Timely Thoughts

Firstly, let us state that in no way do we at Time-to-Run consider Ryan Hall to be on drugs or even tainted by drugs. He is seen by us an example of what can be achieved despite not living in Africa.

Our controversial title is directly related to certain forums out there that continually suspect any good performances by athletes from Africa as being drug enhanced.

In keeping with tradition on various forums and whenever an athlete has run a big Personal Best there are always
the countless threads started that the athlete must definitely be on drugs. The paint is not even dry on the art work and they start. The threads always state that there is just no legal ways that the athlete could have achieved such results by natural means.

2:08:24 to 2:06:17

Are we to see the threads or are the countless hordes from the American continent and others now able to see what is possible with the correct training and dedication?

It is possible but it takes commitment, so the next time an African athlete rolls out a surprising result do consider Hall's performance before shrouding the athletes PB in a myre of controversial negativity.

Too many aspiring athletes and youngsters in our society simply have it too easy and have forgotten the work ethics and the consistency of doing things day in and day out to achieve an objective. This is not a 5 minute excursion of pumping out 100 mile weeks for 1 month and wondering where the results are. This is living the dream, being committed to the dream. The goals are defined and the training and lifestyle altered accordingly.

Not everyone can live the way of our Western examples, Paula Radcliffe and Ryan Hall, and it is not expected but the attitude of being your own champion and developing a sense of dignity that you are working towards a goal and committed to it gives one a sense of self-belief probably not previously experienced. Often it isn't the goal but the journey towards that goal.

For many years the failure of American athletes after college has been questioned. They have the most formidable system in the World but have produced the least results when things are compared to the numbers within the system and the results. (note: middle and distance running)

Too many simply walk away from the sport when they leave college, a little lost that everything is no longer given to them on a plate. The American club system needs to be further revamped and this applies to Europe as well, especially the UK and Ireland.

You will read on countless lists and forums about the athletes who in the 80's achieved fantastic times, all aiming towards sub 2:20 or sub 2:30 (according to their level) and how a 2:23 marathon was seen as standard for a working by day runner.

Training has come on in leaps and bounds however the commitment and perseverance towards the sport have faltered.

Congrats to Ryan Hall and especially for showing what can be achieved

When the new South Africa came to the fore in 1994, athletics stood in a very powerful position as the sport that was at the fore of change via its road running structure.

Mick and Cheryl Winn at the helm of road running handed books and a structure over in a more than healthy state. Road running structures throughout the country were powerful and enjoyed a status of growth and development. Athletes of the calibre of Matthews Temane, Xolilie Yawa, Willie Mtolo, Mark Plaatjies, Zithulele Sinque, Elana Meyer, Colleen De Reuck and numerous others had produced times during isolation that had followers believing that the sport would move forward in an manner that would only spell success.

Straight into Barcelona of 92 and Meyer captures silver, bring on Atlanta 96 and Josia Thugwane takes Gold in the Marathon with 800m specialist; Hezekiel Sepeng, taking Silver.

The shrewd Bernard Rose had put himself into a prime financial position by negotiating all the new corporate sponsorship of the companies who were falling over themselves to get a slice of the action.

The politically elected new officials of the new body called ASA (Athletics South Africa) had removed 'amateur' from the old SAAAU (South African Amateur Athletic Union) name and now commanded salaries for their positions, which kept them in line with the big structures of the rest of the world. This was a corporate structure now.

One thing was lacking though, responsibility. Responsibility for failure in a corporate environment.

Failure is not something that other organisations worldwide have not experienced, both the UK and the USA have had their failures. But one thing that differs is that they rectified the problem, got rid of persons who were not either developing the sport in the correct way or benefitting the sport.

However, South Africa is on a downward spiral where for the year 2007 ASA will declare a loss of R1 million. It is not the amount of the money but more where the money has been spent.

Sadly it is becoming an African thing, something which is best ignored and maybe with time it will go away.

All rather sad for a country which has so much going for it.