I have been an active person for as long as I can remember.
My relocation to Empangeni and a kid changed all that. I had to find new ways to be active again and two University of Zululand biokinetic students (Graham Benz & Jason) invited me to run UAC Time Trials.
In Jan 2005, I started running time trials every Wednesday and the rest as they say - "Is history". I had to thank my wife for supporting me and she bought me my first pair Asics running shoes i.e. to run my 1st marathon.
I ran my 1st 42km marathon in (I think) March 2005 and it was the most painful running experience of my life i.e. the club's 42km race. I had 4 blisters at the 21km mark and I had to run the final 21km with blisters and the heat belting down. The lesson I've learnt and I'm propagating here in Pretoria - Never run a marathon or ultra marathon with "new" shoes and you cannot run a marathon after 2 1/2 months of training especially if you are a beginner.
The funniest moment in my running career was during this race as well. At the 30km marker I could barely walk and my work colleague from Tongaat Athletic Club told me to think of another work colleague undressing and standing naked at the end of the race. (She's a UAC runner working at University of Zululand.) Yes typical male conversation and YES it worked but the lesson for every runner - the "MIND" is stronger than any pain.
The most memorable moment in my running career: - my 1st Comrades (2005 - PMB to Durbs). I stopped at a watering point between Kloof and Pinetown and I collapsed. I phoned my wife that I'm not feeling well and I have collapsed and I do not think I can complete the race. My daughter probably phoned me every 10 minutes after the incident to encourage me to complete the race. I've never felt the bond between my daughter & me so strong i.e. being mummy's girl. Her constant encouragement helped me complete my 1st Comrades and seeing her face at the end was more important than finishing my 1st Comrades.
I have currently successfully completed 3 Comrades marathon and my goal is to complete 10 Comrades marathon and stay fit. Running is not only about how many Comrades you have completed but the Camaraderie amongst the running "family" and that's the reason I have joined the "crocs" i.e. to be part of the running family.
Finally - to my adopted family "the crocs":- I don't have any intentions of quitting the club anytime soon.
