Loving couple keep fit by running together
This is a world wide initiative to encourage people to give up their sedentary lifestyles and get outdoors and exercise without the pressure of having to compete against super fit athletes.
The jogging Boshoffs are setting the pace when it comes to couples keeping fit and sharing quality time.
Lewies (66) and Jeanette Boshoff, who are both school teachers, started doing park runs two years ago.
This is a world wide initiative to encourage people to give up their sedentary lifestyles and get outdoors and exercise without the pressure of having to compete against super fit athletes.
“We read an article in Huisgenoot where Bruce Fordyce, the Comrades Marathon legend, explained how he had brought park runs to South Africa.
“These walks/runs are usually held in pleasant park-like surroundings and are just 5km events,” said Jeanette who teaches at Dundee High.
To sign up one simply goes online and receives a number which is simply scanned at every event to keep a log of their times and to time personal bests.
“The best thing of all is that these events are free. In South Africa, there are now about 400 000 registered park runners.” They have completed park runs in Durban, Pretoria and closer to home in Newcastle.
“We do not travel away especially for a park run. We normally tie up a run when we happen to be out of town on business or visiting friends or family,” Lewies explained.
Lewies, who is also a NG dominee and teaches at Dundee Junior, and Jeanette recently completed the 10km run which was part of the Mandela Marathon in the Howick area.
Before that, the Boshoffs have medals boasting their participation in marathons in Volksrust, Durban, the East Coast Big Walk, the Gandhi Walk in Dundee and more.
“It keeps us mentally and physically fit and is a wonderful way to share quality time together. You also get to meet all kinds of people while doing park runs or any other running event,” enthused the Boshoffs.
