Record-buster 'just unwinding'
MARGIE Saunders was just trying to unwind from a busy period working in Johannesburg when she entered the Gelvan 15km road race at the weekend.
Just over an hour later, the 61-year-old Nedbank athlete had broken her own national mark for the distance, adding to the South African marathon (3:16:32) and half-marathon (1:30:53) records she holds for the 60-year age division.
The only mark missing from her CV is the national 60+ 10km record, a time the ultra-competitive Saunders has squarely in her sights.
As one of the province's most gifted runners, Saunders was almost dismissive of the fact that she ran a 5km stretch before Saturday's 15km run and warmed down with 5km afterwards.
It is not the average runner's approach, but Saunders is not your average competitor.
"Saturday's record was just by chance," Saunders said yesterday. "I was in Joburg for nine days and had worked straight through. I had no intention of running that [record] time.
"I was going to run about 4:30s [minutes a km], but I was running with a vet and she wanted to run 4:20s. So I ran that and I only decided at the 9km mark, 'hang on, I can do this'.
"So then I started picking up my pace and I think that's what happens in running. Sometimes when you go for times from the start you can get a bit tense. I was comfortable on Saturday."
Remarkably, Saunders only started running at the age of 35, having been involved in competitive swimming as a pupil at Collegiate Junior and Alexander Road High School.
Her mother was Nerina McAll, the legendary EP swimmer who was still winning age-group titles in her late eighties.
Nerina died seven years ago, aged 90, but her competitive genes clearly rubbed off on Saunders and brother Colin, who represented EP in water polo and triathlon.
"The only reason I started running was that I wanted to get into triathlons, so I had to learn to run," Saunders said. "I took to running quite easily because of my cardiovascular fitness."
It was not all plain sailing, though, as Saunders was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.
"I ran my best races when in my mid-forties, but was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, so I had an annus horribilis with six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Once I got to 50, I started running competitively again."
Saunders manages the funders and medical schemes division for ER24, an emergency medicine company.
She pays tribute to her husband Brian, a top provincial runner in his heyday, and her club Nedbank for the massive support they have given her. Her swimming training under coach Tracy Gouws has also made a huge difference to her running.
Despite her achievements, Saunders is not short of ambition. "I would like to run a quicker marathon, I would like to break the SA 60+ 10km record and I want do a full Ironman."
She has done two 70.3 Ironman events. "Also, I would like just to stay healthy. I enjoy it and you always feel so good after you have had a run, swim or cycle – you feel best if you are fit and in control." - Neale Emslie
