Striders end year with rainy run
The club is doing its best to make running part of everyday life for everyone.
Traditionally, New Year’s Eve is a big day for partying for most South Africans but that has been the opposite with members of the South Coast Striders AC in the past 10 years.
It had become the club’s practice to use this tempting period of the year to prepare runners mentally for the upcoming running fixture.
Isak Ludick, one of the senior members of the club, came up with an initiative of running 40km from Port Edward to Uvongo on December 31.
At first, 10 years ago, it was him alone but the following year he was joined by close friends.
To date, the training has grown and has become an attraction for the local running community, as well as those on holiday.
This has become evident with the run attracting runners from as afield as Johannesburg, for example.
Here are some of their comments:
“Man, they build you guys tough here on the South Coast.”
“Thanks to all involved for a monstrous run and especially the marshals who made sure we had water, Coke, and an update on how far to go.”
“Special thanks to the man (Martin) who pulled me over the finish line. I will be meeting him at his place of work on Wednesday to get his number, and also to just make sure he is real, and not in fact an angel who assisted me when the rain really came down.”
“Oom Gert is a legend, thanks again.”
For some of the runners it was time to make new friendships, with Chumani from Umthatha feeling welcome.
This is what she had to say: “A nice start to the new year as I work on my comeback and training for 2024. What a way to start the year. Please do continue sharing your long runs throughout the year. A very pleasant route, not easy, but very good preparation for this year’s Comrades Marathon up-run. Thanks to the seconding team, they were on point and visible after every 3km. Well done.”
The club is doing its best to make running part of everyday life for everyone.
For more information about joining the club, contact Deborah Berridge on 072 1322006.
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