PEOPLE » WHO INSPIRE
I’M NOT GIVING UP!
will never forget the day that
changed my life… The day I was
hit by a car, the day I heard and
felt bones break, the day that led to two
spinal surgeries, months in a wheelchair
and years of rehabilitation.
I was soon on a first-name basis with
hospital staff and, faced with my asthma
and epilepsy as well, doctors gave me a
worst-case scenario of doom and gloom.
To the world, I put on a brave face. I
smiled and waved but I silently carried
a great deal of pain. Massive doses
of corticosteroids, a lack of
exercise and general immobility
saw me gain weight, with the
scale soon clocking 160kg.
I stopped caring and wished
for death. I was admitted into
ICU with a hemoglobin level of
just 5.2, and very little hope.
It was here that I saw the man
opposite me die of malaria. That
day I stared death right in the
face. I saw that man’s family, I
saw their pain. I did not sleep
for days but I knew that I had to
fight back.
Once I was strong enough
physically and emotionally, I was
determined to get fit. I jumped
into a pool, swam 50m and took
about 30 minutes to get my
breath back. When I finally did,
I shouted to my daughter: “We
are doing the Midmar Mile!”.
Three months later I had done it.
It was my greatest achievement.
I was then on a mission to
find my next goal. I entered
the Tour Durban cycle race
and took on the 45km route. I
did some training and, on the
day, I managed to get to 18km
before I had a seizure. It was
self-inflicted – I did not take
responsibility for my health and
rode knowing I was sick. I lost
I
hope and stopped wanting to train.
Then entries for IRONMAN 70.3
Durban opened. In true-me style, I
jumped in the deep end, entered and
hoped for the best. But my very dear
friend Lorna pointed out that I had no
idea what a triathlon actually involved.
She encouraged me to get hold of the
CyberCo@ch, Donovan van Gelder. I
did, and it’s by far the most responsible
decision I have ever made. It helped to
change my life forever.
Despite my medical issues and my
weight, Don treated me like a real
athlete from day one. He accepted
me and has patiently explained things
to me, listening when I speak. He has
brought me so far in a short period of
time, so much so that I no longer use
asthma pumps during races and have
not had a seizure this year. He has got
me race ready and taught me how to
care for my body.
In the beginning, I felt like death after
each race. I never believed in myself. This
all changed at the 226 Brick Challenge.
I realised I could swim with
people, I could ride hills, and I
could run (although there was
more walking and talking than
running). There was no pressure
as the event organisers had
introduced a short version for
newbies like me. That’s the
event where I learned how to
smile again. I found my love of
swimming, I made friends, and I
became addicted to training.
Since then I’ve done a number
of local events, including all
the Tinman sprint events,
the Double Midmar Mile, the
Durban Ultra Sprint Race and a
number of 10km runs.
Will I complete IRONMAN
70.3 Durban? Yes! Within the
cut-off time? Who cares, I’ll
finish it. To all the overweight
and unfit people out there, to the
discouraged and small-minded,
take responsibility for your own
health, get up and get started.
Get yourself a coach and follow
a structured programme. Rome
was not built in a day. Be patient
with yourself. You will slowly see
the weight go down and your
health return. I still have a long
way to go but – watch this space
– I’m not giving up. Look out for
me in Durban!
“I REALISED I COULD SWIM,
RIDE AND RUN … I LEARNED
HOW TO SMILE AGAIN”
132
A bad accident immobilised Bianca Oosthuizen and the resulting pain and
medication saw her weight spike. But a trip to the ICU saw her determined to
ght back so she took to the ater then the road. o she s lining up for her
rst
. . Watch out urban she s on a mission to get t and healthy.