When many people were consigned to working from home during the hard lockdown, some took it upon themselves to stay fit in creative and impressive ways.
Melville resident and Randburg Harriers runner, Ulrike Karg ran more than 600km in circles in the same room during the first few months of lockdown. This was during lockdown Level 5, before exercising outdoors was allowed.
It included running a marathon-distance 42km in one day, 26 April, in dedication to her father who underwent chemotherapy at the time.
The room Karg ran in was roughly the size of a double garage and running circles in it for so long was no easy feat. Karg started running outdoors as soon as this was allowed, and completed the 45km Virtual Comrades Challenge in her neighbourhood.
Fairland resident Michael Frantzeskou cycled up Mount Everest virtually with his bike trainer at home. This to raise funds for Gift of the Givers Foundation, which purchased equipment and supplies for medical facilities.
Through the help of the Zwift online app, Frantzeskou’s bike trainer adjusted its gradient frequently to allow him to cycle 230km and reach a final elevation of 9km (the tallest mountain in the world has a peak of 8 848m but Frantzeskou wanted to go a little higher).
Specifically, the app required him to cycle the ‘Alpe du Zwift’ hill repetitively until reaching that elevation.
This took him 11 hours and 27 minutes.
Sandton Run Walk for Life Coach, Etthiene Marais ran 56km around his garden to encourage members of his fitness group.
This included running 83 laps around his property per day for six days, and a half-marathon distance 21km on the final day.
Marais continued to organise and participate in home challenges for his runners throughout the lockdown.
On a lighter note, top equestrian riders such as Pre-Easter Festival winner Siobhan Records, took the toilet paper challenge to a new level by balancing stacks of rolls on their hands as they cantered their horses in a circle.
Another lockdown challenge in the equestrian world saw riders listing features, habits, names, disciplines and other characteristics of a beloved horse of theirs, with a photo on social media.
They then nominate another rider to do the same. Sanesa Eventing Nationals winner, Arina Niyaki did this with her horse, Rathmor Napoleon, before nominating two friends who responded with their own lockdown horse interviews.
Niyaki described Rathmor Napoleon as a sweet, kind, gentle and silly dark bay horse who loved carrots and Likit horse treats.
