Passionate about running
THIRTY years ago Lorraine resident Jan van Eeden ran his first race, the Great Train Race – a relay in which teams of men (and women) took on the Apple Express from Port Elizabeth to the picturesque village of Loerie, a distance of about 70km.
Since then, he has run races ranging from 10km to ultra-marathons and today boasts permanent numbers (completing at least 10 races) in both the Two Oceans (22) and Comrades (14).
However it is in administration of the sport that Jan and his wife Irene, who he married in 1992, continue to make their mark.
The couple are a permanent fixture at athletic meetings, especially at roadrunning events, where they produce the results at a click of the (computer) button.
Jan became a member of the EPAU Roadrunning Commission and found that the results he received were either inconsistent or incomplete. He then decided to develop his own programme which delivers the complete results including times, ages categories and clubs.
Today the Van Eedens produce results for races all over the country including national championships. They say their most interesting race to date was the Gabarone Marathon.
The biggest race the couple have been involved in is the Knysna marathon which they have been doing for the past 17 years.
In between, Jan and Irene have held various positions in the EPA structure culminating in Jan receiving the Cliff Hopkins trophy for service to roadrunning and life membership of the athletic body.
Irene was employed by EPA since 1992 until a few years ago.
Both have been part of the management teams of various provincial squads at national championships.
Both Jan and Irene are passionate about roadrunning.
"Each time an EP athlete crosses the finish line first in a major race is a proud moment for us, irrespective of which club they belong to," said Irene.
"We are fortunate in that through our involvement we have met the likes of Bruce Fordyce, Stephen Muzinghi and the athletes from Kenya and Lesotho," added Jan.
The Mr and Mrs Roadrunning of the province have no immediate plans to retire from the sport.
"With technology and needs changing all the time, one can never be sure," they say.
Meanwhile the doting grandparents are hoping their 14-month-old granddaughter, Leia, will take up the sport one day.
The couple have two children, their Leia's mother Nicole who is married to Ferdi (both are teachers) and Gareth who lives down under.