Laxton to move to Cape Town
MELROSE – Running legend has cause to celebrate and also say goodbye to friends this year.
Melrose running legend Sonja Laxton has had an emotional year running her 100th 10km SPAR Women’s Challenge and then deciding with her husband to retire in Cape Town.
The 71-year-old is loved by all on the road for her friendly demeanour, quirky humour and indomitable spirit.
This year, she received a lifetime achievement award at the awards for the SPAR Grand Prix, of which her husband Ian is the coordinator.
“I feel honoured and I thank SPAR for the R15 000,” she said.
A R15 000 cheque was given to Laxton by SPAR after she completed her century at Marks Park Sports Club in October. The money is going to her choice of charity: Goldilocks and the Bear Foundation.
This non-profit organisation raises awareness about, and screens children for, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD.
Sonja’s daughter, Dr Kim Norton is a psychiatrist involved with the charity.
Laxton sometimes runs with her daughter and has before joked that she analyses her when they run.
She said at the awards that she and Ian plan to retire in Somerset West by the end of January.
“I will join a running club there and the first SPAR race is in Port Elizabeth in March, so we should make it. I have been in Joburg since 1966 when I was a student at Wits. I will miss Joburg and my friends but I also have friends and family that side.”
Laxton promised to visit.
Laxton has been running the Grand Prix since its inception in 1991.
Her favourite SPAR race is at Pietermaritzburg, where she grew up and first started running as a child.
Laxton last been running since she was in Grade 9 at school and still runs every morning, some afternoons and goes to the gym three or four times a week.
She is fitter than most people a third of her age, but is humble about her achievements, having broken some national records in her age category.
“I enjoy being fit, it becomes part of you like brushing your teeth and you feel like you have to do it. I love the camaraderie at my club, Rand Athletic Club and you meet a lot of nice people in the sporting world.”
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Melrose’s Sonja Laxton crosses the SPAR Women’s Challenge finish line for the 100th time
