Well-known runner aims for 4th athletics world champs

Rina van Heerden, a local athlete is aiming for the best as she prepares to represent South Africa at the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, Australia.

Athletes aged 35 and over from about 80 countries will compete in one of the largest events in the world.

More than 4 000 participants and 3 000 supporters are expected in Australia from October 23 to November 6.

When Steelburger/Lydenburg News met the passionate athlete she was practising on the sports field. She has been in the game for so many years and to her running is part of her daily life. “I cannot go a day without it, I would feel like something is missing. When I train, I feel good and healthy from the inside.”

“I cannot go a day without it, I would feel like something is missing. When I train, I feel good and healthy from the inside.”

Van Heerden received her national colours in 1993 at Port Elizabeth for hurdles and she has never stopped living her dream.

This year will be her fourth time participating in the world championships. The first time was in 1993 in Miyazaki, Japan. She won a silver medal in 400-metre hurdles, a bronze in 100-metre hurdles, and she took sixth place in both the long jump and triple jump.

The second time was in Durban in 1997, when she finished fourth in both the 400-metre and 100-metre hurdles.

The third time was 2013 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, where she won bronze medals in the 300-metre and 80-metre hurdles.

She will participate in the South Africa Masters Championships in April and May to qualify for Perth. But this is not a stumbling block for her. “I know I will make it, I have qualified before and I will do the same this year,” she said.

Not everyone can partake in the SA championships, you need to be a member of a club and you need to qualify. Van Heerden is a member of North Gauteng Athletics Club in Pretoria.

As part of her preparations for the championship. She does speed endurance, muscle endurance, hurdle technique and power exercises every day. “All go hand in hand.

You cannot do some and leave the other out because if you do that, it means there is something missing from training. I also need to incorporate winter training into my routine. When we go that side it will be after summer in our country, I need to do pre-season and an in-season programme due to the climate change.”

You cannot do some and leave the other out because if you do that, it means there is something missing from training. I also need to incorporate winter training into my routine. When we go that side it will be after summer in our country, I need to do pre-season and an in-season programme due to the climate change.”

When she is not focusing on her passion she spends time with children. “I would love to inspire kids to see how good staying active is for all of us and I enjoy training with them. I am currently assisting Hoërskool Lydenburg and Laerskool Lydenburg pupils to prepare them for their 2016 sport activities,” she said.

According to Van Heerden, it is never too late to start and one is never too old to start participating in sport. “Just believe in yourself, surround yourself with positive people. I believe if you can handle the challenges in sport, you can also solve the problems in life easier.

“Never forget sport is not about winning, but it is standing up to finish the race. It will also make you healthy and you will feel positive. Everything I have reached in sport has been through grace and mercy,” she added.