Local club excels in Midmar
There was an hour where we had uncertainty whether we would take part.
Blak Fitness Club have been busy with all kinds of events. Members of the club recently completed the gruelling Midmar Mile.
Five of Blak’s members took part in the 3.2km race and all came back impressed with their performances in challenging conditions.
“The Midmar Mile was very tough. On the first day the weather conditions were quite bad. There was an hour where we had uncertainty whether we would take part on the Saturday,” said club owner Lewis Walters-Girout.
“We were lucky enough to enter the water on the Saturday with the conditions fair, rainy though. And then on the Sunday we had easterly winds which made it feel like the sea. So we had high and low waves. It was very tough on Sunday. Everybody’s times were out, even the top swimmers.”
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But Walters-Girout believes their improved preparations helped them.
“On average, our times were better,” he said.
This was helped by having former Olympic swimmer Wade Ferguson training them.
“Our coach was rated in the top 10 among the masters. Next year he would like to go for the win in the masters’ division,” said Walters-Girout, who has taken part in the Midmar Mile eight times.
The experience of having been there before helps the swimmers improve their performances.
“Having done it so many times, the actual swim becomes much easier. We always expected the currents in the dam. While swimming you can actual feel when the currents are coming in. So it is an advantage,” said the club owner.
The training under Ferguson also helped as he has also coached at national level in the past.
“Wade is one of the best programmers there is. We follow a strict programme regimen. We do sprinting and breathing stroke exercises so we can do the open water swims,” said Walters-Girout.
“One of the swims we would like to take on is in the Cape. From the mainland to Robben Island. That’s one of the swims he is planning for us. If we could get some sponsorship we would do it next year.”
The swimming is not all the club has been doing. The club is getting ready to take part in a cancer relay in Boksburg in March and there is the famous weightlifting competition, Arnold Classic, coming up in April.
The club has members taking part in the Arnold Classic every year.
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