June / July

2005

INDEX

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

AROUND THE MEN’S BEND

LADIES CORNER

CROSS COUNTRY LADIES

WALKERS

NEW MEMBERS

BIRTHDAYS

TRACK AND FIELD

RESULTS

PDAC WEBSITE

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

BUSINESSCARD BOARD

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY

Vince took a well-deserved break so on his behalf, I will congratulate the Comrades runners! 

Vince will be back in the next newsletter.

Best regards

Dianne on behalf of

Vince

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

Firstly I would like to congratulate all our Comrades runners.  6 Silver medals!!! Well Done!!

Secondly huge thanks to Lindani Zulu who very kindly offered to check the postbox for me.  I really appreciate the help – Thank you!

I hope you enjoy this June / July edition – we now have a business card section and if you are a member of the club, you can place your business card here. 

Please bear in mind that I need contributions for the newsletter and also to send on to Greg for the website.  Please email me at pdac@icon.co.za with your news and views.  I promise – I read every letter (probably because I don’t get many!!)

Until the next edition …

Dianne

AROUND THE MEN’S BEND

As we are in an interim period with the vacant spot for the Men’s Club Captain, this space is also vacant!!!

LADIES CORNER

Hi to you all!  Hope everybody’s training is going well.

Not much news this issue so will catch up with you all next newsletter!

REMINDERS

·          We meet on the field below the club house at Lahee Park on Tuesday afternoons (from about 4:45) for speed work.  This is very informal and if you don’t feel like doing track work just come and run around the field.  You do not have to be a fast runner to benefit from this.  Either give me a shout or just go to the field and keep an eye out for me.  Will advise where I can.

·          Next ladies league Time Trial will be held at 21 July at P.D.A.C.  We want a full house and need hubbies to marshal. 

Lise & Sam

(031) 701 4038

plumbcare@mweb.co.za

PDAC 10 / 21 race

Sunday 14 August

Please!  We need the whole Club’s participation!

Do your bit to help!

Thursday 21 July

 is the

LADIES TIME TRIAL AT PDAC

CROSS COUNTRY LADIES

Hello ladies,

The first cross-country league, which was at Collegians Club in Pietermaritzburg, was not very well supported by us due to the ill health of some, and ultra distance commitments of others.  Our only runner was Zoë Buchan.  Thanks Zoë for representing us.  Things were a little better at the second meeting held at Savages on the 4^th June where we had 5 ladies.  Welcome to Dorothy who ran the ladies senior 4km event & appeared to quite enjoy it, which hopefully means she will be back for the remaining leagues.  She was our only senior lady but others assure me that they intend supporting her at the remaining races.

Our veteran ladies fielded the winning team of the day according to my own calculation.  Thanks to Stephanie, Teresa & Sheree for running so well.  There is a new innovation in that there are cash prizes for the first 3 in each category, which was a nice surprise for Sheree, who happened to be 3^rd master.  Blanche Moila was the overall winner & therefore 1^st veteran.  Judith Grove was first master.  Lisa Preen was 1^st Sub vet & Gill Tregenna 1^st over 60.  The next league is Shongweni on the 2^nd July.  Our numbers will be boosted by some of the Comrades runners. (I hope)  Shongweni is a very nice venue although the run is quite testing.

In future when you are entering a cross-country event the club will cover the R5 entry fee.  Just explain to the people at the entry table that an arrangement has been made that the club will cover all costs and they must just note your name.

Will keep you posted with any further news.

All for now

June

Contact details.

Home: 261 7170      

Work: 260 1359

Cell:    082 421 3037

 watsonj@ukzn.ac.za

WALKERS

Hello there walkers

What an exciting month May was, with so many

walkers doing PB’s – Colleen bettered her previous

best 21.1km time on the Jays Studio 21.1km by

5 mins – doing 2.28.45 – Nicky, Janice and

Colleen all did PB’s in the various 10km

races during the month.  Well done ladies

that is absolutely fantastic!!!!  Not only have our

walkers being doing great times they have

also been taking category prizes.

Ritha welcome to PDAC, hope 2005 will be injury free and many PB’s.

500km + 1000 km Challenge

Congratulations to Michelle for achieving a silver medal (805km +) again and to Terri for achieving her 1^st medal (500km +) – bronze, after being off for 9 weeks.  For those of you who are not aware of the Challenge – walkers have to complete a minimum of 500km and runners 1000km in road races sanctioned by a provincial road running association from 17 June of one year to the 16^th June of the following year – that is walking/running almost every weekend and then some for those who do the higher mileage. Mary, George and Kitty also competed but in the running section and achieved their goal of 1000km + and that is without having to rely on Comrades to achieve their mileage - well done to all of you!!

News flash!!! Dolphin Coast Ultra Walk 50km – 28 August

A decision was taken to use this race as the walkers “Comrades” – it has been on the calendar the longest and has fields in excess of 3000 – these are not just walkers, but runners who enjoy walking the race (and suffer with sore butts and legs for few days thereafter).  Certificates will be issued to1^st   PDAC male and 1^st PDAC female.  A Pasta party has been organised for the 18^th August ’05, all PDAC members, family and friends are invited. There is also a 23km walk for those who do not like the longer distances. The PDAC tent will be there and cold drinks will be for sale.  The Ultra walkers are inviting the runners to come and join them and enjoy a totally different experience – 50km and you have 9hrs to finish in – might seem crazy as most runners do this way under 6hrs, but give it a try. 

Highway Ladies Time Trial League – 21 July

This is at PDAC on the 21^st July, please diarise and try and be there.

Club League race -17 July – Phoenix Striders 15km

Comrades runners by the time you receive this the race would have been run – hope you all had a great day and that you achieved your goals!!!

C u on the road…………………                     

Lyn

WALKERS RESULTS

Welcome to our New Members

BIRTHDAYS

We wish the following people a very happy birthday:

AUGUST

02      John Witherspoon

04      Katie Roberts

04      Dumezweni Mncwabe

04      Neil Coetzee

04      Dorothy Starzal

07      Philip Loretz

08      Thomas Hlongwane

09      Richard Woolrich

14      Kim  Surmon

15      Isaac Lembede

26      Billy Bester

29      Colleen McCann

JUNE

02        Amanda James

02        Beverley Steiger

05        John Broomhead

09        Graham Clark

15        Michelle Ramsay

16        Mark Deeble

16        Thokozani Mabuya

27        Gary Butler

JULY

01        Sipho Nyembe

04        Sune Koegelenberg

12        Andre Nel

17        Mike Borstlap

20        Isaac Lurie

22        Ursula Steenkamp

25        Erique Nxumalo

26        Chris Scheepers

27        Nkosinathi Ngidi

29        Dave Hume

29       Hubert Chonco

Wesley Boshoff

Retha Smythe

Sipho Dinga

PDAC WEBSITE

The PDAC website address is:

www.pdac.co.za

Please send your contributions to webmaster@pdac.co.za

Track & Field.   Citius, Altius, Fortius.

Never let be said that retirement can be a boring existence.  In 1997, when I was contemplating retirement, an American brother-in-law gave this sound advice, " unless you take up some activity that will require some thought on what has to be done the following day, before going to sleep, you will be bored shitless with little or nothing to do". Giving this advice some serious thought, I decided that as I had enjoyed athletics and running for as long as I could remember, I would upgrade my coaching status and put something back into the sport.  I have never had a dull day since. People have asked how do I keep so enthusiastic at my age.  My philosophy is, one does not grow old, only when one stops growing that one becomes old.  There is so much to learn, keeping up to-date with revised training principles and applying new concepts is a full-time operation, but I love my game.

I have to admit frustration when really talented athletes with huge potential and big hopes of success do not have the willingness to put in the required effort to achieve their goals.  An exception is our Kim Surmon who has accepted how much work has to be done to realize her goal.

On the local scene:  Currently, track athletes, depending on their competition commitments are in various stages of transition mode from winter strength training to pre-season where the emphasis moves to speed development and technique for the forthcoming season.

The year 2005 continues to be a very busy year for track athletes with the IAAF World Youth Championships to be staged in Africa for the first time in July with Marrakesh in Morocca  as hosts. Then on to the Tenth World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, from the 5th to the 14th AUGUST.

Detailed planning will also have to go into the preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Melbourne in March.  The SA Championships are also scheduled for early February 2006.

Back to the home front with some news on people training in my group:

Kim has been working exceptionally hard at her strength training and is showing good muscle development in keeping with the demands of sprinting.

An interesting new member is Siyabonga Ndlovu who represented SA in the Deaf Olympics in Australia. 

Jean Foster is her usual inimitable self, training for forthcoming 10km races, including the Spar Ladies 10km.

Lyn Scot and Hanneke Clifton also working on improving their performance. 

Catherine Freese continues to make steady improvement and is about to run her first Comrades.  She has declared that her goal is to improve her speed for 10&21km distance. 

Kim Hudson unfortunately was unable to qualify due to a few hiccups along the way but has come a long way nevertheless. 

Teneal Featherby, with a gym background is taking to running like a duck to water.  In the recent Forest 10km her time of 42:36 in her first race over this distance is but a forerunner of things to come.  I have no doubt we will see a lot more of this young lady. A recent track session was an indication of what she was capable of, she certainly has the capacity.

For a little nostalgia.  I recently unearthed some old running magazines which reported some interesting results in the early 1980's which I shall include in future issues of the newsletter.  For those who have access can log on to our website, www.pdac.co.za   for some background on PDAC.

To all of those running Comrades, complete your preparation, eg., transport to the start, where to meet at the finish, refreshments along the way etc. Accept that it is going to be a long day, try and turn negatives into positives and enjoy the day.  I shall be with you in spirit and try to see you somewhere along the road.

Until next time.

Harold.

I have two medium “Comrades Supporter” long sleeve Tshirts from Moffatt Optical available for sale @ R75 each.  First come, first served!

Contact:    Dianne:

765 7216 / 082 855 2279

TAKE A BREATHER!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2005, WHEN...

1.        You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2.    You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3.    You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of four.

4.    You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5.    Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

6.    You go home after a long day at work and still answer the phone in a business manner.

7.    You make phone calls from home and accidentally dial "9" to get an outside line.

8.    You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three different companies.

10.  You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o'clock news.

11.  Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job.

12.  You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

13.  Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

14.  Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

15.  You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

16.  You start tilting your head sideways to smile.  :)

17.  You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

18.  Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

19.  You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

20.  You actually looked back up to check that there wasn't a # 9 on this list.

AND NOW YOU ARE LAUGHING AT YOURSELF. 

JOKE:  Running Shoes

Two guys in a jungle come around a corner and meet a lion head-on pawing the ground.  One guy ever so carefully reaches into his knapsack and slowly takes out a set of Nike running shoes, never once breaking eye contact with the lion.  The second guy hisses: "What are you doing, you can't outrun the lion"

And the first guy says: "No, but all I have to do is outrun you"!

PUZZLER

Hint: more than 10. Did you find them?? Answer in the next issue!

JOKE:  The Greatest!

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted 

through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting 

a ball and bat.

"I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced. Then, 

he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed.

"Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball 

and said again,

"I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" He tossed the ball 

into the air. When it came down, he swung again and missed.

"Strike two!" he cried. The boy then paused a moment to 

examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and 

rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said 

once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!" Again, he 

tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed.

"Strike three!" "Wow!" he exclaimed. "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"

Answer: There are 13 squares. 

One person said, "I felt like they were all moving...but slowly. Kinda like, they were breathing."

The pictures attached are used to test the level of stress a person can handle. The slower the pictures move, the better your ability to handle stress.

Alleged criminals that were tested saw them spinning around madly; however, senior citizens and kids see them standing still.

The image is not animated – it is perfectly static.

COMRADES RESULTS

DATE

NAME OF RACE

DISTANCE

CONTACT

HOSTING CLUB

TIME

START VENUE

R

W

JUNE

05-Jun

Forest 10km

 10km walk & run

Lionel Richards – 031 7633103 w, 0824124921, 031 763 2379 h, hpaul@webmail.co.za

Forests Hill AC

Forest Hills Club

Y

Y

16-Jun

Comrades Marathon

+-89km run

Cheryl Winn – 033 897 8650 w, 0827790824, 033 8978660 f, Cheryl@comrades.com

CMA

05:30 AM

Pietermaritzburg City Hall

Y

26-Jun

Spar Mercury Ladies 10 km Challenge

10km

The Secretary – 031 3129374 w, 031 3032728 f, kzn@athletics.org.za 

KZNA

09:00 AM

TBA

Y

Y

JULY

03-Jul

Hluhluwe Pineapple Challenge 21.1km

21.1km run/walk

Brendan Taylor – 035 5620126 w, 0824999020, 035 5620705 f Bptaylor@wetlands.co.za 

Hluhluwe AC

False Bay Park Gates

Y

Y

03-Jul

Tyre Force Ten

10km run and walk

Dave Bennett – 031 2669123 w, 0825655675, 031 2669005 f, Newcomed@mweb.co.za

Highway AC

07:00 AM

TBA

Y

Y

Helen Mitchelmore – 031 7025277 w, 0837693431, 031 7025289 f

Helenm@psps.kzn.school.za

10-Jul

SA  21.1km Champs

21.1km

The Secretary – 031 3129374, 031 3032728 f

KZN Athletics

TBA

TBA

17-Jul

PC Training Striders

15km run/walk

Kay Naidoo – 0833441560, 031 5052478 h, 031 4654585 f

Phoenix Striders AC

6.30 am

Kings Park Athletics

Y

Y

17-Jul

Powerade Sardine Run

21.1km walk & run

Rodney Brown – 0732319655, 039 3173502 h, 039 3174824 f

South Coast Striders

06:00 AM

Umtentweni Commercial Road

Y

Y

24-Jul

Coast to Coast ½ Marathon

32km run & walk

W.Madi – 0829662903, 031 3129374w 031 3032728 f

Power AC

06:00 AM

Hutchison Park

Y

Y

30-Jul

Coca-Cola Mountain Race

15 km run & walk

The Secretary – 0846576069, 034 9810889 f

Vryheid

03:00 PM

Cecil Emmet Park, Vryheid

Y

Y

31-Jul

Nongoma Build It 21.1km

21.1km run & 5km fun run

M Manqele – 035 8310033 w, 0834329566, 035 8310634 f

Nongoma AC

07:00 AM

Kwa-Gqikazi Main Gate

Y

Y

31-Jul

RBCT Relay Run

8.2km x 6 run 8.2km x 3 walk

Lorraine Goodman - 035 3401374 w, 0836822584, 035 3401218 f, lorraine@profilepr.co.za

Zululand Triathlon Club

6.30 am

Bay Hall, Richards Bay

Y

Y

31-Jul

Gaterite Walk and Talk

50km walk & 20km walk

S Ramsavak – 0837442430, 032 5337577 h/f

Verulam AC

06:00 AM

Verulam Recreation Grounds

Y

AUGUST

06-Aug

the Braai Ketts Longest Day

12 hr run

Brian Swart - 033 3470092

Collegians Harriers

Collegians Club

Y

07-Aug

Estcourt Walkers Race

32.2km,  21.1km & 10km walk

C Fook – 036 3522120 w, 083 5550565, 036 3525514 f - Wendy Dicks - 0832579030, 036 3521526 h dicks@lantic.net 

Estcourt AC

06:00 AM

Estcourt Golf Club

Y

07-Aug

Correctional Service 15km Run & walk

15km run & walk

CS Langa – 031 2670501, 0731636999 JP Moses - 031 2670622 w, 0845640622, jerome.moses@dcs.gov.za 

Correctional AC, Durban

06:00 AM

Westville Prison Rugby Fields

Y

Y

07-Aug

Nashua Maritzburg Orion 10km/21km run/walk

10km run/walk 21.1km walk & run

Ajith Deena – 033 8975736, 0836592732, 033 3878471h, 033 3427158f, ajith@umsekeli.kzntl.gov.za

Orion AC

07:00 AM

Protea Sports Centre, Khan Road PMBurg

Y

Y

09-Aug

Ladies Challenge

10km run/walk 5km run/walk

Dees Govender - 0837854333, 031 4046282 f

Chatsworth AC

9.00am

Chatsworth Stadium

Y

Y

13-Aug

Natal Witness Capital Climb

15km run & walk, 10 km run/walk

Tony Morrison – 031 3272963 w, 031 7010264 h, 031 3272387 f, Tony@adh.kzntl.gov.za

Midlands AC

08:00 AM

Pietermaritzburg City Hall

Y

Y

13-Aug

Mkuze Game Run 10 Miler

10 miles run & walk

Andre Schoombe – 034 4132110 h/f, 0828742340, 034 4132119 h/f

Pongola

07:00 AM

Engen Garage, Mkuze

Y

Y

14-Aug

PDAC 10km & 21km

10km 21.1km walk & run

G Battersby – 031 2026510 w, 0828016182, 031 7028993 h, 031 7027590 f, gbattersby@maxprop.co.za

PDAC

06:00 AM

Lahee Park, Pinetown

Y

Y

19-Aug

Midlands 100 Miler

100 miles

B Jarmey-Swan – 0834965980, office@aghall.co.za

Natal Carb

Winterton Country Club

Y

21-Aug

Oasis Crescent Challenge inc Prov. 10km Championships

21.1km, 10km walk & run

Zane Ebrahim – 031 2072694 w/f, 0823329616, 031 2022755 h

 Oasis Crescent

07:00 AM

Kings Park Athletics Stadium, Durban

Y

Y

21-Aug

The Spares Shop 21.1km & 10km

21km run &10km walk & 4km fun run

Hennie Nolte – 035 9079471 w, 0833089202, 035 7725772 h, 035 9079432 f, hennien@bell.co.za, hnolte@mweb.co.za

Umhlathuze AC

07:00 AM

Grantham Park Primary School

Y

Y

27-Aug

Dumbe Mountain Race

15 km run & walk

The Secretary – 0846576069, 034 9810889 f

Vryheid

03:00 PM

Paulpietersburg Country Club

Y

Y

Dolphin Coast Ultra Walk

50km 23km

 jal4@telkomsa.net

031   202 6510

Gordon Battersby

HUGE THANKS TO MOFFATT OPTICAL FOR THE TSHIRTS FOR THE COMRADES RUNNERS!

Previously known as Sim & Tarry – Val-u-spex, Moffatt Optical has a loyal following and 22 year history in the Pinetown area. Rod Hastie and his team have built up an incredible relationship with their customers over the years and this can be felt the friendly, family atmosphere of their busy shop.

Shop no: 314, Upper level, Sanlam Centre, Pinetown

Tel: 031-702 5261                    Fax: 031-701 5350

Branch Manager: Mr Rod Hastie            Staff: Sally, Denise, Nelly, Gordon

Trading Hours:

Monday to Thursday & Saturday: 08h30 – 17h00
Friday: 08h30 – 18h00
Sunday & Public Holidays: 09h00 – 16h00

HAROLD SWANSON

Expert Coach

·   Basic to specific.

·   Beginners to provincial athletes.

·   Assessments and predictive testing.

·   Speed Development.

·  Functional Strength training for runners.
Mobile: 082 494 2618  Phone: 031 708 3589

www.diannesweb.com/coach