While Ethopia's Asefa Negewo won today's Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, an interesting piece of trivia lay with the presence of a 41 year old Ukrainian.
With a PB of 2:08:32, this was Sehiy Lebid's second ever visit to South Africa. But here is where it gets interesting: Lebid's first time in the Rainbow Nation was way back in 1996 for the World Cross Country Championships at Coetzenberg, Stellenbosch. Won by Paul Tergat, those championships were a major feather in the cap for South African athletics. At the time, it was almost surreal for local athletes to have such luminaries as Tergat and co competing here.
A couple of things stood out for me at the time. The training program of friend Robert Pritchett for one was awe inspiring for me. Coached by his Dad Tim, Rob was running twice a day in order to gain selection for the U19 event, including impressive speedwork on the windswept fields of Fish Hoek. Made my triathlete running "program" of the time seem rather wimpish.
The other thing was Bryan Adams' album "Eighteen Till I Die," which was released around the same time. Funny how music and periods of one's life are intertwined. Meeting and working with Serhiy over the weekend brought this time back so clearly. Amazing to think he is going strong all these years later.
Eighteen (OK - 19) till I die!
