Hi everyone,
I'm changing tracks (not tack) today!
No, I'm not going to elate you with some of my minibus experiences but that will come. Come to think of it my hairiest experience in a minibus was in Nairobi (uzoefu katika basi la abiria mara katika Nairobi) - hopefully Google translates well to Swahili), Kenya, not even here in South Africa.
A local form of transport that is cheap enough to be popular among the working class is going by train.
Our local train service is however nothing like the European or Japanese variety in terms of timeliness and comfort but then again, it is much cheaper than in those geographical expanses. So, as frustrating it is to travel on our suburban trains, there is a trade-off which, in the heat of being late for work, we tend to lose sight of.
Far be it from me however to make excuses for really poor service from Metrorail, I'd much rather hanker back to the first time I use a suburban train by myself for the first time.
At the time I was 14 years old and spent most of my early life growing up as the adopted son of farm labourers around the Stellenbosch area. Essentially, I knew nothing other than schoolwork, Stellenbosch and relieving farmers of their excess fruit.
But I saw an advert for a road race called the Hewat Marathon. It was to be held to and from Hewat Training College in the suburb of Crawford, Cape Town. Now, for a farmboy, Crawford was in the city, a magical but far-off place.
I knew that I could run but wasn't so sure about the distance. 42,2 km??? Maybe someone made a mistake with the distance but even if they did not, I was becoming more determined to enter. Most people will tell you that a determined Ron Olivier is a difficult object to contain, so it was even at 14 years old!
I started planning to get to Crawford and, since I knew no one in local running circles, I was dependent upon my own transport resources. Since my Dad was never going to give me his bicycle to get to this 'far-off' place, I was left with only our railways to achieve this objective. So, in the absence of Google, Google maps, and computers, I had to physically visit the local station and find out how to get to Crawford.
I grew up without the things I now use extensively - cannot imagine how any more!
With the train research done, I had to enter the race. This I did in time and since the form never required of me to reveal my age, I did not care to mention it! And then it was into training! Since I had never before run a race longer than 800m, I thought that training between 5 and 10 km will suffice. This I did between the farm and town, usually after school.
Funding for my excursion was achieved through washing cars on the weekend! and I was all set after three weeks!
On the morning of the race I walked the 6 km to Stellenbosch railway station and managed to change trains at Maitland station. Having studiously avoided every stare on the trains and stations (self-conscious? me? NEVER), I got off at Crawford station and somehow muddled my way to Hewat Training College - remember, no Google Maps:-)
Long story short, I completed the Hewat Marathon in 4hours and 35min running barefoot. Yep, barefoot! I borrowed my neighbour's running shoes but they were three sizes too big and felt really uncomfortable, so I reverted to my normal training footwear at the time - the Zola Budd alternative!
I managed to walk back to Crawford station after a short nap and made my way back to Stellenbosch station. My legs, however, was so sore that it took me 3.5 hours to walk the 6km home from the station.
One doesn't know what one doesn't know but you never learn first-hand until you do it. God's blessings helps a lot though.
I hope young people read this post too because it may help when things get tough!
Until next time! Au revoir! Auf wiedersehen! adiós! خداحافظی! 面辞! Lala kahle!
I'm changing tracks (not tack) today!
No, I'm not going to elate you with some of my minibus experiences but that will come. Come to think of it my hairiest experience in a minibus was in Nairobi (uzoefu katika basi la abiria mara katika Nairobi) - hopefully Google translates well to Swahili), Kenya, not even here in South Africa.
A local form of transport that is cheap enough to be popular among the working class is going by train.
Our local train service is however nothing like the European or Japanese variety in terms of timeliness and comfort but then again, it is much cheaper than in those geographical expanses. So, as frustrating it is to travel on our suburban trains, there is a trade-off which, in the heat of being late for work, we tend to lose sight of.
Far be it from me however to make excuses for really poor service from Metrorail, I'd much rather hanker back to the first time I use a suburban train by myself for the first time.
At the time I was 14 years old and spent most of my early life growing up as the adopted son of farm labourers around the Stellenbosch area. Essentially, I knew nothing other than schoolwork, Stellenbosch and relieving farmers of their excess fruit.
But I saw an advert for a road race called the Hewat Marathon. It was to be held to and from Hewat Training College in the suburb of Crawford, Cape Town. Now, for a farmboy, Crawford was in the city, a magical but far-off place.
I knew that I could run but wasn't so sure about the distance. 42,2 km??? Maybe someone made a mistake with the distance but even if they did not, I was becoming more determined to enter. Most people will tell you that a determined Ron Olivier is a difficult object to contain, so it was even at 14 years old!
I started planning to get to Crawford and, since I knew no one in local running circles, I was dependent upon my own transport resources. Since my Dad was never going to give me his bicycle to get to this 'far-off' place, I was left with only our railways to achieve this objective. So, in the absence of Google, Google maps, and computers, I had to physically visit the local station and find out how to get to Crawford.
I grew up without the things I now use extensively - cannot imagine how any more!
With the train research done, I had to enter the race. This I did in time and since the form never required of me to reveal my age, I did not care to mention it! And then it was into training! Since I had never before run a race longer than 800m, I thought that training between 5 and 10 km will suffice. This I did between the farm and town, usually after school.
Funding for my excursion was achieved through washing cars on the weekend! and I was all set after three weeks!
On the morning of the race I walked the 6 km to Stellenbosch railway station and managed to change trains at Maitland station. Having studiously avoided every stare on the trains and stations (self-conscious? me? NEVER), I got off at Crawford station and somehow muddled my way to Hewat Training College - remember, no Google Maps:-)
Long story short, I completed the Hewat Marathon in 4hours and 35min running barefoot. Yep, barefoot! I borrowed my neighbour's running shoes but they were three sizes too big and felt really uncomfortable, so I reverted to my normal training footwear at the time - the Zola Budd alternative!
I managed to walk back to Crawford station after a short nap and made my way back to Stellenbosch station. My legs, however, was so sore that it took me 3.5 hours to walk the 6km home from the station.
One doesn't know what one doesn't know but you never learn first-hand until you do it. God's blessings helps a lot though.
I hope young people read this post too because it may help when things get tough!
Until next time! Au revoir! Auf wiedersehen! adiós! خداحافظی! 面辞! Lala kahle!
This is so so beautiful. Funny but sweet...I am getting teary-eyed. Your determination in all areas of your life is admirable. Thanks for the example.
ReplyDeleteThanks Francis. You and your family are living inspirations as well.
ReplyDelete