Ma letters
Have YOUR SAY
Got something on your mind that you want to share, a burning question you want answered, or a good story to tell? Then send it to letters @ modernathlete. co. za.
( Note that these letters may have been shortened due to space limitations.)
WINNING LETTER
MARRIED TO A NON-RUNNER
I am a runner. I love to run. I need to run! Running is my thing, my world. It makes me happy. My husband is not a runner. He tried to be a runner … then‘ life’ got in the way … but I kept running. I have found a passion inside me for running. I live for‘ race-cations’ because I get to run in different places! My husband does not understand why I’ d spend so much time researching and planning a running route while on vacation. He just does not get it.
I get the runner’ s high; my husband thinks it’ s just something runners say. I love to run local races; he doesn’ t get why I pay money to run somewhere I could run for free any other day of the week. I do my best to take care of myself by eating right most of the time, and putting in the long hours of training, so I can be a better runner. He tells me all the time, it’ s just one meal, or you can skip this time.
If I don’ t get in my run, I’ m grumpy. He’ s grumpy when I tell him I’ ve got to first get my run in. Saturday morning I’ m up early so I can get in my long run. He knows how much I love to sleep, and for the life of him can’ t understand why I’ d get out of a perfectly comfortable bed that early to go for a run. After a long race, I hurt all over, sometimes for days. I can’ t even get up from sitting down, and don’ t even get me started about going down stairs. He thinks I’ m crazy when I say I’ m doing it again the very next weekend!
I take up more than half of our closet, mostly filled with running clothes, gear, shoes and socks. I can go into every store in the mall and find nothing to wear, but give me one athletic store and I could break the bank! This he does not understand either.( I spend most of my extra cash on entry fees, and everything else that has to do with running. He does not know exactly how much this is, and that part I’ d like to keep to myself.)
But … He is my biggest fan and supporter. He spends hours and hours listening to me talk about running. He may not be at every local 5km, but for all others he is right there with me at the starting line, whether that is 5am or 8am, and cheering me on as I come through the finish. He will have supper cooked when I walk in the door from an after-work run.
He does not get running. But he gets me, and he knows how much it makes me happy. And in the end, that is all that matters. – Lizette Du Plessis, Stellenbosch
Sounds like you have the perfect non-running partner, Lizette … long as you don’ t take any more of his closet space for more running gear! – Ed.
INSPIRING THE KIDS
I am proud to say that we are a family of runners. My husband is amazing. I admire his extreme dedication and hard work every single day. He has a very proud silver Comrades medal and a Washie medal, to name but a few. I, on the other hand, am a proud finisher... most of the time. I didn’ t finish my last two attempts at Comrades due to a back injury, but I have two Comrades medals and two from the Two Oceans. I have recently discovered a new love... It’ s called trail running, the ultimate combination of hiking and running. Double win, people!
My daughter Eminje has also discovered a love for running and this is our big joy. Every kiddy dash is like the equivalent of a Comrades finish to her! She is so very proud of each 1km race that she finishes, and this makes our hearts so very proud. She will bolt and very proudly announce another Comrades medal!( The pic here is of Eminje and I at the Cowhouse Market Trail Run in January, where she came third in the kiddies dash!
To inspire our youth is what really counts. So be an example to your kids. Go out and conquer your first milestone! Be it a 5km walk or a Comrades finish. Inspire! Create a nation that tries, trains and attempts! – Janeane Watt, Pretoria
I well remember the excitement of my first medals, so brilliant to hear that your daughter has taken to running thanks to the example of her parents. – Ed.
THE OLD WAYS ARE BEST
I read the article by Frankie Hunt( Two Myths Busted, January edition) with interest, yet still with some sorrow. The diet he recommends is fine, the cross country running is fine, yet everyone wants to work against a stopwatch. In contrast, one of the greatest athletic coaches of all times, Percy Cerutti of Australia, was showing the rest of the world in the 60’ s how to really condition
Images: Fotolia, Wikipedia, Courtesy Janeane Watt
6 ISSUE 92 MARCH 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za