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EDITOR’ S LETTER
PUBLISHERS Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen DIVISIONAL HEAD Richard Laskey richard @ modernathlete. co. za CONTENT MANAGER Roxanne Martin roxanne @ modernathlete. co. za
Editor’ s
EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR Sean Falconer seanf @ modernathlete. co. za DIGITAL EDITOR Keith Kennedy keith @ peaktiming. co. za DESIGNER Caroline Collings caroline. collings @ gmail. com
ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / richard @ modernathlete. co. za
SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION info @ modernathlete. co. za
This month I would like to write about two runners featured in this magazine that I think deserve special mention, because they have touched a proverbial nerve in me in recent weeks. First up is PJ Moses, the now well-known former Cape Flats Gangster who turned his life around by taking up running, then did a writing course, and now is a regular columnist in this magazine. Last month he wrote his first feature article for the mag, and this month he has two in the mix, and it is an absolute joy to see his uncontained excitement every time I speak to him, or read his posts on social media, because clearly this man has a fire in his belly to write.
For an editor, it is one of the greatest joys to give a fledgling writer the opportunity to get published, and in my humble opinion, this man can write! Add his seemingly boundless energy and love of running, and his understanding of fellow runners, and you have the essential ingredients for a long career in running journalism. So check out what Peej wrote about Lisa Ogilvie( page 20) and Youssef Kanouni( page 24), plus his column on page 21.
PJ Moses and Lisa Ogilvie
Speaking of Lisa, here’ s a runner that wants to give back through her running, in spite of everything she has gone through thanks to a near-death run-in with malaria. There are many runners out there who choose to run for a worthy cause, by raising funds directly or getting their mileage sponsored, or running to raise awareness of their cause, and in Lisa’ s case it is the Cape Kidney Association, but it is her unquenchable spirit and can-do attitude that helped her bounce back from the malaria that now shines through in her running.
I was out on the route at the recent Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, just before this edition went to print, to support the runners at the 32km mark. When Lisa got there she was suffering from nausea, due to the heat, and struggling to keep going, but nothing was going to stop her from finishing, and nothing was going to stop her from saying thank you for the feature in the mag, in spite of the way she was feeling.
I also thoroughly enjoy chatting to Moerieda Mackay this month, our lead feature( page 14) and cover model, about her experience of running the Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara Desert. Honestly, I could easily have filled another four pages with everything that she said about this incredible race, and it is one of the hardest parts of this job having to cut down 10 pages of notes to fit into the space available in the mag. But enough about writing … time for you to get reading, get inspired, and then get running!
Sean Falconer
Follow me on Twitter: @ sean _ falconer Follow the mag as well: @ modern _ athlete
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Regulars: Christine Peters, Derick Marcisz, Ernest Hobbs, Jeannie Jordaan, Norrie Williamson, PJ Moses, Ray Orchison, Reggie Hufkie, René Kalmer, Roxanne Martin, Sean Falconer, The Gentleman Racer, Tom Cottrell Guest Writers: Craig Caldwell, Endrew Matseke, Georgie Thomas, Lauren Smithers, Michael Taylor, Neil Cochran, Paul Firth, Thapi Themba, Theo Rafiri, Trevlyn May Palframan, Zoe Papadakiz
COVER IMAGE Courtesy Moerieda Mackay
IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers: BackTrack Sports, Diego Winitzky, Dylan Haskin, Fotolia, Graham Daniel, iStock, Jetline Action Photo, Reg Caldecott, Roger Sedres, Tobias Ginsberg Non-professional photographers: Carissa Schubert, Jeannie Jordaan, Jerome Davies, Sean Falconer Courtesy: Antonio Alkana, B-Active, Cheryl Whelan, Comrades Marathon Association, Craig Caldwell, Derick Marscisz, Dominique Scott- Efurd, Donovan van Gelder, Jeannie Jordaan, Lisa Ogilvie, Magna Carta, Mark Coetzee, Moerieda Mackay, Mohlapa Mogowe, Moon Walk Communications, Paul Firth, Philani Shangase, PJ Moses, Rachel Tsungai Chinyoka, René Kalmer, Salomon, Shane Letsoalo, Tikara Nothnagel, Trevlyn Palframan, Youssef Kanouni, and various Race Organisers
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 60,093( Jan- March 2017)
WINNERS’ CORNER
Congratulations to all the winners of our September edition competitions.
HAVE YOUR SAY Win adidas Supernova Glide Boost running shoes for the winning letter Philip Boardman, Centurion
ATHLETES IN ACTION Win New Balance Fresh Foam trail running shoes for the winning photo Andrew McGill, Durban
Image: Courtesy Amoija Events & Lisa Ogilvie
6 ISSUE 99 OCTOBER 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za