” he laughs.“ But I love the fact that I can help people and make their running dreams come true, and it shows that we can unite and work together. That said, it is heartbreaking to leave people behind when they can’ t keep up during a race. As a result I have finished many races in tears after having to leave people behind, but the job has to be done, and for every one you leave behind, there are 10 or 20 who make it and hit their goals. The strange thing is I actually often get messages from these people to say sorry that they couldn’ t hang on, but I just tell them to put in some more training and join me for another attempt. It is amazing to know I can make such a difference in other people’ s lives.”
GIVING BACK
This drive to help others sees Buks not only leading a bus in all his races, usually with his wife Carolien by his side, but also sees him co-ordinating the recently created Gauteng Pacesetters, a group of volunteers who regularly give up their own races to help others hit their target times.“ It all came out of a long-time discussion between myself, Jackie Campher and Johan van Tonder, who are both regular Comrades Pacesetters for Modern Athlete. We said we needed somebody to co-ordinate the pacers in Gauteng, just like Paul Murphy does with the Western Province Pacesetters down in the Cape, and since I like proper planning and control, Carolien and I started the Gauteng Pacesetters. In November we put out a call on social media asking for volunteer pacesetters for the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon, and we were overwhelmed by the response.”
“ Our first official pacing race was actually the Kaapsehoop Marathon the day before Soweto, and in those two races we delivered 90 % of the buses successfully, but since then the guys and girls have really grown into the pacing role and we’ re getting it right consistently. We also have great support from the Cape – Paul has provided us with a lot of advice, and Rassie Pretorius provides pacing plans and route profiles, so we’ ve been able to apply their lessons and experience, which has allowed us to grow quickly.”
Buks van Heerden
Images: Jetline Action Photo, CMA & Courtesy Buks van Heerden
12 ISSUE 92 MARCH 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za