Veteran runner as fit as ever

Hendrik Booysen (65) has been pushing his body to the limit since 1962.
He can be seen training every day at the PAM Brink Stadium.
Booysen runs for the Nedbank Athletics Club and competes in both road running and cross-country races.
On August 28, Booysen competed in the Cross-Country Provincial Championships in KwaZulu-Natal, where he crossed the line in third place.
“It was a very tough course but I committed to it and did my best,” said Booysen.
His outstanding performance qualified him to run in subsequent provincial championship events.
Athletics SA, however, decided athletes above 50 years are not allowed to compete because of Covid- 19.
“I am very disappointed with their decision, but I will continue to train for future events.”

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What do you do to prepare for these extreme races?
I run track at the PAM Brink Stadium every day. I do 100m, 400m and 800m sprints to keep myself as fit as possible. Running is a part of my life. I also run up and down the stadium stairs to work on my stamina and strength. When I’m at home, I do push-ups and sit-ups and go to the gym whenever I can. In the off-season, I go on 10km runs.
What’s the biggest difference between track running and cross-country?
Cross-country running is much tougher than road running. With cross-country, you run over all sorts of terrain from gravel to grass and even mud. You go up and down slopes and even cross rivers from time to time. Cross-country can be very hard on your ankles and joints and you have to be very focused and disciplined if you want to do well.

Also read: Athletes donate food to SPCA

How do you keep fit?
As I mentioned, I run every day to keep fit. It’s also important to keep focused and take care of your body, especially if you want to run consistently on a daily basis. Most importantly, you must also allow yourself to enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy what you do, you will never unlock your full potential.
Is there a special diet you follow?
I make sure I don’t eat any junk food, but I’m not extremely strict about what I eat. I still allow myself to enjoy a braai and a beer here and there. However, I always make sure to include fruits and vegetables in my diet. Running and eating well also have other advantages, for example, I never get sick. And with this virus going around it’s vital that people keep healthy and fit.
What’s next in your running career?
There’s isn’t anything major on the horizon for me, but I will keep on running for as long as I can just out of sheer enjoyment.

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