Monthly Archives: September 2013
2013 Otter Trail Run Champion Ricky Lightfoot & the Highveld Summer Trail Challenge – Trail Talk SA Episode 9
Last weekend saw a seriously impressive performance from Ricky Lightfoot to claim the 2013 Otter African Trail Run title. This week on episode 9 of Tail Talk SA:
- Brad managed to catch up with the 2013 Trail Running World Champion Ricky Lightfoot following his win at the Otter. Ricky spoke about how close he came to not actually running because a missed flight. The pair also spoke at length about Ricky’s thoughts on the Otter as well as South Africa as a whole. Brad also touched on Ricky’s World title that he won in Wales as well as what he hopes to achieve in the future and then finally Brad asked Ricky if he was going to return to defend his title in 2014 and if he thought he could go faster.
- Gavin Grobbelaar, the organiser of the Highveld Summer Trail Challenge joins us to chat about the upcoming race on 6 October. As discussed on the show if you would like to enter or find out more about the series you can visit .
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Share This PostChen, The Sportsmans Warehouse 15km, Johan van der Merwe and Parky & Brad preview some upcoming races – Run Talk SA Episode 18
Amber Blumson and Kirsten Willis
This week on Run Talk SA Parky and Brad managed to catch up with a whole host of people. First up:
- Parky spoke with one of Fourways Runners favourite sons, Chen, who has left South African shores for Scotland to further his career. The pair spoke about Chen’s love of running as well as what he has achieved whilst running in South Africa.
- Brad ran the Sportsmans Warehouse 15km in Boksburg on Heritage Day and caught up with two 15km novices, Amber Blumson and Kirsten Willis, to find out more about their experience.
- Johan van Merwe, the current Washie 100 miler record holder and 2013 champion spoke to Brad about what it takes to run 100 milers and run them fast.
- Simon and Brad then previewed some of the races to look forward to over the next few months.
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Share This PostTeam Bestmed-ASG’s Zandile Ndhlovu & Back Pain Caused By Mountain Biking with Physio Richard Feher
This week on the show Brad:
- Caught up with Zandile Ndhlovu from Team Bestmed-ASG about her mountain biking journey. From not owning a bike three years ago to racing competitively, Zandi’s story is truly inspiring. As mentioned in the show you can or .
- Quizzed our resident physiotherapist Richard Feher about back pain associated with mountain biking. The pair discussed what causes back pain on a mountain bike, how to treat back pain and most importantly how to avoid back pain on a mountain bike. You can call Richard’s practice on
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Share This PostImage Courtesy of http://www.privateer.co.za
We have had another really cool week at Cycle Talk SA this week. We chat to:
- Adventurer Raoul de Jongh, who is a really good amateur triathlete, recently returned from an amazing trip to ride the Cent Cols Challenge in Italy. The tour, which sees riders cover approximately 2000km in 10 days includes more than 50 000m of climbing. You can follow , visit his blog here and as discussed on the show this is the Cent Cols Challenge website and here are the two blog posts that describe the trip. (, )
- Catherine Albertyn who has lost 30kgs over the last 5 years and has become a phenomenal cyclist, regularly winning her category at races around the country. This weekend she was the first lady home at the Meals on Wheels cycle race in Heidelberg. Cath speaks about how training to power has improved her cycling as well as how spinning can be used as a really effective tool to improve your cycling if you are pressed for time. You can .
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Share This PostRun Talker of the Week – Marike du Plessis
How did you get into running? I’ve always enjoyed doing any sport, but actual participation dwindled during my varsity years and as I grew up, I also grew wider. I decided to start running to lose some weight as it was such an easily accessible sport. Over time I grew to love running and missing it when I wasn’t able to do it. I didn’t completely appreciate running though until being plagued down by injury. Now I also run for those who can’t – it forms part of my motivation!
How long have you been running? On and off since 2007, but I fell in love with it along the way and have been taking it more seriously since then.
What is your favourite distance to run and why? At this stage, ANY distance is a blessing. Had a bad bout of ITB and quad problems that took me out of running for more than a year. Since then I appreciate any distance, as I had to start from scratch after injury and converting to minimalist shoes (I <3 them!). I am attracted to ultra-distances, but haven’t done any, so one day I’ll let you know if that is my favourite distance.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? Definitely Ryan Sandes! I’ve recently been more interested in trail running and the terrain and distances this guy covers is just mind boggling. He basically keeps a faster average pace over 160 km at altitude than what I do on tar over 7k’s! Haha! Proudly SA!
What is your biggest or best running achievement? What are you most proud of? Finishing Two Oceans half marathon with my ITB injury! Tears were streaming down my face as I crossed the finish line. I didn’t think I would finish with the injury and not being able to put in the distances in training beforehand.
What is your favourite running quote? I have a few actually, but one of my favourites is “I run because somehow, completely exhausting myself is the most relaxing part of my day” and one that I keep saved on my phone is a quote from Kilian Jornet, when he took a wrong route during a run for a record attempt and afterwards the interviewer asked him if it was frustrating getting it wrong at the summit and his reply was “No absolutely not frustrating – on the contrary! I always say that the more kilometres, the more meters we climb, the more things we see … that gives even more energy!” Wow, what a brilliant mentality! Continue reading
Share This PostRobbie Hunter Retires, Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg on the Vuelta e Espana & Kevin McCallum on all things cycling – Cycle Talk SA Episode 9
It has been a huge week for cycling in South Africa this week and we are really chuffed to have two of the biggest names in SA cycling on the show this week, one a seasoned pro, the other a star of the future. This week Brad was able to:
- Catch up with Robbie Hunter, who announced his retirement from cycling this week. Robbie was the first South African to complete the Tour de France as well as win a stage in the Tour de France.
- Touch base with Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg, who has just completed his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta e Espana with team Argos Shimano.
- Chat to the chief sports writer for the Star, Kevin McCallum about all things cycling as well as a project he is involved in to raise funds for the Teddy Bear Clinic. As discussed on the show, if you want to participate you can email David on
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Share This PostOlympian Gill Sanders, Under 23 Rudolf Naude, The Inspiring Que Lebatha and Legend Raynard Tissink – Tri Talk SA Episode 12
It has been a REALLY busy week at Talk SA HQ this week. We’ve made a few major changes behind the scenes and one really big one on the website. We have migrated across to Sound Cloud. If you download the podcast through iTunes this change won’t affect you at all, but if you listen to and download the podcast through our website we hope you like the change. We chat about it a bit more on this week’s show. On Episode 12 we also:
- Chat to South African triathlete Gillian Sanders, who competed at the ITU Grand Final in London last weekend.
- Caught up with Rudolf Naude following his return for racing in the under 23’s in London.
- Have an inspiring chat with Que Lebatha who is on track to race her first full Ironman in April next year in Port Elizabeth
- Touch base briefly with Reinhardt Tissink to chat triathlon and a few other things including running the Comrades Marathon in 2014.
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Share This PostRadio & TV’s Kwena Moabelo & SA Triathlon legend Raynard Tissink – Run Talk SA Episode 17
It has been an interesting to week to say the least. With the threats of legal action to everything that could go wrong, going wrong but we have managed to produce the show this week despite the sideshow that is happening “off the pitch” so to speak. This week however Brad is flying solo and speaks to:
- Kwena Moabelo from SABC Sport. Kwena hosts Game Plan on SAfm and is also a regular contributor when it comes to football on the SABC television. The two talk about Kwena’s journey to running as well as his interest in sport.
- Raynard Tissink, South African triathlon legend who is turning his attention to the 2014 Comrades Marathon.
If you would like to subscribe to our weekly podcast on iTunes you can click here or on the RSS feed by If you have an android device we have also been added to Stitcher and you can listen to us or download the podcast here
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Share This PostDarren van der Merwe – From the Couch to Top Ten & Jock Green on moving from Cycling to Trail Running – Trail Talk SA Episode 8
This week on our social media profiles we asked “who is the most inspirational trail runner you know?” and we got some amazing replies. One really intrigued us so we put in the call. On episode 8 of Trail Talk SA we chat to:
- Darren van der Merwe, who finished 9th in the 2013 Puffer. The amazing thing about Darren is at the beginning of 2012 he was 60 kilograms heavier than he is now. So not only has he lost the body weight of the average woman, but he has also discovered some hidden athletic ability. Check out the before and after pictures of Darren’s amazing journey below. You can also .
- Former professional cyclist Jock Green spoke to us en route to the 2013 Otter Trail Run. Fairly new to the sport of trail running Jock has traded his wheels for running shoes and is doing amazing things on the trails. You can also .
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Share This PostRun Talker of the week – Wes Jones
How did you get into running?Work formed a club this year and I joined, thinking it was a good way to get me off the couch. Then I saw a tweet about Two Oceans entries and thought it might be fun to do the 21.1…
How long have you been running?After entering the 21.1, I thought it might be a good idea to train. How hard could it be? After struggling to walk/run 5km, I realised it was harder than it looked. That was end of Jan this year.
What is your favourite distance to run and why? So far, half marathons. I’ve done 6, and the routes have been amazing: 2 in Boland, 2 in the Cape and 2 on the West Coast. Absolutely beautiful country.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? There are 2: my dad, who at his heaviest, won silver at Comrades in ’92, proved anything is possible if you want it badly enough, and his friend, who started running because of my dad, and is still going 25 years later. He absolutely loves running, and I have the same love he does.
What is your biggest or best running achievement? What are you most proud of? The Two Oceans 21.1 this year. I was determined to finish. It was hard, but I did it, and I was bitten by the bug. Next week is my first marathon, 6 months later. That’s going to be my new biggest achievement 
What is your favourite running quote? I have 2: “Running isn’t about being better than someone else, it’s about being better than you used to be” and “If you want to change your body, exercise. If you want to change your life, become a runner”.
Where is your favourite place to run and tell us why? Pretty much anywhere there’s a race. I’ve seen more of the Cape since I started running than in all my years living here. We live in such a beautiful country, and running gives me the opportunity to see so much of it. Continue reading
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