MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following a sterling 2017, filled with plenty of highlights, uniquely versatile masters athlete, Les Stuart (75), is facing a brand new challenge.
Les, who celebrates his 76th birthday at the end of the month, is training for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Málaga, Spain, in September.
"I did athletics at school, but as you can see, that's quite a few years ago," he chuckles.
Confronted with the news that his cholesterol was above the norm in his 60s, he was given the options to take medication or change his diet and adopt an active lifestyle.
Not wanting to risk the side effects of long-term exposure to medication, he says he "got on to the road and started running".
At first it was 10km road races, which he won comfortably in his age category. The bonus was, his cholesterol came down. He joined the Knysna Marathon Club, where the coach persuaded him to also join SA Masters Athletics.
SA Masters
This opened new opportunities to compete and soon Les found himself challenged again. Upon entering for his first masters, the coach suggested he ran the 1 500m. Les protested that it was a sprint and he is not a sprinter. To this the coach replied: "Ag, see it as a training thing to help you finish strongly in your longer distances."
The persuasion paid off. Les started to compete in 200m, 400m, 800m, 1 500m and 5 000m distances and still continued his road races.
"It's a mind and body thing. You must convince your body that you can do it. Running is not all about the legs. It's right up in the head as well. Once you realise that you can get your body to maintain these higher speeds, it helps you in the longer distances as well.
"I have no problem picking up the pace in the last section of the race and towards the end of my longer races."
He refers to 2017 as a dream year. At the national championships in Cape Town, he qualified for national colours in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m and did so well under national times. He was also named sportsman of the year by the Knysna Marathon Club and given the same recognition by SWD Athletics.
Continuing his winning streak, at the 2018 SA Masters Athletics Championships, he obtained five gold medals and one silver in Bloemfontein in April. Competing in six events over two days, he also participated in long jump for the first time.
"That night, at the dinner, I was awarded my national colours."
Next challenge
Running consistently under national times in four events, Les asked himself: "What's the next challenge?" And answered: "The only remaining challenge is World Champs."
He says he is realistic enough to know that a chance at getting a spot on the podium is miniscule. "Looking at standards from previous years, I am not there. I might be in the top five."
He knows that he probably needs to focus on specific events at the cost of others. But not this time round. "I don't want to go to Málaga and run only three events. I want to run everything. This is my one opportunity to represent my country."
He currently trains five days a week.
"I feel amazingly blessed that I can do what I am doing. I thank God everyday. He somehow carries me that last bit to the finish line when I am really finished and klaar. He made me that I can do this."
As for competing against his peers at the masters, he says he does it for the gees - the spirit. "The camaraderie is amazing. You don't run against someone; your competitors egg you on."
Les has three daughters and five grandchildren. They all live abroad and are mighty proud of him.
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