My realisation: After a vacation at the end of 2008 my weight crunched the scale with 107 kilograms. I was 45 years old. My long-time friend and GP, Gerda Scholtz, had been preaching to me for many years about my inactive lifestyle. At that stage, apart from being obese, I had a waistline of more than 100 centimeters and to top, it was suffering from high cholesterol…smoking 20 cigarettes per day!
“You are not going to see your children grow up, Michael”, Gerda would say.
The last time I was active was in my early twenties when I had done my national service. Since then, I steadily gained weight, lost muscle, and confidence in my physical abilities – my new “comfort zone”. Therefore, it took many annual medical check-ups and the same speech over and over before Gerda’s message hit home. The question was – where and how to start?
The last time I was active was in my early twenties when I had done my national service. Since then, I steadily gained weight, lost muscle, and confidence in my physical abilities – my new “comfort zone”. Therefore, it took many annual medical check-ups and the same speech over and over before Gerda’s message hit home. The question was – where and how to start?
Since pre-primary school, my two children have been involved in judo. While they were training twice a week, I watched them and finally, in my search for an enjoyable physical activity, decided to join them. This was an effort to regain my physical fitness, self-confidence, and a more acceptable body. Since then, after much pain and some disappointment, I obtained my second-degree black belt in judo, and I am still training and participating in the sport. In 2019 and 2023 I was selected to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Judo Championship.
Initially running was my backup to maintain judo fitness during the off-season, but I fell in love with running and it has since taken over my life. I have completed more than one hundred and twenty marathons and ultra-marathons since 2009 and a full-distance Ironman. Although I am no sprinter, I realised I can run long distances and in September 2015, I became the first South African to complete the Spartathlon – an annual historic foot race over 246 kilometers that takes place in Greece at the end of September each year. My Comrades Green Number was achieved in 2019…an immensely proud achievement for a natural-born non-athlete.
In my next article, I will share more on the three legs of life and how I apply them in my life.
Wil graag jou storie lees. Baie inspirerend.
Wil graag jou storie lees.