FORUM NAME:  Masterringer

Name:  Deon Lubbe

Club:  Bloemfontein Achilles

Running (hi)story:

I ran a bit in school doing 800m, 1500m and 3000m.  Not the fastest kid on the block, but I enjoyed it.  Joined my Dad on the road from st.8 to matric.  We were a bunch of school friends then doing any road race we could find close to Newcastle (which meant basically a 200km radius incl. Vryheid, Volksrust, Dundee, Ladysmith, Harrismith – anything close enough to convince my Dad to take us), from 5km to 21km.  I did the total tracksuit with badges thing – as cloth badges were the “in-thing” then, before all races got medals.

Highlights at that time, or lets say the medals I were the proudest of, were Harrismith Mountain race – 3 bronzes, last one I was on the track with basically 300m to go when the shot went for the silver medal cut-off – that was probably the worst moment in my running “career”, haha.  But then I made up for it with my first (and up to now, my only,) silver medal at Mpati mountain race near Dundee.

 So after school I moved to Bloem to study and then forgot about (road) running.  Started to work after studies as salesrep – traveling a lot and eating out a lot.  So I gained significantly in posture (you are welcome to describe it tactfully different if you feel the need). Up to the point where I decided enough is enough and started running again to regain some of my former sporty attributes…. Er..uhhhm ok jogging…. OK OK – plodding!!! Eish!

SO- my recent running history started late 2005.  Wifey joined in (just to make me look pathetic of course – not being able to outrun her – that’s the only reason why we do a bit of fartleks sometimes – so I can also win even if it is only over short distance. VERY short distance…)

We started with a few local 10kms.  Then traveled for a few 21kms, first one was Dis-chem, which was pure torture, but I enjoyed it tremendously. Then we did our first 42,2km ever, (SWASAP, Bloem) which was a definite highlight for a month or so, until we experienced the euphoria of completing our first ultra! (Loskop 50km) 

 and run the Athens marathon in Greece – the original olympic route – can’t wait!!!!!!