I am sure you will all recognise that one day, usually in January, or somewhere in the beginning of a new year, you decide to flip your switch. You want to eat healthy, lose weight, exercise more, be kind, make a difference, wake up earlier and just be a better, happier and healthier person. If you know me, you will know that I do not like any form of exercise at all. This will never be on my list of new year’s resolutions. I like to be able to breathe normally and I do not like any kind of pain and suffering, nausea or near-death symptoms during any activity. January 2019 I travelled to East London to support the Trivium Athletes taking on the Ironman 70.3 South Africa. I got to experience how many people actually train for something like this. Young men or women with full time jobs, some with kids, actually managing to train for this in-between their busy lives. I saw older people, double my age, running like it’s the easiest thing in the world. This is where I flipped my switch. If they can do it, so can I. I asked my friend and Trivium coach, Magda Nieuwoudt, to help me get started with a running program. She knows I am no runner. I am not someone who decides to take on a 10 km or a half marathon on a Saturday morning. I could not even run 500 meters without the life being sucked out of me. Magda got me started with 3 short running sessions a week. I felt embarrassed to even start something so completely out of my comfort zone. You don’t want anybody to see how unfit you actually are. But Magda motivates you and supports you, even if you only managed to run 500 meters at a time. A goal is a goal no matter how small. She helps you believe in yourself and make you feel like you can do anything. During this time, I also learned to really respect these athletes. They are 100% dedicated and it sounds a lot easier than it actually is. I honestly do not know how they do it. I felt nauseous, I could not breathe, my legs burned and I actually cried every time I came back from a session. However, after about a month, with the help of Magda’s sessions, for the first time I could breathe and see myself improving every time. I ran my first 5 km without walking. It’s still difficult and I am still struggling, but I am very excited to see even just a little bit of improvement every time I go for a run. To some runners this will sound like nothing, but to me this is everything.
7 Comments
Hendrik
26/3/2019 19:13:26
Awesome!!! Go Jess go!!!
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Riaan Nieuwoudt
26/3/2019 19:16:34
Absolutely awesome!!!! So much respect for you Jess!! You go girl!!!
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Leonie
26/3/2019 20:52:16
Aiii Jess well done 👍!!!
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Jacques Coetzer
26/3/2019 21:16:08
Jess jy's die Beste!! Dit is presies hoe ek begin het!! Een van die dae hardloop jy die Comrades!!! Jy's ń Yster!!
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Lenie Hanekom
27/3/2019 20:15:11
Well done Jess! Super trots op jou!
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Bruwer
31/3/2019 14:22:26
Dis nou 'n feel good, lekker-lees, inspiring storie :) Ek sidder om te dink hoe jy gaan run as jy al daai super-support energie van jou channel in een van jou runs... Go-go-go!
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