Lisa with hubby Dean
PJ ’ s
PIECE
I couldn ’ t get an entry , so thought I would try to get a charity entry . Something about my story and the Non-profit organisation Cape Kidney Association just clicked , and I knew I wanted to run for them .”
That saw Lisa make contact with Molly Fabe at Cape Kidney , who was both touched and inspired by Lisa ’ s story . “ Molly asked me to speak at their end-of-year event , and she has been very supportive of my journey , while I have been blessed by her presence .” In turn , Lisa has been able to raise funds for Cape Kidney by using her running as a way for people to get involved and to also create much needed awareness . “ I was able to raise R20,000 at Two Oceans 2016 , which was my first major race since getting my health back again .”
Having gone on to run the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon later in 2016 , Lisa decided to join the Bellville Athletic Club in 2017 , and specifically the legendary Wietse van der Westhuizen ’ s training group , in order to become a better , stronger runner . “ Being with them has been so great for me . The training is good and intense . I like that . And the support and motivation from the other runners has also helped me a
lot . I believe even more in myself now .”
Going Bigger in 2018
In 2017 , Lisa once again ran the Two Oceans Half and the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon , amongst other races , all while continuing to raise funds for Cape Kidney , and looking ahead , she has already set her sights on bigger things . Not only is she hoping to run the 56km Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon , but she has also secured an entry to the Paris Marathon next April . And she doesn ’ t seem too worried that Paris is only five days after Two Oceans . “ I want to go to Paris and make a difference . I ’ ve got such a passion for my running and my charity , so I want people to join me on this amazing journey .”
She ’ s hoping her drive will help to raise R100,000 for Cape Kidney when she does Paris . “ My motto is : Creating dreams by uplifting others . This has been my mantra as I go forward . I am smiling the whole time when out running because I feel so blessed to be here to do this .” She adds that it really helps having such great support . Besides Dean , her mom is her biggest supporter , going with to most of her races . “ She comes to fetch me the morning of a race and then she stays there till I cross the finish line .”
Unsurprisingly , given the serious nature of her illness , Lisa has had to overcome a few health setbacks along the way that have prevented her from doing some of her other goal races , but she says she won ’ t be defeated that easily . “ I ’ m a little fighter . I pick myself up and then I go again . I tell myself : ‘ Sit jou voetjies in jou skoenkies en hardloop .’ ( Put your feet in your shoes and go run . - Ed .) It helps me a lot to keep on moving forward , no matter what , because I believe that you must live your life to the full , because you can do anything that you want to . And please look after your kidneys !”
Images : Fotolia & PJ Moses
ometimes during a run I find myself at that “ What the hell am I doing ?” moment , when my lungs are burning and my throat seems as dry as the
SKalahari , my legs feel like lead and the sweat stings my eyes . It happens in training runs as well as on race days , and it ’ s something I dread , but it ’ s also something I have grown accustomed too . And chase after .
We laugh if non-runners – or ‘ Ruggles ’ as I call them , a la Harry Potter – ask silly questions . We are runners , is usually our short terse answer . We may be slightly less sane than the rest of the world , but we love what we do . We train for hours not to make running easier , but to make it a little more manageable . We sweat , we breathe heavily , we chafe in uncomfortable places , and we use the foliage as restrooms when we have to .
Yes , running can be a painful business , and it doesn ’ t care if you are just running a parkrun or a 100km ultra . Sometimes it makes you feel every painful step . Sometimes we don ’ t follow a doctor ’ s good advice – we would rather listen to a supportive running friend , even when we know that we really shouldn ’ t . And on race day we fear a ‘ Did not finish ’ more than a long injury lay-off .
You see , we ’ re a stubborn lot . We know aches and pains well , and strained ligaments and muscles . It ’ s part of our present and our future . We love the pain , and we can ’ t explain why . We run on when others would not . This is not bravery . It ’ s a need , an itch that can never be fully scratched . It is what drives us to run in the mornings , in the afternoon sun , at night when others watch TV , and on weekends when other people are relaxing . It is part of us , and we can ’ t imagine life without it .
So through the pain and discomfort , we will run , and we will never truly be able to say why . Then again , we don ’ t really feel the need to explain . We are runners . Take us or leave us .
About the Author :
PJ is a former Cape Flats gangster who took up running , and writing about it , when he turned his back on that dangerous lifestyle in order to set a better example for his two young sons and avoid becoming just another crime statistic .
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