Life begins at 60

Bela-Bela athlete Rosa Sekele (60) continues to set a good example for senior citizens, proving to the locals that indeed age is just a number.

Sekele still dreams of achieving a green number in the Comrades Marathon.

A green number is awarded to athletes who manage to successfully complete 10 Comrades Marathons.

The Bela-Bela resident has so far participated in nine Comrades Marathon and managed to complete seven of them.

She told The BEAT that this year she will not participate in the Comrades Marathon, but will take part in the Mandela Day Marathon.

Sekele shared the secrets of how she manages to continue growing from strength to strength, citing that all it takes is good exercise and eating healthily.

She commended her coach Lucas Seleka for his selflessness and his dedication towards helping fellow athletes to grow.

Seleka, who will be doing his 14th Comrades Marathon this year, mentors athletes between Tuesday and Thursday every year to help them prepare for upcoming running events.

The athletes also partake in 21km test runs every weekend as part of the broader training processes.

Seleka said on Saturday 8 February that Lucas Training Camp will host a 3-in-1 training session.

The first session will be a 30km run, which will begin at Bela-Bela Lodge in the early hours (04:40).

During midday (12:30) a 21km race will start outside Modimolle SAPS, while the last category (10km) was also expected to start at the same venue in the afternoon.

“We will be using this training as part of the preparations for among others, the 42km Polokwane Marathon to be held on Saturday 15 February, and the 21km Mokopane half-marathon scheduled for 22 February,” he said.

He said the Lucas Training Camp is open for aspiring athletes regardless of their affiliation, and further indicated that its objective is to help develop local athletes.

— The BEAT