Run/Walk For Life Waverley

Our Saturday & Sunday 6h15 r/w. Not easy to face winter, but if you do there is never regret😋.
Well done for showing up, o brave ones!

28 May. Traditional melktert and coffee. Why? Why not😋?
It is cold and inspiration comes in many forms….

Loskop Wild Challenge – 21 km of “Why did I sign up for this?” 😅 Half a marathon of mostly trail, with muddy slip-and-slide sections thrown in for good measure. I walked it, I jogged it, I prayed and at times I simply shuffled—but most importantly, I finished it. A truly unforgettable experience (mainly in a good way… except for that never-ending “neck of the giraffe”). 🦒
From the moment we left a cold, rainy Pretoria on Friday morning, I felt equal parts excitement and doubt—wondering what on earth made me think I could do this. I was still recovering from an injury and had done very little training in the preceding weeks. But the fear of missing out outweighed the fear of suffering for a few hours.
The views were absolutely incredible — and so was that one hill that nearly ended me. Honestly, breathtaking scenery… and then just breathless me. Walking along the water, surrounded by mountains and nature (plus the occasional dramatic athlete breathing soundtrack), made every kilometre worth it.
Finally reaching the top of that hill felt like winning a medal on its own. There were drummers cheering us on — although at that stage it felt slightly like they were mocking me and my dying legs - but it gave me the push I needed! And after that, the route spoiled us with funny signs, boiled potatoes, oranges and even cute animal-shaped jelly sweets.
The trail itself was kind on the feet, but transitioning back to tar around 16 km was a whole new level of discomfort. Thankfully, the spectators brought incredible energy.
Highlight of the day: a woman driving along the route, blasting Bernice West’s “Lyfie”, stopping every few metres to get out and dance next to the road 💃🏾 - She kept us going all the way to the end — although I honestly felt sorry for her poor child in the back seat who had to listen to that song on repeat for hours.
The organisers did an outstanding job: well-stocked water points, plenty of refreshments and friendly volunteers who motivated us every step of the way.
For me, this wasn’t just a race—it was a celebration of my health, perseverance, friendship and the joy of being outdoors in one of South Africa’s most beautiful settings. As James likes to remind us of Henry Ford’s quote: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right”. Mindset matters.
A heartfelt thank you to Zelna for the encouragement and for adapting my training plan and to Jackie for sticking it out and finishing with me. I couldn’t have done it without your support.
Monika van der Westhuizen

I started running in 2023 initially to lose weight. I began with a few 2.5 km runs around the block a couple of times a week. After a while, I managed to do 3 km. Gradually I built up my distance to 5 km and started feeling really good.

As the running bug bit me pretty hard, I decided to try a 10 km and see if I would survive. And, to my surprise, I did—and I was hooked.

I knew then that I wanted to do longer distances, but it felt impossible to do it on my own. I started looking for running clubs in my area and stumbled upon Run Walk for Life Waverley. Joining the club was one of the best decisions I could have made.

With the most caring and dedicated coaches, along with fellow club members who guided and encouraged me, I ran my first 10 km race in January 2024. A few more races followed.

Juggling home and work life while still finding time to train proved to be challenging at times—but not impossible. With a few injuries and niggles along the way, things moved a little slower than I had planned, but I ran my first 21 km in November 2024.

In February 2025, my long-time dream of running my first marathon became a reality. What an incredible experience it was! My toughest but most rewarding accomplishment yet.

In November 2025, I completed my second marathon, and in February 2026, my third. All of it building up to the big one: the Loskop Ultramarathon.

I was super excited—and super stressed.

It’s difficult to describe the feeling of running 50 km with amazing friends by your side, helping pull you through the tough parts of the race, and then finally experiencing the rush of crossing that finish line together. Not only did I get a bag of oranges, but I also earned some serious bragging rights and can officially call myself an ultramarathon runner!

None of this would have been possible without the wonderful training, guidance, and support from my coaches and club members.

Next on the bucket list is definitely Comrades. But for that to happen, body, heart, and head all need to be aligned. Two boxes are ticked—my head isn’t quite there yet.

But I know eventually I’ll get there.

For now, I’m enjoying the journey, the build-up to the big dream, and making memories while sharing the camaraderie and fun with friends along the way.
Lynette McCracken

It is not easy to go for a r/w in Winter during May /June/ July due to the cold and it being dark.
BUT there is a remedy for this:
- having a goal
- having an appointment with friends
- enjoying coffee afterwards!

New parents Cindy and Juan finishing the One Run race. The family support enables them to follow their dreams, while staying active! You are an example for many!

Some of our members starting the 10/21km One run yesterday!

Our members finishing the One Run 10/21km comfortably yesterday 🎖️😊

Piera (right) started running races again and have completed the Progression marathon! We celebrate with you, Piera😊

Melissa received her 21km branch medal for previous 21/25/32km races and sealed this again by ending third on the 21km at 1:49 at the Tshwane One run!
Great stuff, Melissa! We are proud!