Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 94, May 2017 | Page 6

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EDITOR’ S LETTER

I’ ll Be Back...

Hello, my name is Sean and I have only run once in the last month … Not exactly something the editor of a running magazine is supposed to admit to publicly, but that’ s been the sorry state of my running since I wrote my last Ed’ s Letter. That solitary run was at the Umhlanga parkrun, when I was in KZN to do work at the Durban City Marathon and SA Marathon Champs. It was a marvellous run, in typically awesome KZN weather, with fresh sea air and stunning beach views, along with the company of running colleagues and followed by a cooling swim … but that’ s it. That’ s all I managed. In a month!

You see, first I tweaked my lower back while hunting mosquitoes. I kid you not … I was standing on my bed to get closer to an offending bloodsucker on the roof, zapped it with the can of Doom and fist-pumped the air in victory, but when I stepped off the bed again, I managed to twist my back at just the wrong angle and strained the lower back muscles.( Note to self, more core exercises needed!)
Just as I was getting over that, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon rolled around, which meant a whole week of working at the Expo, being up before sunrise to drive through peak traffic to be at the Expo, getting home again after dark, and then on race day itself I was on the route doing vibe commentary … Lots of fun, great hanging out with so many running friends, but I picked up a sniffle, and that was then compounded by standing outside in the cold morning air while doing vibe point commentary for the PinkDrive.
Now I do not suffer from‘ Man-flu Syndrome,’ so I don’ t think I’ m dying when I have a mere cold or bout of flu, but I do believe in first getting healthy before taking to the roads and trails again, so that meant no running for another week. But then I worked another early morning event in cold, windy conditions, and the raspy cough came back in full force. So, another week without running, and here I sit, feeling frustrated, lethargic and unfit. I really want to go for a run. Soon!
Now you may be asking why I am telling you this... Simple, really, because I know I am not the only one who is unable to run right now. Some of you may be ill as well, especially in the last month of build-up to the Comrades Marathon, when bodies are perhaps a bit run down and more susceptible to catching a bug. Some of you may have picked up an injury – hopefully not from mozzie hunting! – and some may have family or work commitments that are keeping you from running. There may also be some of you struggling with a lack of motivation, or direction, in your running.
Whatever the reason for you not running, I hope that picking up this magazine full of inspirational stories will help you get back to running( or riding). If you’ re anything like me, you will read these stories and will want to get out there yourself. So lace‘ em up!
Sean Falconer
The Ed after his Umhlang parkrun, with colleagues Agne, Carey, Marnus and Michael
Follow me on Twitter: @ sean _ falconer Follow the mag as well: @ modern _ athlete
PUBLISHERS Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen 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
ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / richard @ modernathlete. co. za Celia Lightley 076 490 6652 / celia @ modernathlete. co. za
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, PJ Moses, Ray Orchison, Reggie Hufkie, René Kalmer, Roxanne Martin, Sean Falconer, The Gentleman Racer, Tom Cottrell Guest Writers: Andries Bezuidenhout, Boitumelo Mogapi, Caroline Collings, Fabio De Dominicis, Frankie Hunt, Helen Webb, Mary Mutlanyane, Nico van der Walt, Rachel Pienaar, Rayno Lourens, Rudolf van Rensburg, Sam Stokesberry
COVER IMAGE Jetline Action Photo
IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers: Fotolia, Graham Topfoto, Jetline Action Photo, Mark Sampson / Thribe, Reg Caldecott, Tobias Ginsberg, Van Zyl Naude Non-professional photographers: Caroline Collings, Charmaine van Rooyen, Jeannie Jordaan, Moegsien Ebrahim, Roxanne Martin, Sean Falconer Courtesy: Amanda De Beer, Amoija Events, Bronwen Thomas, Colleen McNally, Comrades Marathon Association, DTT athletes, Eric McLaren, Lisa Selwood, Long Tom Toboggan, Mary Mutlanyane, Pierre Renshaw, PJ Moses, René Kalmer, Richard Wright, Sarah Hill, Sibs Mashimane, Stacey Holland, Stephen Masekela, Steve Saunders, Stillwater Events, The Gentleman Racer, Tomjachu Bush Resort, Wendy Case and various Race Organisers, Athletes & PR companies
FIND US TELEPHONE 011 028 0234 E-MAIL info @ modernathlete. co. za PHYSICAL ADDRESS Cnr Koornhof & Essex Road, Meadowdale Ext 1, Germiston WEB www. modernathlete. co. za FACEBOOK www. facebook. com / modernathletemag TWITTER @ modern _ athlete
Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 58,175( Oct- Dec 2016)
Image: Courtesy Sean Falconer

WINNERS’ CORNER

Congratulations to all the winners of our April edition competitions.
HAVE YOUR SAY Win adidas Supernova Glide Boost running shoes for the winning letter Kim Walker, Cape Town
ATHLETES IN ACTION Win New Balance Fresh Foam trail running shoes for the winning photo Tim King, Cape Town
6 ISSUE 94 MAY 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za