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I’ve now run two marathons. It was the same marathon, one year apart, almost identical routes, same time of year, similar weather (this year’s weather might’ve been slightly more challenging) - and yet two completely different experiences. Last year’s was the more difficult run of the two. I was still very inexperienced then and I cramped for at least the last third of that marathon. But I enjoyed the experience and the vibe of the event, and will always treasure it. Afterwards, I took what felt like forever to recover. I kept trying to get back into running but couldn’t seem to figure it out. ...

A few days after completing the 2023 Cape Town marathon, I wrote a thank you note to Michelle on my blog page. In this piece, I wrote the following: “I had to take some time to figure things out especially my ‘why’ and then my ‘how’ - both felt unfigureoutable.” My Kopskuif-course started at the end of last month. It is a weight-loss preparation course. In this course, I try to unpack the world of diets and exercise and try to make it slightly less intimidating for someone who knows that they need to lose weight but is unsure of where to start. ( Before you ask, it is only available in Afrikaans) My focus for about half of this course is on ‘why’; during the other half, I focus on ‘how’. ...

Planning for and working towards a big goal is incomplete unless you also plan what to do after reaching that goal - especially when it is an event you’re working towards. Not having a post-event plan can leave you feeling aimless, even depressed, when your event is done and dusted. Note: you are probably going to feel a bit lost and down anyway, but having a post-event plan will definitely help. ...

We had an interesting problem these past two weeks. I wrote “we” even though it was actually my problem. I had someone who shared this problem with me and solved it for me - which is a massive privilege. The Wednesday after my previous newsletter I had a 10km Easy run on my training calendar. I cannot recall a 10km ever feeling better or easier during the course of this past year than my run that morning. I shared this observation with a running friend who was very happy for me. ...

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” What a lie! On the one side, I believe that we should be able to fairly criticize and share an honest opinion. On the other hand, I believe that it is better to keep quiet when you don’t have something good to say. When trying to console someone who’s been the receiver of some hurtful words, sentences such as “Remember hurt people hurt people”, “Choose who you allow yourself to listen to” or “Offence is taken, not given” are sometimes uttered. Not that these consolations help. Once the hurtful message has been spoken or posted there is no knowing how long it will be pondered over in the mind of the receiver. ...

We had an inspiring “Journeys”- themed town hall session at our offices. Myself and some of my colleagues had the opportunity to share a bit about our journeys. One of my colleagues shared how she and her husband were keen Camino trail walkers. One of their bucket list items was to walk the Camino trail in Italy, but when her husband collapsed and passed away next to her one day while walking in the Transkei she decided to walk the Italian trail by herself. She shared her adventures, stories and reflections. ...

I suspect I am writing today’s newsletter just for myself. It is the message that I need to hear. These past few months we’ve been focusing on improving my running form. There is so much that I need to fix. I lean forward too much, I don’t lift my chin enough, my shoulders are too much forward, I don’t lift my knees enough, my shoulders rock, or sway, too much, my cadence is too low and I heel strike. In short: I don’t do anything right… (It is not true, but sometimes that is how it feels) ...

We all have a threshold of stuff that we can handle. Most of the time I will manage okay-ish with a 5:30 am track session, but throw in an evening of poor sleep, not feeling well and some pain in my shins, and suddenly my 5:30 am track session becomes unmanageable and I quit it prematurely. Similarly, none of us can keep going all the time. If we keep on pushing through day in and day out, our threshold of stuff we can handle will lower. Eventually, the slightest tiniest niggle is going to send us tumbling into a pit of despair. Which is why we should rest and plan for it. ...

There is a place called “I’ve tried everything, nothing works, I might as well stop trying…” We all visit that place now and then. I feel that people sometimes mail me about this place hoping I’ll say “It’s okay. I can see you’ve tried everything. You can stop trying now.” Of course, l won’t do that… Recently I’ve found myself there. Yes, I also visit it - unfortunately. I mean it when I say I work hard at becoming a better runner. I work incredibly hard! But despite trying my best, I don’t get the results I feel I deserve. None of my workouts is ever executed exactly like my coach wants them executed, and that makes me feel like I am constantly failing. One day I frustratedly exclaimed: “What is the point of being consistent when I am consistently wrong?” ...

Currently, I am training hard for Cape Town Marathon in October. My weekly mileage is about 45 - 50 km and most mornings I am out on the road or track running in the dark and cold. I am enjoying all the beautiful moonscapes and sunrises, but cannot wait for brighter mornings and warmer days. In both my books I ended the Acknowledgement chapter with a message to my husband. This was the section in “My First Marathon Training”: ...