Covid 19: Tough times for athletes

Billions of rands are being lost around the world as the sports industry is cancelling or postponing sports events around the world due to the coronavirus.

In South Africa, following an emergency meeting of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC board last Saturday, it was unanimously decided that all Two Oceans Marathon events scheduled for April 8 to 11, 2020, would be cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the global spread of the coronavirus.

The outbreak of the virus is having a negative impact, not just on national and international sports, but locally too.

“Most countries, even South Africa, are in quarantine.

“We as athletes face a difficult time preparing for races that are being cancelled one after the other. Some might say it is for the benefit of all, for one’s health and to stop the spreading of Covid-19, but running is a lifestyle to us,” says Charmain Botha of the Springs Sriders Athletics Club.

“Take me for example, I have been training for Ironman African Championships, which was due to take place on March 29.”

She says that this is an event that takes place only once a year in South Africa and includes a 3.8km swim then 180km cycle and ends with a 42.2km run.

“Training for this event requires one to do two training sessions per day and road cycling and running for up to seven hours on weekends.”

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Botha emphasises that one also has to follow a good diet, get enough sleep, work a full-time job, take care of your family – which leaves no time to fool around.

“It requires dedication, commitment and perseverance.

“The financial implications of such a international race is also a lot – entry fees, flights, accommodation, transportation of your bike to Port Elizabeth, nutritional supplements and many more.”

She also intended to participate in the Comrades Marathon, which has not been cancelled yet.

“Having all the qualifying races cancelled makes training very difficult.

“It kind of steals your motivation.

“Upon hearing the news that Ironman is cancelled 15 days before the event was devastating, to say the least.

“All the 3.30am training, all the late night training sessions, all the time that my twin girls (7) sat next to me in our home gym while mommy was on the spinning bike or treadmill for hours on end.

“It was all in vain.”

Ironman has been postponed to November 15.

“Shall I continue to train for Comrades?” she asks.

Jackie Seddon, Striders chairperson, admits that runners are very disappointed.

“They do, however, understand the actions that have been taken.

“Some are concerned as all the Comrades qualifying races are cancelled till the end of April.

“The decision to postpone or cancel the race will be revisited in early April.

“They have indicated that different rules may be applied relating to qualification in these unusual times.

“Our runners are continuing to train, hoping for the successful containment of this virus.”