SNIPPETS NO. 12 – WEEK 13

Thurs, March 26, 2015 - Wed, April 01, 2015

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBER:

Selwyn Cloete

WELCOME BACK TO:

Ashna Jordaan

NEWS

NEWS GOOD NEWS CORNER

ND NOT SO GOOD NEWS CORNER

Tracy Jordaan, we wish you a speedy recovery!

Hope you are off that crutch very soon.

Best wishes to Caroline Koll who is currently in hospital after being knocked off her bike this week, whilst training.

We’re still thinking of you

Johan Burger!

We hope your recovery is progressing well.

Training run

This weekend, Sunday, 29th:

21km from the stadium

Out-and-back route

Time: 6am

Cost: R30.00

There will be water points & a route map.

Walkers are welcome to join Eric Peebles. He will be

starting at 5.25am from the stadium and will be

walking at about 9 min / km

We look forward to seeing you there!

Two Oceans Marathon and Half Marathon

Good luck to all our Two Oceans Ultra and Half Marathon entrants:

Yolande Alberts, Tyan Barends, Claire Bateman, George Benade, Nick Bester (Novice),

Armand Bosman, Tracy Bown, Karel Burger, Tebogo Chake, Neil Cochran, Scott Dawson,

Jan Dries, Danny Folscher, Lindy-Lee Folscher, Ryan Gibson (Novice), Bryan Ingram, David

Jones, Darrel Laybourn, Susan Laybourn, Tseko Mabote, Ian Manchest, Leigh-Ann

Marucchi, Anne McCrindle, Brian McCrindle, Oudemane Metswaramere, Zacharia Mogotsi,

Vhonani Mudau (Novice) Bashier Nhlapo, Lois Olivant (Novice), Skye Olivant (Novice),

Norma Page, Rashika Rampersadh, Collen Rautenbach, Taryn Retief (Novice), Rethabile

Seotsanyane (Novice), Donavan Skinner (Novice), Benzi Tenza, Coenie van den Berg

(Novice), Eugene van der Westhuizen, Rita van Wyk, Greg Vorster, Monica Vorster and

Cosnath Zitha.

Bryan Ingram and Sue Laybourn will be

running their 10th race to achieve their

Perpetuity Number.

Darrel, Norma, Monica and Cosnath will

be taking part in their eleventh Ultra.

Neil will be taking part in his 23rd Ultra.

Piet Grobler, Trevor Ingram, Claire Pattle, Brittany Seabrook, Portia Tenza, Kevin

Townsend, Este Trytsman (Novice), Chris van Wyk and Dawn Vollmer will be taking part in

the half marathon.

Did you know?

The first race of the Two Oceans Marathon was held in

1970 and saw 26 runners line up. Today, over 26,000

runners compete across the 56km, 21.1km, 5km and

2.5km distances.

Two Oceans.

Ah the memories! What a race, what an event!

Whether you are “racing” this wonderful event to your own best genetic ability or participating for the joy of it, doing right according to a plan specific to what you want out of it is imperative. Generally that plan means: “hold back, hold back, and hold back!” The race only starts at 28Km! At the record level, I have two great memories to share: The Men’s still standing record, set in 1988 – 3.03.44, by Thompson Magawana. I ran that year and the next day at a petrol station the pump jockey, seeing my proudly worn Two Oceans Tee shirt commented: “Nay Masser – Jy’t gehardloop?” to which I replied “Ya – I had quite a good run”. His lightening quick reply left me smiling to this day: “Ya but how come you let that Black chap BEAT you?” The Lady’s record, also still standing set by Frith Van Der Merwe in 1989 - 3.30.36.BMW had signed a three year incentive for both the men’s and lady’s records of a three series BMW and I bumped into Frith at the Expo and we chatted. I teased her by saying that she can take a new three series home every year for the next three years by simply going out and breaking the record by a few minutes each year. She went out and took FOURTEEN minutes off the record and the rest as they say is history. Her record still stands and she only got the one BMW. On a personal note: Go for it Lam & Dave, I will be thrilled to lose and gladly award you the Bet Prize! Cheers. Neil.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR PHOTOS AND

LET THE CLUB KNOW HOW YOUR

RUN WENT!!!!!!

ROAD

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

U R G E N T

LOOKING FOR:

2 x 21km Loskop entries,

1 x 50km Loskop entry.

Please let the office know immediately if you have a race

number that you will NOT be using.

March 2015

Date Race Distance Time Venue

Sun, 29 Mar Training run 21 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

April 2015

Date Race Distance Time Venue

Fri, 03 Apr Good Fri training run 32 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Sat, 04 Apr Easter Sat training run 32 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Sat, 04 Apr Two Oceans 56/21 06h00 Cape Town

Sun, 05 Apr Easter Sun training run 21 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Mon, 06 Apr Easter Mon training run 15 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Sun, 12 Apr Birchwood 21/10/5 06h30

Birchwood Conf

Centre

Training run & race calendar

Sat, 18 Apr Loskop 50/21 06h00 Middelburg

Sun, 19 Apr Harcourt's Alan Robb 32/15 06h30 Germiston Stadium

Sun, 26 Apr SlowMag 50/42/21/5 06h30 Benoni Northerns

May 2015

Date Race Distance Time Venue

Fri, 01 May Jimmy Perkins Long Run 64 05h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Fri, 01 May Wally Hayward 42/21/10/5 06h30 Zwartkops High School

Sat, 02 May Colgate Helpers' Run 32/15 06h30 Boksburg City Stadium

Sun, 03 May Colgate 32/15/6 06h30 Boksburg City Stadium

Sun, 10 May Training run 25 06h00 Boksburg City Stadium

Sun, 10 May Randburg Harriers 21/10/5 07h00

Randburg Sports

Complex

Sun, 17 May RAC 10 10 08h00 Old Parks CLUB CHAMPS

Sun, 24 May

Chairman's Breakfast

Run 10 07h00 TBA

Sun, 31 May Comrades Marathon 86.3 05h30 City Hall, Durban

Boksburg Athletic Club will be joining Sunward Athletic Club for their EASTER WEEKEND

100KM. R20 per day or R80 for all 4 runs. Free 15 min sports message on offer after each

run. Refer to the attached flyer for more details.

Rita van Wyk on finishing as 2nd Master Lady in

the Om Die Dam 50km, in a time of 4:49:33

Frank da Ascencao and Noel Smeda

who are part of an elite group of just 9

runners in the country to have completed

all 25 Om Die Dam races!

Of this group of 9 runners, Frank and Noel

finished 1st and 2nd respectively.

Well done! You make BAC proud!

Frank at the finish of this year’s Om Die Dam

Race Results: Om Die Dam

Nick Bester and Taryn Retief

for being the club’s first man

and first lady home.

THEY ARE OUR ‘’POWER

COUPLE’’ OF THE WEEK

21km Este Trytsman 01:50:23

Shelley van der Spuy 01:57:15

Linda Loxley 01:58:21

Musandiwa Mudau 02:13:12

Steffan Uys 02:13:12

Norma Page 02:17:15

Chris van Wyk 02:21:21

Charlotte van Wyk 02:29:17

Eric Peebles 03:10:01

50km

Nick Bester 03:41:32

Kallie Burger 03:44:30

Phumlani Mthethwa 04:00:07

George Benade 04:04:48

Derek Van Der Spuy 04:21:35

Wayne Mcbowles 04:22:08

Rudolf Oberholzer 04:24:07

Jp Van Wyk 04:28:56

Benzi Tenza 04:35:13

Taryn Retief 04:35:45

Rita Van Wyk 04:49:33

Gregg Peebles 04:55:01

Tebogo Chake 04:55:18

Thinus Matthysen 04:55:58

Bjorn Uys 04:56:05

Riaan Pieterse 04:56:25

Eric Bergonzi 04:56:47

Jannie Heath 04:56:53

Vhonani Mudau 04:58:06

Frank Da Ascencao 04:58:15

Jolene Matthysen 04:58:15

Mark Humphreys 04:58:49

Tseko Mabote 05:03:04

Theunis Gerhardus Coetzee

05:06:24

Michael Navarria 05:13:30

Franz Kuyvenhoven 05:15:37

Kurt Davis 05:17:40

Vincent De Reuck 05:24:06

Hannelie Dunn 05:30:21

Brian Gerhardt 05:30:21

Jose Rodrigues 05:33:33

Liezel Best 05:37:16

Thabo Moloi 05:39:26

Johan Venter 05:46:17

Lizette Botha 05:46:27

Japie Vermaak 05:47:04

Billy Geyer 05:49:30

Edite Bergonzi 05:53:23

Ian Manchest 05:54:18

Paul Nell 05:56:46

Willie Brewis 05:56:46

Tebogo Moloi 05:59:32

Noel Smeda 05:59:51

Amanda Harvey 06:09:41

Lindi Robbertze 06:09:42

Lana Smeda 06:10:33

Barbara Oglesby 06:22:21

Carolyn Wridgway 06:42:40

Brian McCrindle 06:42:40

Eunese Beukes 06:42:41

Carla Bruinette 06:42:45

Morokolo Ramakgapola 06:50:09

Anne Kouvarellis 06:51:42

Frik Du Preez 07:34:23

Thank you for the photos that

were taken by Madelein and

Shaun!!!!!

Overall Finish Position Surname Name Gender Age Time 80 Thomson James Male 36 01:17:00 92 Kumalo Joseph Male 61 01:18:48 481 Du Preez Frik Male 56 02:13:15

Surname Name Gender Time Skinner Donavan Male 1:04:25

Congratulation to Rita van Wyk on finishing in the position of 1st Master Lady

in the Sarens 42km race. Rita finished in a time of 3:45:31.

K-WAY GALLOPERS (CGA) 15KM – 15-03-2015

SARENS EDENVALE (CGA) 42KM – 08-03-205

MEN’S HEALTH 11.5KM – 30-11-2014

2km

1.Charles De Beer (Benoni High) 07:47; 2 Mario Reynecke (Stoffberg) 08:11; 3 Matthew Pienaar (NC)

(PB) 08:31; 4 Chante Reynecke (NC) 08:37; 5 Jesica Horn (L/S Die Anker) 10:24; 6 Greg Pienaar

(BOKS) 11:21; 7 Freddie De Jager (NC) 12:14; 8 Jade Albrecht (BOKS) 12:32; 9 Anne-Marie Horn

(NC) 12:39; 10 Wilie Horn (NC) 12:39; 11 A.N. Other 17:40.

4km

1.Luke Meyer (BOKS) (Jnr) 14:14; 2 Wynand Strydom (BOKS) 14:33; 3 Greg Bishop (BN) 14:33;

4 Darrel Laybourn (BOKS) 14:51; 5 Tiaan Marais (NC) (Jnr) (PB) 15:54; 6 Eugene van der

Westhuizen (BOKS) 15:58; 7 Thabo Modise (BOKS) 16:18; 8 Michelle Meyer (BOKS) 16:22; 9 Darren

Mansfield (BOKS) 16:39; 10 Alison De Bruin (NC) 16:45; 11 Ashna Jordaan (BOKS) 17:16; 12 A.N.

Other 17:31; 13 Nathan Visser (NC) 17:43; 14 Daniella Meyer (BOKS) (Jnr) 17:43; 15 Jannie Heath

(BOKS) 18:01; 16 Jaap Vermaak (BOKS) 18:32; 17 Michael De Beer (Benoni High) 18:42; 18 Adam

Meyer (BOKS) (Jnr) 18:42; 19 William Douglas (NC) 18:48; 20 A.N. Other 18:51; 21 Jaydene Hunkin

(BOKS) (Jnr) 19:12; 22 Shannon Holl (BOKS) 20:16; 23 Joseph Kumalo (BOKS) 20:25; 24 Shannon

McCallum (Benoni High) 20:40; 25 Nadia Rabim (BOKS) (Jnr) 21:10; 26 Jenny Rogers (BOKS) 21:30;

27 Sheree Rogers-Chapman (BOKS) 21:30; 28 Richard Montjoie (BOKS) 21:30; 29 Neil Fenton

(BOKS) 21:49; 30 Mark Patterson (Discovery) 22:00; 31 Willie Pieterse (SP) 22:22; 32 Milton

Bartholomew (BOKS) 23:05; 33 Dewald Heath (NC) 23:57; 34 Ian Bratt (NC) 24:08; 35 Shaun

Jordaan (BOKS) 24:38; 36 Thandeka Nhlengethwa (BOKS) 26:38; 37 Gavin Kingston (SP) 29:36; 38

Dirk Jansen (BOKS) 29:55; 39 Elizabeth Tshabalala (NC) 33:03; 40 Damon Stark (NC) 36:50; 41 K.

Smit (NC) 36:50.

8km

1.Samuel Mmbengeni (MAD) 26:48; 2 Ryan Gibson (BOKS) 30:32; 3 Theunis Holl (BOKS) 30:32; 4

Rudolf Oberholzer (BOKS) 32:25; 5 Bryon Jones (BOKS) 32:44; 6 Gregg Peebles (BOKS) 33:48; 7

Vhonani Mudau (BOKS) 36:22; 8 Bronwyn Strydom (BOKS) 38:04; 9 Ian Manchest (BOKS) 40:56.

PLEASE JOIN US ON THE 1ST OF

APRIL FOR THE EASTER TIME TRIAL

Amila Blitz Time Trial Results

Wed, 25 March 2015

MEMBERS, JOIN US AT THE TIME TRIAL

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 18:00 AT THE

PARK OPPOSITE THE BOKSBURG CITY

STADIUM.

RUN AT YOUR OWN PACE!

COMRADES 2015 (Important Information) If you have as yet not advised Comrades of your 2015 licence number and qualifying details please note that this has to be done by no later than 4 May, 2015. This can be done by either emailing or contacting the CMA office. Qualifying details will NOT be accepted at registration. Failure to meet the qualifying criteria will result in your entry being rejected. No seeding upgrades will be accepted after 4 May and definitely NOT at registration. If the above steps are not done you will be removed from the Comrades Database and you will therefore not be eligible to receive a goody bag or t-shirt. Qualifying Table. 42.2km 5 hrs 00 min 48 – 50km 6 hrs 00 min 52 – 54km 6 hrs 30 min 56km 7 hrs 00 min 60km 7 hrs 40 min 64km 8 hrs 20 min 80km 10 hrs 40 min 89km 12 hrs 00 min 100km 13 hrs 30 min Seeding Batch Batch 42.2km 48-50km 52-45km 56km 60km 64km 80km A 3:00 3:40 3:55 4:05 4:30 5:00 6:20 B 3:20 4:00 4:20 4:35 5:00 5:30 7:00 C 3:40 4:25 4:45 5:00 5:30 6:00 7:40 CC Amabeadibeadi Race4Charity D 4:00 4:50 5:10 5:30 6:05 6:40 8:30 E Green Number Club (10 or more Comrades completed) F 4:20 5:10 5:35 6:00 6:40 7:15 9:15 G 4:40 5:35 6:05 6:30 7:10 7:50 10:00 H 5:00 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:40 8:20 10:40 Ironman Seeding is as follows; Batch Marathon Leg of Ironman A 3:30 B 3:50 C 4:15 D 4:40 E Green Number Club F 5:00 G 5:20 H Official Finisher over 5:20

HUGE congratulations to the following members, who have been

selected to represent CGA at the SA Champs in Bloemfontein from

09 - 11 April, 2015:

Manny Khumalo

Biance Botes

Nica Human

Chinique Joubert

Caleb Beukes

Matome Shabangu

Johan van der Merwe

Louis van Rensburg

Good luck to all club members participating in this weekend’s Ironman

African Championship at Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth!

A special “good luck” message to Renate Fesel who will be making her Ironman debut! We are sure she has benefited from the advice of her

husband, Kristian, who will be lining up for his 12th Ironman.

MULTI - SPORT

TRACK & FIELD

Mental Preparation before Sunday

As physical preparation is more or less complete a week before the event,

there is even more time available to mental preparation. This mental training

has of course been developed during long training sessions of the previous

months. Now it is a matter of activating these abilities and applying them at the

right moment. The first step is to overcome any fear of the Ironman, but at the

most RESPECT. If in your mental preparation you assume high waves during

the swimming, extreme headwinds in the cycling and absolutely unbearable

heat during the running, it can only get easier in the actual race itself. You have

to have the will to struggle with this “nature” experience, determined to cover

these notorious 226kms despite all the troubles involved. In your mind you

must experience these difficult situations as often as possible so that when it

comes to it you can also conquer them physically.

Here again is the most important tip : I am participating in MY IRONMAN, not

against or for others, but only for my race. Therefore I do not orientate myself

to others but only to myself, my own capabilities. I want to experience

consciously MY IRONMAN.

As an athlete I must then remain “stubborn” and not go along with the attacks

of other athletes, in the certainty that at the finish line I will be waiting for many

of those who at the beginning, irresistibly, go past me.....after all it must still be

fun.

The Complete Guide To Triathlon Training Page 190

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND NO MATTER HOW FAST JUST KEEP

MOVING!

CROSS-COUNTRY The following League Fixtures, CGA Champs, SA Champs and general information has been received from CGA: Date League Club/Body Venue 28 March IAAF World XC Champs IAAF Guiyang, China 02 May No. 1 RAC Delta Park 09 May No. 2 Kagiso Kagiso Sports Complex 16 May No. 3 Tembisa/Elim Tembisa Clinic 06 June No. 4 Sports Interchange Chris Hani Sports Complex, Orange Farm 20 June No. 5 Daveyton Hearts Daveyton 04 July No. 6 Protea Guineas Westonaria Sports Complex 18 July No. 7 Take It Easy Thokoza Park 01 August No. 8 Alberton Alberton Dam 15 August CGA Champs CGA Boksburg Stadium 29 August CGA (Open) Club CGA TBA Challenge 12 September SA Champs ASA Mpumalanga

Join us for a drink in The Finish Line Pub after time trial.

Congratulations to Shelley van der Spuy, who won the Snowball draw of R400,

this week!

The value of the new Snowball draw will be R200

from next week.

Dolfie and Madelein Oberholzer invite you to join them in the pub on the 1st

of April 2015 from 18:45 onwards to celebrate the special occasion of Dolfie

turning 40.There will be macaroni and cheese with rolls and a salad available

on a first-come-first- served basis.

SOCIAL

INVITATION

TRAINING TIPS & ADVICE

MOST COMMON RUNNING INJURIES ….. 3 #

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

This is one of the less common injuries, accounting for only 5 to 14% of injuries in all the large

collections of cases reported. The symptom is pain directly in front of the heel, which is usually first

noticed during running, but later becomes noticeable when these patients get up in the morning.

For the first few steps they hobble by putting all their weight on the heel; they will not extend the

ankle or push off with the big toe. The same features can be present in Achilles tendonitis.

Someone suffering from a heel bruise, on the other hand will hobble on the toes, in order to

prevent the heel from coming into contact with the ground. The mechanism of injury is believed to

be excessive subtalar joint pronation which causes a bowstring stretching of the plantar fascia,

especially if the toe off occurs with the ankle fully pronated. Runners with this injury show reduced

ankle motion on the affected side, muscle strength on the injured side is also below normal.

Treatment : Until the exact mechanism of this injury has been determined, efforts to treat this injury

should initially include measures to stop excessive ankle pronation. Thus all the measures

described for treatment of runners knee and Achilles tendonitis must be tried. It may be necessary

to adjust the orthotic slightly to ensure that it does not contact the painful area under the heel-

bone. Calf muscle stretching and strengthening would seem to be especially important. Uphill

running and speedwork should be avoided until the injury has resolved. If this approach fails to be

effective the possibility that the injury is due to inadequate pronation should be considered. In

those runners in whom symptoms persist for more than 12 months despite all these measures,

surgery may prove effective. In these runners there is evidence of major histological (tissue)

changes in the fascia at the site of pain.

The Lore of Running: Chapter 14 ~ The most common running injuries

Quote

Embrace the incline. It is not the downhills that make you stronger.

Paul E. Rich

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MEMBERS WHO CELEBRATE

THEIR BIRTHDAYS THIS COMING WEEK:

Fri, 27th

Colin Black; Peace Borake; & Richard Roets

Sat, 28th

Ulric Bekker

Sun, 29th

Milan Daniz, Claire-Louise Simon & Anais Strauss

Mon, 30th

Vhonani Mudau

\

Tuesday night Track session with Steve de Bod:

This is an invitation to all runners who want to improve their race times and who want experience something different to their usual

daily training runs. You are all welcome to join Steve on Tuesday evenings at 18:00pm

at Boksburg City Stadium.

How did our time trial come to be called ‘The Blitz’?

When the weekly time was first started it was simply known within the club as ‘the Boksburg 8km time trial’. A frequent participant in the time trial was the legendary Danny Oosthuizen who in those days was a member of Germiston Callies. One day, with complete spontaneity, Danny nicknamed the time trial the "Blitz" - a name that has endured for decades! Also in the early days of the race, local businessman, Allan Tempest, was persuaded to run the time trial. Afterwards Allan was heard to be muttering about "Bloodhill". On interrogation, Allan admitted he was referring to Rondebult Road which was then an integral part of the course. The time trial was thus called ‘The Bloodhill Blitz’ for many years. We are indeed grateful to Danie and Allan for contributing to the history of the club.

“Blast from the Past”

This photo of BAC members was taken in the 1980s in the Benoni Harriers clubhouse after the

Johnson Crane Marathon

BOKSBURG ATHLETIC CLUB

Celebrating 40 Years

1975 - 2015

Back row: L-R

Don Ross, Charlie Matthews, Peter Martin, Keith Groves (deceased), Trevor Maclean (deceased),

Jimmy Perkins (deceased), Mickey Spilarowicz, Alan Ewart, Billy Harris (partially obscured)

Second row: L-R

Dave Boyd, John Youens, Colin Bradley (deceased), Unknown

Front row: L-R

Graham Stuart, Sara Martin, Tommy Malone, Jackie Martin, George Choromanski, Derek Youens

Here’s an article taken out of the 2nd Newsletter of Boksburg Athletic Club, dated March, 1977.

BOKSBURG ATHLETIC CLUB - NEWSLETTER

WHY RUN A HUNDRED MILES? . . . . . . . . by Alan Beadle From 1953, for approximately six years, I was a very keen athlete – mainly competing in cross-country races – never anything over 10 miles. Then I stopped running, but started again because I just had to run the Comrades Marathon before retiring! This I did in 1967, finishing 60th in 7 hrs. 46 minutes. (To-day that time would probably earn me 260th place!!). Retired again, but then a nagging ambition once again arose – I had never completed a marathon under 3 hours ! Once again I was out training. One cannot run without competition, so I started competing in cross-country races again. A 10-miler at Balfour Park seemed to be an interesting race, so I went along. Another competitor and I had a ding-dong battle over the whole of the 10 miles, with me edging him out over the last mile, as it consisted mainly of a big hill – and hills were my forte. After a shower, he appeared wearing a Centurian Blazer. (This is the blazer and badge that one is entitled to wear if one has completed 100 miles on a track in under 24 hours, in an organized event). My eyes nearly popped out of my head. If he could earn that badge, then so could I. I could hardly sleep that night. From that moment on I was determined to earn that badge. The next 100 mile event was just three months away. In the August I ran a marathon in just under 3 hours, then set my sights on the big one! I soon discovered that the longer training runs could not be undertaken alone, so got in touch with Errol Dansie, Eddie Whitehorn and Wally Pattison. We did a few 30-mile runs, then attempted a 50-mile run. Starting at 4,00 a.m., we ran half-way out to Hartebeespoort Dam and back. I felt fine after the run, and my confidence soared. I still had respect for the thought of 100 miles as it appeared to be a long, long way. A few weeks later we attempted another 50-mile run and then I learnt a valuable lesson. I was fine until about 45 miles, then within the space of less than one mile, I became so tired that I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. I struggled in the last three miles, barely making it home without walking. I could not possibly have run another five miles, let alone another 50! What had gone wrong? I had been very careful about salt and fluid intake during the run; in fact the other fellows taught me a lot about ultra-long distance running and the intake of drinks. So what was happening to me? I asked and talked to many people. Then somebody mentioned that Jackie Mekler had said one should go into a 100-mile race slightly overweight. That was it – I had not excess fatty tissue, necessary to take one through long runs. From that day ‘till the big day, I ate as much as I possibly could at every mealtime. I am convinced that was the answer to my problem. The race day grew nearer. The last training run struck me as rather ridiculous. I went out for four miles. It seemed stupid going out for a run like that in relation to the racing distance of 100 miles. Rather like going out for a four metre burst in final preparation for a 100 metre race!! At last, the day arrived and we duly reported at King’s Park Stadium in Durban. The race started at 1,00 p.m. and one ran through the night and into the next day. The scene at the track was one I shall never forget – music, announcements, colourful tents, programme sellers, hot dog stands, ice cream vendors, spectators, flags and ribbons. Just like a big carnival.

The top 15 athletes ran on the inner lane of the track and the remainder of the entrants ran in the third lane. This is to allow an unimpeded run to the leaders. Thus the inner lane fellows had to complete 400 laps and the rest of the field only had to do 382 laps, me included. I am a person who likes to savour a moment in time – these special moments often being at the start of a race: Here I stood on the track in takkies, shorts and vest, with just two thin legs to carry me on for 100 miles. No more time for training now. Thoughts, aims and hopes had, from this moment on, to be actually achieved. Nobody could do it for me; I believed I could do it and this was the start of the actual proof. What would the next 15 to 20 hours hold in store? At exactly 1,00 p.m., a shot rang out and we were off. Shouts, cheers and plenty of wishes of good luck. I was amazed at how soon the leaders were lapping the tail end – I think it took less than four laps for people to be lapped. It looked like some chaps were planning to be out on the track for many, many hours. I soon discovered a fellow who ran at a pace that suited me, so I settled in behind him. I liked his consistent speed and dogged him for the first 20 miles. Throughout the event, the erratic pace of some amazed me. They would be walking, then the next minute they would fly past me, but within a mile or two they would be walking again. Assisting me, I had what must have been the best team of seconds in the country – Steve De Bod, Tommy Malone and Len Harrison. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of one’s seconds in long distance events. Ones who know what to do when things go wrong, who see that their runner gets enough liquid and that he takes in salt regularly; who are there all the time, paying attention to one’s progress. In the 100 miler, each runner’s seconds have to do his lap counting and this must have been a terrible burden. Counting off the laps hour-after-hour, through the afternoon, evening, the night and on until you have completed the distance. My team of fellows was magnificent – and when one remembers that it rained for most of the night, one can imagine their devotion to duty by being out there to help me every lap of the way. In a race like the 100-miler, it is most important to take care of the small items. If the liquid intake gets too low, there is no chance to recover from the situation. A lack of salt intake cannot be overcome at a later stage – the body will not accept it and one will become ill. A blister that develops in the first 20 miles gets no chance to heal. One has to ensure that one’s running clothes and shoes fit exactly – a new vest will chafe and cause untold discomfort. My seconds wrote down the drinks and salt intake during the run abnd they ensured that I never went further than five miles without a drink, or ten miles without some salt. I had found that I could not take salt with tea, so they made sure that this never happened. At 35 miles I had to stop for two minutes, where I was dried off and I had my legs rubbed. I believe in staying dry during a long run and as evening was approaching, I wanted to avoid getting a chill. Many of the top athletes run sopping wet all the way, so I guess my idea of staying as dry as possible only applies to me. Many people called in at the track on their way home from work, either to cheer their friends on, or just to see this motly group of fellows going round and round a track. The same happened before cinema time – people called in to see the progress of the runners. Many fellows ran with little transistor radios – guess they had done so during their training runs. The race was on a Friday/Saturday and quite a strange thing happened at 7,30 p.m. I suddenly noticed people running in groups and chaps asking who had a radio! It turned out that everybody was mad keen on the Springbok Radio Programme ‘Squad Cars’ and nobody wanted to miss it. I too joined a group and there was silence for the next thirty minutes as we listened to the programme. Immediately the programme ended, the chaps split up and we all got back to the business of completing the 382/400 laps.

After six hours I had another brief stop for some soup and a change of vest. I was feeling a little weary and found that when I started to run again, it took a lap or two before I was going smoothly. One of the features of the run was the witty announcer. He kept us amused with request records, jokes, wisecracks, stories of previous 100-mile races and the characters who will not give up. The leading runners were passing the 50-mile mark and as each man reached that point he was announced and got a little clap. Of course, running on a track one had no idea just how far ahead or behind you were, unless one referred to the judges’ lap records. (The judges rely on your seconds’ integrity and only ask for submission of lap counts every few hours). As a passed the Fifty, I recalled thinking that I had completed what amounted to one Comrades. Now it was just a matter of doing it again! I completed 200 laps in ten seconds short of eight hours. At 60 miles, I stopped again for three minutes, but when I started to run again, all I could do was hobble – hobbling - - - - - and there were still 40 miles to complete. I started mentally calculating that if I could do four miles per hour for the rest of the time, I would still get under the maximum time allowed of 24 hours and get that coveted badge. After five or six laps, I managed to get back into a proper jog and then and there resolved not to stop again – no matter how tired I got. Nothing could be worse than trying to start again. By 11,00 p.m., the cinema crowd was back again at the track, having another look at the runners – well, those that were still going round and round. Derek Kay was leading and by midnight, the announcers realized that there was a possibility of a new world record being set up for the event. Nobody had ever run 100 miles in under 12 hours and if Kay could keep up his pace, he had a chance of being the first to do it. The crowd were with him every bit of the way. It had started to rain, but nobody was going home. They all wanted to see a world record broken. Lap after lap they cheered him on. He was running absolutely magnificently – reeling off the miles at under seven minutes per mile. The track was full of puddles; in fact it was so wet and some of the puddles in the third lane were so deep, that one had to run around them for fear of hurting a tired ankle. By 00,45h the atmosphere was electric. The crowd were clapping Kay almost the whole way. He maintained the same fantastic pace and crossed the line after 400 gruelling laps in the new world record time of 11 hours, 56 minutes and 56 seconds. Within minutes the crowd dwindled. It was almost as though a silence had settled on the place by comparison to the exciting moments just before 1,00 a.m. One man could go home to sleep; the rest of us still had to fight our own battles, complete our own tasks. Many chaps were really struggling – battling between walking and running, being ill and feeling fine. I recall the stage when I had 25 miles to go – just about the distance of one marathon – forgetting the fact that I had already run three. At times the lap count never seemed to reduce. All I wanted to do was to keep running – not stopping for another rest. I was worried about cramps setting it and every twinge of pain in the legs made me wonder if this was it – but they did not come and I could keep on running. As each lap was completed, I would say to myself “another one laid down without walking, now I will run the next one too!” Each lap was just one lap nearer the end. Temporary toilets had been set up along the back straight. I recall stopping once to find all the seats full and terrible arguments going on. Chaps got tired but their seconds would not let them stop, so they would go into the toilets and sit down. The seconds would realize after a few minutes that their man had not come around and would have to go dashing across to the toilets to drag him out and set him on his way again! After all, who has to go every six laps?!! Mile by mile, lap by lap, slowly the count reduced. Seventy laps to go, 60, 50 and eventually 40 laps to go – just 10 miles. I had dozens of ten mile training runs and somehow I would get through the next ten miles too.

With three miles to go I recalled some three-mile training runs that I had done – they were so easy – now just three miles seemed so far, yet I was sure I would do it now without walking at all. With just two laps to go, the darkness of the night lifted ever so slightly. In the East, the morning had arrived. I had not walked a step and nothing on earth would make me stop now. As I went down the back straight for the last time, the birds started to chirp and call. A new day, but for me, the end of a long, long night - - the end of 16 hours, 10 minutes and 20 seconds of running time. And what does it mean? - - - - just a badge on a blazer that I wear occasionally - - - just the fun of being able to tell a Comrades Marathon runner that I am a Centurian and do not bother to put on my takkies for those short 54 mile races!!!

MEMBER PROFILE

Nick Bester Children: 0

Family pets: 0

Occupation: Banking Consultant

I have been a member of Boksburg Athletic Club since: 2013

I started running because: I met Taryn (haha hadn’t really run before we started dating)

The first race I participated in was: Sportsman’s 15km in 2011

The people who have had the biggest influence on my running career so far is: Shelley

van der Spuy and Frank Da-Ascencao

The running achievement I am most proud of is: Comrades

silver last year

My PB’s for these distances are:

4km time trial: 13.49

8km time trial: 29.22

10km: 36.47

15km: 58.50

21.1km: 1.23

42.2Km: 2.48

50km: 4.10

Two Oceans Ultra-marathon: N/A

Comrades Marathon: 7.14

My running goals for 2015 are:

1) Comrades Silver

2) Two Oceans Silver

3) All marathons for 2015 to be sub 3’s

The best piece of running advice I’ve received is: The mind

gives up before the body does..!!

I train with: Taryn Retief, Mark Humphreys and Frank’s group on weekends

My favourite race distance is: 10Km

My favourite race is Comrades because: it’s the main race we train for, the vibe is

amazing, the achievement is priceless and you know the next 6 months its party

season..!!

The advice I’d give a novice runner is: party hard but run even harder..!!

My biggest supporter is: Taryn and Shelley

My favourite food after a race is: A good old borewors roll..!!

My favourite drink is: Any ice cold Draught

My favourite TV programme or movie is: Sport!

I cannot live without: A braai

When I am not running, I play golf, watch sport, just generally try do cool things

My fellow club mates probably don’t know that no matter what time I go to bed it is

always hard to wake up in the morning when waking up early to run..!!

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