Randburg’s Tegan Pride gears up for Midmar Mile

As the annual Midmar Mile draws near, Tegan Pride, a Randburg resident, is preparing to take on the challenge for the second time.

The Midamr Mile is an annual swimming race set to take place on February 11 in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. With thousands of swimmers expected to participate, Pride is ready to dive in, face the challenges head-on and emerge victorious once again.

Despite initially ranking swimming low on her list of sports, Pride’s journey into open-water swimming has added to her joy. “I have always been into fitness and sport. Swimming was on the bottom of my list, but I decided to give it a go, and I’m glad I did,” Pride shares, reflecting on her entry into the world of swimming.

Driven by her need for a goal to strive towards, Pride has dedicated herself to rigorous training in preparation for the Midmar Mile. “It’s something you need to work towards; you don’t just go swim the Midmar Mile,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of consistent effort and dedication.

Pride’s training regimen is nothing short of intense, with early mornings and multiple sessions per day. “I train between 5–6 times a week. I get up at 04:00 in the morning, and I’m at the gym by 04:45,” she reveals, highlighting the commitment required to excel in the sport.

In addition to her training, Pride has adopted an eating plan tailored to support her athletic pursuits. “My eating plan is completely different now. I’m burning a lot of calories during the day, so I need a high protein intake”.

Despite facing challenges such as a recent lung condition diagnosis, Pride remains undeterred in her quest to improve upon her previous Midmar Mile performance. “This will be my second time participating, so I’ll be more familiar with it this time around,” she said. “My goal is to get a lower time than I did the previous year.”

Pride acknowledges the unique challenges posed by open-water swimming, including environmental factors and the presence of other swimmers. “One of the biggest things with the Midmar Mile is that it’s very different from swimming in a pool,” she explained. “You have the wind and everyone else swimming next to you. I have gotten a couple of kicks to the ribs before which is not fun, you just have to keep on swimming.”

Despite the obstacles, she is determined to persevere and achieve her goals. “Achieving the Midmar Mile is a big thing; it’s a great achievement,” she said. “There is nothing like the feeling of being proud of yourself when they put the medal around your neck.”

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