INSPIRATION
preparation with Taylor.“ Crowds are a lot to handle in general for most people, but when you are on the spectrum, crowds are a whole different ball game,” says Andrea.
Whilst issues at the 2025 TTOM Expo and Registration have been well documented, there was one person who had no complaints. Taylor was in awe, and absolutely lapped everything up. He posed for pictures, revelled in finding his name on the board listing every participant, and found the entire experience“ electrifying.”
Race Day Logisitics
The day before the event was spent in nervous excitement with detailed preparation and planning. Apart from the regular kit-check and attaching his race number to his Belville AC shirt, the family had detailed discussions about different situations and scenarios – and how Taylor should handle them, should they arise.
Andrea was seeded closer to the back, Alec near the front, and Taylor in the middle. Andrea says that Taylor is much too fast for her to keep up with, so Alec moved back in the seeding batches to be with Taylor at the start.“ Alec and Bean planned to run together, or for as long as Alec could keep up with him, as he [ Alec ] hadn’ t trained as much as he should.” However, Alec’ s lack of fitness was seen as a‘ strategic advantage,’ to ensure not just that Taylor didn’ t get overwhelmed by the crowds, but also so that Taylor did not“ get caught up in the hype and start out too fast.”
Taylor says that running with his dad has advantages and disadvantages.“ Running with my dad is pretty cool, but he tells me to slow down a lot. He also normally tells really bad dad jokes, like all the time, but when we run, we focus on the run.”
Taking on the TTOM
Race morning arrived and Taylor did his normal pre-run routine of leg swings, some stretching and getting his watch ready. He recalls,“ I was nervous and a bit anxious, there were so many people, but the vibe at the start made me feel less worried, people were singing and dancing and warming up.” Then, five minutes before the gun went off, Taylor looked at his father and said,“ Dad I’ m scared.” But with his father by his side, Taylor set off on his maiden half marathon voyage, and the pre-race nerves were quickly forgotten.
“ My parents are really proud of me, they always say that I am incredible and I should be proud of myself. My first 21km and first big event with so many runners and so many people on the sidelines and I did it.”
in,” says Taylor.“ My parents are really proud of me, they always say that I am incredible and I should be proud of myself. My first 21km and first big event with so many runners and so many people on the sidelines and I did it.”
Beaming with Pride
Despite taking much longer to learn to swim than other kids, and still not being the best swimmer, Taylor was born into a surfing family, and rose to the challenge. Alec mentions that one of his fondest memories is,“ As a family that loves to surf, Taylor had no choice really but to join us. He has incredible upper body strength and is very agile, and as long as I am near him in the water, he is OK. One day, the boys and I caught the same wave together, all three of us on the same wave … sublime!”
So where does lining up at the start and running most of the Two Oceans Half Marathon rank in Alec’ s book?“ I have done many events, including Ironman, Warrior on Wheels pulling a buggy at the Cape Town Cycle Tour, and being a blind athlete’ s triathlon guide, but lining up next to Taylor for Two Oceans was indescribable,” he says.
“ My heart in one, standing next to me, facing all his fears and ready to tackle the biggest sports event he has ever done, and I know that his internal battle is huge … Your kid, who hasn’ t been able to do the majority of what others do with their eyes closed, standing ready, waiting for the gun to go off. There is no greater feeling as a father to experience!”
year since going for my first run by myself, and I now have the confidence to try new things. I go to Virgin Active daily and have taken up MMA, which took me a few months to build up the courage to go to my first class.”
Meanwhile, Andrea says that she still can’ t quite believe the impact that running has had on Taylor, and the whole family – and sharing this story is something they think is very important.“ If it helps one other kid out there, that would be fantastic!”( I replied,“ I think it will also help parents of special needs kids just as much.”)
On that note, I thought it would be appropriate to end this article with some words of wisdom and advice from Taylor:“ My parents are always worried about me, but it’ s fine. The next event I will start with them in the crowd if I am nervous, but they say I have experienced it, and I will be OK to run my pace, I must just not go out too fast in the beginning and I will be OK. Running has given me the freedom and confidence to be myself.”
Taylor managed to podium on day one of his very first trail event
Looking back on the excitement of the day, Taylor says,“ The crowd called my name a few times, and people from our running club were cheering on the sidelines. I could have run at a faster pace, but I ran with my dad. Then at 15km, Dad was getting tired and wanted to walk a bit, so I ran ahead.” Taylor sped past hundreds of runners over those final few kilometres and ended up putting six minutes on his dad with a 2:19 finish. His immensely proud father arrived home in 2:25, followed a short while later by mom.
“ Finishing and getting my medal was really cool. Then I waited for my parents at the finish line and shouted when I saw my mom come
Incredible Impact
With the TTOM Half Marathon conquered, the family quickly got their entries in for the 2025 ABSA RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K – another race with large crowds – as well as the Slave Route Half Marathon, and Talyor also said he had unfinished business at the Run-Ride McGregor. More club runs and other events were also on the horizon, and shortly after TTOM, the family attended their first Bellville AC month-end club social, where Taylor was one of the club members nominated for special recognition.
Looking back, Taylor explains the effect that running has had on his life:“ Two Oceans came a
This article is adapted from an original blog post by current TOM Board Member Stuart Mann, under his penname The Running Mann. For more on his blogs, go to https:// runningmann. co. za.
Images: Courtesy Van Wyk Family
20 Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2026