Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 96, July 2017 | Page 9

from 1983 to 2003, until my back packed in and I was advised not to compete further. I still run my local parkrun most weekends, and this year I completed two 15km road races, 14 years since my last race. During my running career, I accumulated many race medals that are all sitting in boxes at home. Does anybody have any ideas about who could use an estimated 250 to 300 medals of different shapes, sizes and inscriptions ? It would be great if they could be re-used in some way, so if anybody knows of any organisation that could use these, they can contact me at [email protected]. – Ian Bratt, Johannesburg I’d also like to know if anybody has use for old medals. Mail ideas or requests to [email protected]. – Ed. WATCH YOUR PACE back and compete in every event possible. Still, age is nothing but a number, Your letter from Shani in the June 2017 issue refers: I confess, I was the pacesetter whose watch failed. It was on the Tygerberg 30km, about 6km in, when my fully charged GPS watch crashed and rebooted. So I had to switch to 80s style pacing and bring the bus in using a stopwatch. My sub-3:10 bus still came in spot on time at 3:08, but now I pace with two GPS watches… just in case! In the photo you can see the correct time on the cheap watch, my Polar only tracked from when it rebooted – and to be fair to Polar, they replaced the watch after that happened. – Craig Strachan, Cape Town Still chuckling about that original letter, Craig… but know how seriously you guys take your Pacesetting (and rightfully so), so keep up the good work. – Ed. hence I decided to stand up and compete. It’s for my own good, anyway, but what motivates me is the atmosphere at events, seeing people of all races, and all ages, competing together. That is a motivator on its own. My wish is to see the Soweto Marathon being competed in every month, because it’s another way of bringing people of different races together and eradicating the racial imbalances that we had before in our country. I am looking forward to being part of this event in 2017. – Caleb Zwane, Soweto I’m not sure the traffic in Soweto will appreciate a marathon there every month, but noble sentiments, Caleb. – Ed. BAN THE WATER SACHETS! Thank you for your article on race litter. My friend and I have a pet hate of this litter, in particular the plastic water bags which are not only unsightly and bad for the environment, but dangerous. They are so slippery, and she actually fell at the THANKS, PACESETTERS first water table of the Old Mutual Two Oceans from slipping on a plastic water bag. She said there were at least three other people that fell, one chap grazing his face badly. Please can we get these bags banned? – Louise Mickel, via e-mail Thank you for the best Modern Athlete Pacesetting team at Comrades this year. I I know several people and organisations trying to find an economically viable was on Madoko’s Sub-11 bus from Fields Hill to Polly Shortts and pushed 50 to 75 metres on to catch up with Jeff Ramokoka with 6km to go. They all did a fantastic job and came in on time at 10:58. Arnold Nkosi running his 10 th was also awesome, and I think he’ll make the best pacesetter in future. Pass our gratitude to the team, please. – Khanda Mkhize, Johannesburg We were incredibly proud of the Pacesetters this year – our best effort yet at Comrades, with more buses and drivers than ever before. Glad you enjoyed the ride. – Ed. alternative to the plastic sachets. Hopefully they will find the solution soon. – Ed. MEDALS FOR HAPPINESS I was in one of the tents of the officials at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon when one of the officials came in with a list of complaints and disputes from various people claiming that they were wrongfully cut off. That is where I parted with my hard-earned medal, when I saw one lady crying profusely because she had failed to UNITY IN SOWETO get one. I said to myself, medals are nothing more than for making someone else happy. I later got in contact with that same lady, and we agreed that next year she will come back even stronger and give me her medal. – Gndzube, via email I am truly inspired by the Soweto Marathon. Last year was my first year competing in this event and I fell in love with the race, and now I wish I could turn the years I have done exactly the same thing before – also made a deal with my friend to come back and try again for her own medal. It worked. – Ed. Write and WIN Each month the writer of our winning letter wins a pair of adidas Supernova Glide BOOST running shoes. BOOST foam cushioning provides the highest energy return in the industry, using thousands of durable energy capsules that maintain their soft cushioning, season after season, so every run with BOOST feels like the first. It’s the perfect shoe to #BoostYourRun! DON’T JUST RUN, GLIDE WITH THE NEW ADIDAS SUPERNOVA GLIDE BOOST™ 9