Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 95, June 2017 | Page 5

EDITOR’S LETTER
Ma
PUBLISHERS
Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen
DIVISIONAL HEAD
Richard Laskey [e-mail]
CONTENT MANAGER
Roxanne Martin [e-mail]
Comrades
Memories
R
ummaging through a cupboard the other
day, I came across one of my old Comrades
Marathon media accreditation lanyards,
and did it bring back memories! After some 18 years
working as a running journo in SA, I have built up
quite a collection of these lanyards, and there are
quite a few from the Comrades.
I have never run the Comrades. There are a number
of reasons for that, including being a soccer player
as well as a runner until a few years ago, and thus I
chose not to run the long ones... yet. Because each
year that I go to the Comrades to work at the Expo,
cover the race or do commentary on race day, I start
feeling what I call “the itch,” that hankering to want
to be part of the running action instead of looking
on as thousands of runners take to the roads between
Durban and Maritzburg. One day…
MY ‘GREEN NUMBER’
Now a runner earns a Green Number once he or she
completes the race 10 times, and while journalists
covering the race do not earn a medal or a finish, I
have more than earned my ‘Journo Green.’ But it’s
about so much more than just collecting lanyards…
For me, one of the highlights of the Comrades is
the people I meet at the Expo. Nothing beats a good
chat with a fellow runner, and at the Expo I bump
into running friends and readers of the mag from
all over the country, as well as the elite athletes and
legends of the race. For example, I was privileged to
meet the late Wally Hayward at my first Comrades
in 2000, and over the years have also shared
wonderful chats with other winners such as Jackie
Mekler, Bernard Gomersall, Tommy Malone, Alan
Robb, Bruce Fordyce, Frith van der Merwe, Shaun
Meiklejohn, the Nurgalieva twins and Caroline
Wörstmann, to name just some of them.
Then it’s on to race day. I have been at the start to
see the runners setting off on their journey, including
that biggest ever starting field in 2000, and I have
been at he finish to watch the runners come home,
with my favourite part being the Sub-12 bus coming
home with what looks like several hundred runners
on board. I have been on the press truck, watching
the leading men and women give everything to
claim that coveted title, and I have been a vibe point
commentator, cheering the thousands of runners on
their way.
It remains a privilege to be part of this great event,
and to all our readers running it this year, I wish you
all the best as you tackle the Up Run route. Hope to
see you at the bottom of Polly Shortts.
BACK TO THE MAG
And while we’re on the topic of Comrades, check
out the various articles we have in this special
Comrades edition, including the lead story on
Unogwaja stalwart Miguel Netto, a fascinating trip
down memory lane with Roy Nattrass, and the full
list of our Modern Athlete Pacesetters for the race.
Then also check out the pieces on track star Rantso
Mokopane, trail runner Bennie Roux and Sibusiso
Vilane, the Everest-conquering ultra runner who
has recently turned to mountain-biking for a new
challenge. As always, hope you enjoy the read.
Sean Falconer
Follow me on Twitter: @sean_falconer
Follow the mag as well: @modern_athlete
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITOR
Sean Falconer [e-mail]
DIGITAL EDITOR
Brendon Lowson [e-mail]
DESIGNER
Caroline Collings [e-mail]
ADVERTISING SALES
Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 /
[e-mail]
Celia Lightley 076 490 6652 /
[e-mail]
MARKETING MANAGER
Aurelia Masino [e-mail]
SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION
[e-mail]
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Regulars: Brendon Lowson, 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: Bianca-Leigh Nagel, Georgina Tasseron,
Jason Geldenhys, Leonie Mollentze, Patricia Gouws,
Roy Nattrass, Shamiel Marthinus, Shani Hayward, Trevor
Hoskins, Wendy Seller plus Gideon & Mike (via mail)
COVER IMAGE Jetline Action Photo
IMAGES
Photo Agencies & Professional photographers:
Chris Hitchcock, David Papenfus, Em Gatland, Erik
Vermeulen, Fotolia, ImageSA, iStock, Jetline Action
Photo, Reg Caldecott, Shawn Benjamin/Ark Images,
Tobias Ginsberg
Non-professional photographers: Moegsien Ebrahim,
Sean Falconer
Courtesy: Bianca-Leigh Nagel, Brett Nattrass, Casey
Korck, Claudia Stencel, Comrades Marathon
Association, Debbie O’Brien, Derek van Vuuren,
Dominique Scott-Efurd, IAAF, Letshego Zulu, Miguel
Netto, Morgan Ross, Nike, Nutribullet, PJ Moses,
Rantso Mokopane, René Kalmer, Roy Nattrass,
Rushdah Tregonning, Sheraan Shabodien, Sibusiso
Vilane, Thando Mabaso, Two Oceans Marathon,
Wendy Seller, Wikipedia and various Race Organisers,
Athletes & PR companies
FIND US
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TWITTER @modern_athlete
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of 60,093 (Jan - March 2017)
WINNERS’ CORNER
Congratulations to all the winners of
our May edition competitions.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Win adidas Supernova Glide Boost running shoes
for the winning letter
Fabio De Dominicis, Cape Town
ATHLETES IN ACTION
Win New Balance Fresh Foam trail running shoes
for the winning photo
Sibonelo Mashimane, Pietermaritzburg
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