One wouldn’t normally associate peace and quiet with Louis Botha Avenue. In Johannesburg’s early days, it was the unpaved main road between the city and Pretoria. In 1908, Mahatma Gandhi spent a year living less then a block away from this unmemorable traffic artery in a bungalow that just over 100 years later has been transformed into a fascinating […]
Read more "Gandhi’s Jozi (re)treat"My New Year’s Day run this year was an uneventful affair compared to a year ago, when I fractured my right foot while running down a hill. This holiday season was different. I trained almost every day to rid my body of the excesses consumed over the holiday period. I took Mr. Sebastian, our min-pin crossed […]
Read more "On the run"I never met Nelson Mandela, but I, like many people around the world, have felt an immense sense of loss over the past ten days. I’ve been surprised that not everyone shares this sense of loss, as I’ve come across people who are either indifferent about his death or believe Mandela ‘sold out’ black South Africans […]
Read more "Doing it for Madiba!"I’m addicted to endorphins. I get my kicks from running, especially if it involves navigating a trail or conquering a hill. Johannesburg has a great selection of urban and out-of-town trails. Trail running is incredibly accessible. It’s doesn’t require expensive gear. You will need shorts, a shirt, socks, shoes, water, food, your mobile phone and […]
Read more "Trail blazing"There’s far more to Johannesburg than mine dumps, shopping malls, crime and oversized faux-Tuscan houses. How much more? Well, that’s really up to you. It’s not the prettiest or most happening city in the world. But there’s something about Johannesburg. It’s difficult to put your finger on it, but if you scratch just below the […]
Read more "There is something about Jo’burg"I enjoy a good story, especially a documentary film. When I came across this exhilarating video clip, I felt inspired by the carefree narrative of a group of friends exploring their limits in beautiful locations across France. My first experience of tight rope walking was in Munich’s, English Garden. I enjoyed watching the balancing act of […]
Read more "Exhilarating Big Scary Audacious Goals"I look forward to receiving my monthly dose of Runner’s World South Africa. It’s one of the few magazines I read from cover to cover. On the front cover this month is South African marathoner and Olympic medal hopeful, René Kalmer. And featured on the inside front cover is a manipulated version of the front cover scene, featuring René Kalmer’s […]
Read more "The backside of a front cover"