Supplements Two Oceans Marathon Training Guide 2018 | Page 12

INSPIRATION
The Journey Continues
When Tony Abrahamson ran his first Two Oceans Marathon in 1971, he began a voyage that shows no
signs of ending any time soon. He is now the proud owner of 42 Ultra Marathon medals and Quadruple
Laurel Blue Number 36, one of just three athletes to have hit the 40-medal mark at the Two Oceans
Marathon, and reading about his memories of the years, and how much enjoyment he continues to
derive from this race, is enough to inspire runners of all ages and abilities. Take it away, Tony.
I
t was in my early years when I found that running
would fulfil my hankering for long, eventful and
adventurous life experiences, and that has led me
to complete 42 Two Oceans Marathons, 10 Comrades
Marathons and probably another 100-plus other
marathons and ultra marathons – and even after 45-plus
years, I’m still enjoying it.
THE ODYSSEY BEGINS
My journey began in 1970 when I listened, spellbound,
to tales of adventure related by Preston Moorcroft, a
fellow resident of UCT’s Driekoppen residence, on his
return from running the Comrades Marathon. Having not
completed anything more than 5km in cross-country at
school, this seemed as courageous and adventurous as
climbing Everest or trekking to the South Pole, pursuits
that I secretly harboured. I was hooked, and immediately
resolved to run the Comrades the next year.
After returning to university in March 1971, I started
training with the UCT running club based at the Oval,
trying to keep up with talented runners such as Rob
Tony and
his famous
Roo
Knutzen, Andy Black, PJ Sullivan and Hugh Amoore.
Instructed by the coach to join in distance training for
the Comrades, on 1 May I found myself on the start
line of the Celtic Harriers 35-mile race (later renamed
the Two Oceans Marathon), my first official race of any
distance. I finished stone last in position 31, but one
month later I lined up in Pietermaritzburg to run the
Comrades, finishing just 10 minutes before the cut-off.
Totally shattered after running the Comrades Marathon
unprepared and under-trained, I resolved never to
attempt either race again, but being young and foolish,
and with the bug having bitten, I managed, amongst
other life-changing adventures, to come back and
complete another three Two Oceans Marathon voyages
in the 70s, slotted in between starting my career in
engineering, marrying Audrey in 1977, a two-year stint
studying in the USA in 1978/79, and our son Mark
arriving in 1980.
DREAM TEAM RUNNING COMPANION
It was during one of my early work-related adventures
that I found my first real running soulmate, Roo, who
was to be my constant companion for the next decade.
She came from the Kalahari area, where I had been
posted for two years as a young engineer on a road
construction project. Roo was a full-blooded English
Harrier (or Foxhound), the species bred to pursue foxes
in the horse-and-hound tradition, and came from an
original pack imported by a local farmer. Foxhounds are
bred to run, so when Roo was offered to me as a puppy
in 1975, I could not resist. Her first experience of the
Two Oceans Marathon was in 1977, when she jumped
out of my seconding car near Constantia Nek and
finished with me at the Brookside grounds.
Chet Sainsbury came to Roo’s rescue in the 1978 Two
Oceans, whilst I was away in the USA. He recounted
how Roo saw the runners passing my home in St James
and escaped to join the runners, finishing with them at
Brookside. When she appeared lost at the finish, Chet
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Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon / Training Guide 2018