Running Heroes
Run Talker of the Week – Kate Els
How did you get into running? I got dragged along to a night trail run event with a friend that didn’t want to go alone. I ran (actually I walked) 4km and the endorphin rush straight after meant I was hooked. I think at first it was more about how social it was, but now it’s definitely more about a personal journey to my goals. Oh yes, and the offer of a hot dog and beer after definitely helped in getting me there in the first place.
How long have you been running? More off than on for the past 3 years, but I only got serious about training for a half marathon at the start of 2013. After a glute injury in February, I did a lot more research into training properly and cross-training in other disciplines to strengthen my body and improve my running.
What is your favourite distance to run and why? I have to say 10km. It’s the distance I can be consistent in and the only distance where I can constantly see improvement. I’ve only just run my first half marathon, so I’m sure that’ll become my favourite distance in the next couple of months.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? I grew up in a family of cricket-watchers and the Comrades made a brief appearance every so often. Truthfully, I don’t know many big names in running so I’ve always drawn inspiration from the runners I know in real life. Luckily, the runners I do know are awesome and their persistence has always been something I’ve watched from afar with awe. Continue reading
Share This PostRun Talker of the Week – Grant Schuleman
How did you get into running? I spent a year working in London and on my return in 2009 I found myself 10kg heavier than when I left. I found running to be the cardio exercise that burns up the most calories; after a few months of running on the treadmill at gym I decided to get out onto the road. I eventually started entering races; 5km and 10km, before long I was doing half marathons. I have now done over 30 half marathons and 2 full marathons.
How long have you been running? For 3 amazing years.
What is your favourite distance to run and why? The half marathon. I find this distance just far enough to experience some muscle fatigue and lactic acid build up and short enough to not feel like wanting to give up.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? I have to say the legend that is Bruce Fordyce. When I was a lot younger I remember watching the Comrades Marathon on TV and seeing this guy win so many times was just remarkable. And now having run in his company on a few occasions I have to admire the man.
What is your biggest or best running achievement? What are you most proud of? My first marathon – the 2012 Jacaranda City Challenge – having finished this distance just within the cut-off time – did it in 5h25 – for me was an amazing accomplishment.
What is your favourite running quote? Wherever you go, go with your heart.
Where is your favourite place to run and tell us why? On holiday in 2011 at Elysium, KZN South Coast I went on a “short” run on some dirt roads without knowing the area – in the middle of nowhere and not knowing exactly where was – I found it totally exhilarating. Continue reading
Share This PostRun Talker of the Week – Sphiwe Mweli
How did you get into running? As a part of my 40th birthday celebration I thought running Comrades Marathon would be a fitting present to me. I was also struggling with losing weight so I needed something long term which would help me to be on the safe side when it comes to my health.
How long have you been running? I started on 14 August 2010, will never forget that day when I ran my first 3km, it was the longest ever in my life. Before that I used to run up to 200m sprints but that was way back when I could at primary school.
What is your favourite distance to run and why? Comrades Marathon for me is the best and as they say, the ultimate human race. It provides me with time to be in touch with my inner being, I get to understand myself better in terms of the process I go through in decision making on a daily basis. It makes me appreciate the gift of life God has given me, just to be able to run it’s a miracle. To have an able body, fully functioning and good health – it’s one of the greatest blessings.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? The guy who suggested we wake up that Saturday morning of 14th August, Nat Mabetwa, a brother and dear friend. He took me along up to my first official 10k race that was CSIR Half Marathon & 10k in Pretoria right up to our first comrades in 2011.
What is your biggest or best running achievement? What are you most proud of? Comrades 2011, my first and my best 40th birthday present, with all the challenges I had building up to the race, almost three months injury lay-off. By the grace of God I still managed to finish. I am proud that I managed to convince myself, with far less training that I was going to have a successful race. I won the biggest battle of any runner, the battle of the mind. Continue reading
Share This PostRun Talker of the Week – Ntutu Letseka
How did you get into running? I ran at school way back, but once I got into varsity in 2001 other more ‘fun’ things kept me occupied! I tried again when I was in honours in 2005, on and off until 2007, but just never got back into it. But it all changed when I went to support at Comrades 2011 with my dad running. He was 53 at the time and the simple logic was that if he could do it, then I had no excuse
How long have you been running? My current wave has been going strong since June 2011
What is your favourite distance to run and why? 10km. It’s a brutally hard distance to get right. When raced properly it hurts, especially those last 2km. It is supposed to hurt but is short enough that the hurt only lasts ~10 minutes. And the recovery afterwards is quick too so you can race a couple in a month with no issues. I love it because it’s such a unique test of speed, stamina, strength and endurance. There’s no other distance quite like it.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? My father. Other than his Comrades endeavour (he ran 9:19 in 2011), he self-coached himself to a 2:30:40 PB at the 1997 London Marathon and a 31:58 10km in the build up to it…aged 39. It’s difficult to not get inspired by someone close to you achieving something like that.
What is your biggest or best running achievement? What are you most proud of? The easy answer is running Soweto Marathon last year my first (will remain my only one for a while). I was proud that I set myself a goal, 3:10, and went for it, even though I bombed in the last 10km and ran 3:38:10. Getting through the training was tough; those 32km runs almost buried me! I’m also pretty chuffed with my 36:13 PB for 10km after two years of running (though it was at the coast!).
What is your favourite running quote? Simply “Train, Don’t Strain” by the great coach Arthur Lydiard
Where is your favourite place to run and tell us why? I love running around my suburb Moreleta Park. There are a lot of runners here and the drivers are aware of us and courteous. And one word…hills. Lots of hills, speed training in disguise as Frank Shorter is credited with saying. I also enjoy the parkrun route at Ebotse.
Why do you run? It’s clichéd but running really gives back what you put in. I like that reward element (and the punishment when you don’t do the training)
What has been/is your biggest running challenge and how did you/ do you overcome it? This year I got a bit overzealous with the track work and had to deal with a bout of ITBS, which first surfaced after running that 10km PB in Cape Town. I ran through it as I’m sure most runners would but by the end of June I couldn’t run more than 20 minutes without pain. I made a decision to take time off and do all the rehab. Coming back and having to run 1 minute and walk 1 minute for 20 minutes was humbling but I’m glad I stuck with it.
What is the biggest life lesson running has taught you? Putting in the hard work gives you the best opportunity to reap the rewards Continue reading
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 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
Share This PostRun Talker of the week – Phathizwe Malinga
Our ordinary, everyday running hero this week is Phathizwe Malinga. If you want to be featured as our Run Talk’er of the week click here.
Phathizwe Malinga after the Vaal Marathon
How did you get into running?
A friend was staying with me while having his house built and was training for Comrades 2012. He forced me off the couch and we ran the longest 14km of my life.
How long have you been running?
I had a few more 14km runs in Sept-Dec 2012 (4 to 5 and some 20 minutes treadmills), but I consider my first day properly running being January this year. So I’ve been running all of 7 months.
What is your favourite distance to run and why?
42.2km. I love the half marathon, but I can run a half marathon. I’ve had very few marathons (4, I think) and in each one, I discovered more of and about myself. I like to meet myself, and apparently my address is somewhere beyond 32km.
Who is your biggest running inspiration and why? I would love to name the big personalities, and sound very knowledgeable, but honestly, my biggest inspiration is that guy or girl out on their daily training run as I drive back home from the office. I feel all sorts of excitement, I sometimes want to just stop the car and join. More so, when I had resolved to skip training for the day. That’s my inspiration, the common dedicated runner who makes me believe I can do it too.
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