CHAIRMANS CHATTER
This pastweekend saw the running of the PWC half and full marathon. Well done to all ourrunners on the day. With a changed route and humid conditions it was a toughrun. I hope you all finished within your target times. If it wasn’t your day,don’t despair, there is always a next time! I would like to congratulate thefollowing runners, Ntokozo Dlamini – 1stWoman 10km, Lovers Hlatswayo – 1st Man10km,Petro Buckingham – 3rd Woman 21km, December Mashaba – 1st40+, Barbara Haire – 3rd Woman 42,2km, and Joe Claassen winner of 60+ on the 21km. Ian Toomey also celebrated 40 years ofmarathon running. Well done to you all!
March will be abusy month for running. We are hosting our annual memorial run which will takeplace on the 16th of March 2013 and sponsored by Bateleur estate. Iwould like to thank Jakkie van Heerden for their continued support of thisevent. Please let myself or Paul know if you are available to help on this day.We will also keep you updated with runs and happenings during the next coupleof weeks.
If you do nothave an ASA number yet, please contact Helen. We have ordered more and shouldget them next week some time. Please ensure that your forms are filled outcorrectly and proof of payment attached.
Our NedbankClub kit will undergo a change next year. We are not sure when this will happenbut with new sponsors on board it may be presumed that it will be early nextyear. In the meantime we still have kit available, but only certain sizes. Ifyou require kit please try to work with what we have in stock. We will announcesome serious discounts on our running vests and shorts early next week so therewill be no reason for you to look “washed out” on Comrades day!
It is wonderfulto see our members partaking in different sport events. Some members are doingthe Argus later this month and we would like to wish them all the best! Thereare quite a few trail runs coming up as well as some mountain bike events. Wewill try to keep you posted and informed as much as possible.
I would alsolike to thank John Wilcox for his contribution to our section over the years.John has decided to retire from the section. Please enjoy a tribute celebrationto him in this issue from a few “old” friends!
I want tocongratulate our 6 Mpumalanga runners on a successful SA CHAMPIONSHIPS runOudtshoorn early February. Lovers Hlatswayo was our top finisher. Well done Lovers! Well done to December who finished 3rdin his category too!
A reminder thatour AGM is on Thursday 28th February 2013, after time trial. We lookforward to seeing you all there. A club is only as strong as its members andthis is an opportunity to take our section enthusiastically into the future. You will notice that we are working hard toget communications up to a level that is informative, correct and 2013. ThisRIC should have reached you through the Nedbank platform and we have a newexciting development in that we are now on blogger.com. Do yourselves a favourand log onto http://nedbank-lvccrunning.blogspot.com/ subscribeyourselves! You will then receive all communicationsas soon as there are any changes and enable yourself to participateelectronically in club activity. Please remember that all comments andsuggestions are welcome. I would like to say thank you to all the “behind thescenes helpers” who enabled this to launch!
Please supportour time trials on Thursday afternoons at 17:30 at LVCC CLUBHOUSE.
See you on theroad!
EDITOR’S CORNER
After a month of rest, guess who is back on theroad, and slower than ever? You haveguessed it, Me. Saturday I attempted myfirst long run for the year, the PWC 42,2km (on hindsight not the best ofideas). To keep in mind that we arerunning an up-Comrade, this race was an eye opener. This was only 21,1km up, Comrades is 46km up,up and up – mentally I need some serious preparation. I would like to congratulate Iain Toomey onhis 40 years (to the date) on this past Saturday as a marathon runner. He did the 21,1km in a time 1:50.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Program
2 | Sat | SuperSparGrove/Crossings Ladies Race | 10km, 4.9km | 07:00 | Legogote Villagers |
16 | Sat | Bateleur Estate | 10km, 21km | 06:00 | Nedbank LVCC |
30 | Sat | Two Oceans | 56km, 21km | Cape Town |
Summerfields Parkrunevery Saturday – Please register at ww.parkrun/summerfields.co.za (On the 2nd of March 2013 Bruce Fordyce will be atSummerfields parkrun, after the time trial he will give some advice on Comrades.Everyone welcome, there will be shower facilities and breakfast will be served)
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
"It'svery hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat theother runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the littlevoice inside you that wants you to quit." Dr.George SheehanGALLERY
Justyna 3rd place at Misty Mountain 20km
Christelle and Nadine at Misty Mountain
JOHN WILCOX
With gratitude
From intelligence gathered and stories told Mr John Wilcoxbegan his running career in Swaziland but upon moving to Nelspruit gotconvinced by a certain Rob Gibbs to join a certain Mr Toomey and hit the road.The alleged route being regularly punished was van Wylie out to the oldairport. I am told that Mr Wilcox had a time in getting into the training onlyto discover he had chosen comrades silver medallists to train with
One of his most memorable comrades would probably be the onewhere it was arranged to meet his son Thomas (then a b varsity student) tocelebrate Thomas's 21st birthday by running together with him. The story goesthat upon arrival Thomas was all strapped up having injured himself at TwoOceans had done little to no mileage since. No one knowing John would be at allsurprised that he and Ian nursed a very sore 21 year old to a finish and eventhe athlete pride compulsory stadium run!
My first meeting of John was at my first Sabie shufflers32kms in 1996. I was a RWFL, rather large wannabe runner and in total awe ofthe LVCC runners. John, as ever, was a total gentleman and made me feel totallywelcome, included and valued when I made the move to LVCC. My first comrades Iwas so slow I never expected to see another cc runner. It was a huge surprisefor me on the down run to find John and his legogote running partner in Kloof.John was going through a really bad patch but gave me a supportive hug and toldin, what I believed to be an insane moment told his partner to run with me!(The slowest cc runner!) I onlyrecognized in hind sight that John had more faith in me finishing than I!
As the comments below will reflect as John"retires" from the running section he will be remembered fondly. Heleaves a legacy of what I believe is the epitome of a club member. Consistency, commitment, goal orientated,service with humility, a genuine contributor of sponsorship, mentorship andfriendship. He has proven that a balance of all aspects of life can indeed beachieved.
Thank you John for your time with our section! This is not“adieu” but rather see you on the road albeit on your two wheels or hooting atus in your four wheels.
You may have "retired" but you'll always be one ofus!
Comments from John’s crowd:
I started running withthe Club in 2005 and was introduced to the members. We used to start our runs from Spar then gotowards Melkweg up the small hill around the Club then out on Ferreira. When the development of the houses around theclub started there were holes dug around the club. During one Wednesday run Ifell into the holes. I was still new andwas scared of asking the guys to help me so I thought I would just jumpover. Then I fell right in. John and Duncan were so kind and they pulledme out. You can imagine how Duncan joked about that for weeks. Thanks a lot for the love you showedJohn. You really made me feelcomfortable at the Club. The Club willnever be the same without you. Wishing you all the best. May the good Lord keep blessing you and yourfamily. Sesi Pilane
John,This pastSaturday, 23 Feb 2013, when you cycled pass Ciska and me on the PwC race wewent back into memory lane for about 10 km not even noticing that we areconcurring the first half of the 42 km! Do you remember 1994 when we in the UK,London Marathon.... you had to help holding all the sweets that I took from thespectators to munch on while I was running (I still crave sweets – 19 yearslater!!!)Do you remember us running the White River Race in the plantation andyou stumbling over a branch root and I could not stop you from falling, bruisedknees, hands bleeding....So many laughs with you, Jono Blair, Ian Garden, AntonNell, Bryce Blum, Alyson Ogle and Antony Pote. And then the next era with Jean Foster,Duncan, and Brian Moldenhauer...Asking you for business advice during ourmorning runs. Your last Comrades, seconds before the gun went off...I will missyou on the road and you will always stay a special person in my life even ifyou are not a member of the club anymore. Helette
John, youare a role model and example to me and so many. As a family man, a businessman,a runner, a club man, a man of faith, a friend, in so many ways we look up toyou (and , I mean. look up!). Thank you for all you have done and continue todo. Savour the memories and enjoy sleep ins with Fienie. Roy
I will not forget his humility and an open outlook towards life andother people. While running with my wife around 2004 we would always meet themrunning with the club in the mornings. One morning he ran across the road,introduced himself and invited us to join the morning group, that’s how wejoined the club. He is one of the special people that made us feel welcome inthe LVCC running section. LALA
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