Blog

These past two weeks have tested me more than I expected. Not long after I told my coach how blessed I’d been to avoid injuries that sidelined me from running this year, everything seemed to unravel. I probably jinxed it! It started with a spider bite that turned into an infection so bad I needed surgery to drain it. The wound had to stay open, so running was out of the question. Just as I started easing back into it, I had an allergic reaction to the plaster covering the still-healing wound. I ended up running with the wound uncovered, which made me nervous and extra cautious. ...

If I had known on the 5th of December 2021 that it would take me three years—almost to the day—to improve the 10km time I ran that day, I’m not sure I would have laced up my shoes at all. This past weekend, I finally broke that 10km personal best—three years of trying, failing, and trying again. For most of this year, I’d been actively chasing this goal, coming so close—just seconds away—on several occasions. But no matter how hard I tried, it refused to fall. Until this weekend… ...

I am so surprised by how much better I feel after my marathon this year, which was only a month ago, compared to how I felt after the previous two marathons I ran. I reckon I’ve recovered well and am back to running strongly. Mentally, I also feel far less lost than before. I thought that because I hadn’t already entered next year’s edition of the Cape Town Marathon, I would feel aimless, but I don’t. Instead, I feel like there’s much less pressure on me. I haven’t set any new goals for next year yet either, and that’s also not bothering me. ...

I recently attended a talk by Mark Sham titled Happiness Isn’t What You Think. During the presentation, he guided us through an exercise on gratitude: Think of someone you’re grateful for. Meditate on why you’re grateful to have this person in your life. Write down these reasons in a letter. When the opportunity arises, read this letter to that person. I feel incredibly fortunate to have many people in my life to be grateful for, but for this exercise, the first person who came to mind was my husband. Reflecting on why I am so thankful to have him in my life made me feel deeply emotional, and I’d like to share those reasons. ...

The wind was howling when I awoke, long before dawn on race day. I’d listened to it since midnight, a constant, relentless reminder of the challenge awaiting me. Although I don’t consider myself a fair-weather runner, stepping out in weather like this is something I’d be hesitant to do even for a training run. But this wasn’t just any run; it was race day: the culmination of all the hours and countless kilometres. ...

In less than a week I’ll be lining up for the 2024 Cape Town Marathon. Less than a week… It’s hard to believe that by this time next week, the marathon I’ve dedicated so much to will already be behind me. The thought that I won’t run it next year makes me sad. (I’ve decided to focus on improving my 10km and 21km times next year, perhaps working towards a goal like a 2h30m half-marathon.) ...

Three weeks ago, just after 4:00 on a Sunday morning when I had a 15km run scheduled, I sent this message to my running coach: “I woke up on time to join Run Zone, but I’m still exhausted (despite going to bed before 19:00 last night). I can’t go on like this… I can’t wake up daily feeling like death warmed up and keep pushing through. I’m going back to sleep and will probably run the RH 5km route x3 later by myself.” ...

I had the privilege of being invited to give a talk at a Weigh-Less group two weeks ago. From the moment I received the invitation, I was made to feel included and wanted. The group leader was caring and considerate, ensuring I felt valued even before I arrived. Once I got there, the warmth and kindness only multiplied. The first member I met went above and beyond to make me comfortable, offering coffee multiple times and suggesting water or tea when I declined. She wasn’t taking no for an answer but in the most endearing way! I felt embraced by people who were genuinely happy to see me, even though I was a stranger to most of them. I felt at ease and not at all like an outsider. ...

Currently, I find myself deep in the trenches of marathon training, experiencing a touch of deja vu. At this point, the excitement of signing up has long faded, and the reality of the hard work that the challenge demands is all too real. It’s hard not to ask myself: “Why did I sign up for this again?” Marathon training demands everything I’ve got—and then some. And the demands on me aren’t just physical. With four children writing tests, completing assignments, and partaking in Eisteddfod practices and performances, swimming galas, cycling tournaments, and school concerts, I juggle more than I often think possible. The days blur together in a whirlwind of activities, leaving little time to rest and recover, which I desperately need to keep up with my training. ...

This year, I made a mindset shift that profoundly impacted my running and life. Working with a coach comes with the benefit of having structured workouts, each with specific pace goals. Sometimes, these goals apply to the entire run; other times, my workouts are broken down into segments, each with its own target pace. Last year, I struggled to hit my pace goals. Workout after workout, I fell short, frustrating me to no end. Sometimes I wondered, “What’s the point of running if I can’t execute my workouts correctly?” It felt like I needed to hit those targets occasionally, at least, to keep my motivation alive. ...