100BEFORE40

8 - Kampala Marathon, Kampala, Uganda, 22 November 2015  From the day I committed to the 100BEFORE40 project, when and where I go for holiday is primarily determined by whether there is a race taking place in that area at that time. My wife has repeatedly warned me that one day I will find myself in a war zone, just for a race. I do not know if this is supposed to be scary or not, but it’s something I hear a lot from my wife. She does not let me plan holidays anymore. If it is planned by me, it is not a holiday, but a running excursion she says. Because we wanted a holiday (more like going home) in Uganda in 2015, my wife did not let me plan the trip. She took care of all the finer details of the trip. She planned when we would go, for how long and where exactly we would be at specific times. I had no choice, but to agree to everything. And that was it. We were going to Uganda for a week in November. A week before the trip, I could not resist the 100BEFORE40 itch. I

9 Bela Bela, 14 November 2017 LOADING...

8 SOWETO MARATHON, 1 November 2015 UNDER CONSTRUCTION

7. SABS JACARANDA CITY , 17 October 2017 UNDER CONSTRUCTION

5 - The Two Countries Marathon, Zimbabwe - South Africa, 26 September 2015 The month of June was one of the longest months in 2015 for me. It was the first month after the Comrades Marathon. I could have forgiven anyone for wishing me a happy new year. June felt like January. I was convinced a new year had just started after the Comrades Marathon. I had prepared for the Comrades Marathon for a long time. After the Comrades Marathon climax, I had to start again. Starting again meant I could not run for the whole of June and half of July. I could not run as for two reasons. I was recovering from all the beating my body had taken at the Comrades Marathon. I was also recovering from the severe infection I had contracted just before the Comrades Marathon. This sabbatical from running gave me a lot of time to think about my next move. I would go for hours, especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings, thinking of races that I would do as soon as I got back on the road. I looked fo

4 - Mandela Day Marathon, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 30 August 2015 "I have always believed exercise is a key not only to physical health but to peace of Mind" - Nelson Mandela The Mandela Day Marathon (2015) was my first marathon after the Comrades Marathon. It was held on 30 August 2015. By that time, I believed I could do anything in life. We all have that moment when we believe we can do anything. Mine came on 31 May 2015 after completing the Comrades Marathon. The slogan for the Comrades Marathon 2015 was “Izokuthoba” (It will humble you). Instead of being humbled, I believe I humbled the Comrades Marathon in 2015. A week before the biggest physical challenge of my life, I contracted a severe infection. I tried self-medication, ably assisted by my dear wife Agatha. The self-medication was my way of playing down the seriousness of my illness. I did not want to accept that my Comrades Marathon dream would not be realized, at least for another year. I h

3 - the wally hayward marathon, Pretoria, South Africa, 1 may 2015 Throughout the early days of my social running career, “Wannabe Runner Era”, I made all sorts of bad decisions. And I paid for them dearly. I did not understand which miles were good or bad for the legs. I thought quantity was what it took to complete The Comrades Marathon. I was following a Comrades Marathon finishers' programme put together by an expert, Coach Lindsey Parry, but I did not stick to it religiously. Collecting medals became a big part of the goal. I would make sure that I did races every weekend, just to collect medals. Sometimes I would go for races when I was supposed to be resting or going for slow runs. Races being races, I ended up running as hard as I could just to get good times. I managed to bag a lot of sub 2h00 half marathons, and injuries. After my magical performance, sub 4h00 marathon finish at the Cape Gate Vaal Marathon, my next marathon was only in May. It was the Wally Hay

2 - the Cape Gate Vaal Marathon, 1 March 2015 Having failed to finish my first ever marathon under 4h00, I set out to accomplish that mission as soon as possible. I spent a lot of time on the road working on my speed. Like any other novice, I went about it the wrong way. I spent many hours running as far, and as fast, as I could, hoping to improve my time. Any experienced runner will tell you that this is a recipe for disaster. Well, I did not need an experienced runner to tell me this. Disaster struck. I ended up with all sorts of over-use injuries and spent a lot of time consulting with medical practitioners. I made very good friends with my chiropractor. I even went for a cortisone jab, just to get back on the road. I spent a lot of time on the sidelines waiting patiently for my next marathon. It was not until 3 March 2015 that I managed to run my second marathon. This time I was a man on a real mission. I had studied the course and read a lot on how to pace my