Stories and updates

The first taste of my competitive nature hit when I was still in high school, Ngaone Secondary School in Zimbabwe. I ran a race in my long school uniform trousers, rolled up into shorts. Back then the motivation came from wanting to not be the last person to finish. I think the younger version of myself would be shocked to see where running has taken me. 

Fast forward to 2013, as a now qualified chef working for a wonderful family, my boss would go out and run in the middle of winter. Soon I was joining him on those dark, cold mornings of June. Showing me around Parktown North and all his secret routes and shortcuts to help me find my way back home, he would run far ahead of me and motivate me with "come on Adie keep with me - just think of that nice coffee stop we will have, and you can get home and nap afterwards". It worked. I just kept showing up, because of him. Little did we know what he had stirred in me. Thank you will never seem enough. 

In those days, I would fatigue easily and breathing heavily at 4:30-5:00/km. This is now my recovery run pace. I kept running and ultimately realized that the ultra-distances were where my strengths were put to the test. I started some races casually, and then all at once it all just clicked, and I wanted to go further - faster.

Comrades 2015 was an incredible race for me [08h55] It changed how I viewed myself and racing. My Comrades PB is 06h41 and have achieved 3 silver and 2 bill rowen medals. Comrades is a special race and I encourage everyone to try it at least once in their lifetime. It has this way of bringing you closer to yourself. it's a challenging but rewarding journey to go on. 

In 2020, we were all in a global pandemic. You and I have never been more similar. Everyone had fears and doubts and losses. I had run on a trail or two in Magaliesburg and the UTCT100 (sub 15h, the originals) had picked up the itch for more. The feeling of being in the mountains, feeling so tiny and almost insignificant in his plan, it's an incredibly humbling experience. 

Being an ASICS Frontrunner was full of fun and learning. It's an experience I will always be greatful for. They made my professional runner dreams come true by selecting me to join the ASICS Fuji Trail Team for Europe/South Africa. This has not only allowed me to eat, sleep, breathe mountain air and start lines but also share my experiences, do my part for conservation and encourage more people to get outside and into nature. I love the ASICS ethos. I also really love their shoes so I not only represent the brand with pride, but I do also so with sincere honestly and belief. 

My story has been exactly like the terrain we conqour - big climbs, some wins and some deep, dark moments and DNF's. In 2015 at the UTCT 65km I injured myself on a wooden footpath up Table Mountain, spraining my ankle just 27km into the race. DNF. Gutted and injured I worked incredibly hard to build more robust joints for the speed needed in technical sections. My worst DNF happened abroad, at the Ultra Trail Snowdenia 100km. At 64km I remember going to the water table and then waking up confused in a comfortable bed in a local hospital. This was a low and also a lesson. 

Our sport pushes our mind to it's absolute limits, and it also pushes the body beyond what we should do. It's dangerous. Thats where we need to do all we can to prepare the heart, mind and body to take on extreme temperatures, long days and nights have to trust in his plan. 

The Journey has just started. It's all in God's timing. 

⛰️Adie