Running became my escape, my ‘me time’, my challenge

Published in June 2016

Bernita Bornmann always wanted to run but like many people didn’t know where to start; until she met the right group of people. She started training only three years ago, just to keep fit. She started off by walking and going to gym, until she got invited by friends to a time trial to see if she would enjoy running on the road and not the treadmill – she got hooked and has been running for two years now.

Her husband plays golf and she says they both have the sport that they enjoy and understand the importance of setting a goal for themselves. Her family are very encouraging and are proud to see how she has improved over time. All of her races are dedicated to her late mother. “Every Saturday I go to a race and afterwards I put a black and white paper butterfly up in a tree or lamppost as a tribute to her,” Bernita says.

Support from fellow runners

Bernita says that the friends she met in the running community encourage her in ways she cannot describe. One person in particular, her running partner Paul Nel did not leave her side during the Ultimate Human Race: “Comrades spirit to say the least”. She and Paul have a training schedule that incorporates running as well as strength training. She says just by participating in races you learn so much from fellow runners. She doesn’t just train but listens to podcasts and reads articles on every topic to help her prepare for her races.

Her Comrades experience

“You should always push your limits and go beyond whatever your current circumstances might be and identify something in life that motivates and drives you,” says Bernita, talking about why she decided to run Comrades. When she decides to do something, she says she does it, it’s simple, and she gives it her all and nothing less.

This year was her first Comrades and she says it’s called the Ultimate Human race for a reason. It humbles you but it is also the ultimate memory. The most precious moment for her was standing in the crowd listening to Chariots of Fire, she says her heart was pounding but at the same time felt safe. She was very nervous but she’s run 1 300km between January and the middle of May. Nevertheless she says you never know if your body can manage the distance of an ultra-marathon such as the Comrades Marathon.

The most spectacular view for her was the wave of runners running over the hills.

She had a lot of pain on Cowies Hill but had to keep going because for Bernita quitting was not an option. Her advice to other runners is to prepare carefully, you can’t go into Comrades thinking that it’s just two marathons in one day, because it’s not. She finished in a time of 11:13:58, which she is happy with as a novice, she said she had time to take photos along the route and experience the vibe and amazing supporters. She says the supporters manage to lift you up when you least expect it.

Bernita says no words can describe the feeling you get when you finish. She was overwhelmed by the moment upon entering the stadium but knowing she had just a few more steps to go she carried on with pride – she thinks it’s that feeling that makes people go back for more each year. Next year she will be going for her back-to-back medal and she will do a lot of hard work before then but once again she will give it her all.

What Bernita does post Comrades

Amazingly Bernita was back at the gym just three days after Comrades doing a bit of cycling and walking. She will train through winter but in August she will start with more intense training as she plans to qualify for next year’s Comrades at the Cape Town Marathon. She says that after that she will maintain her level of fitness so that the serious training can resume in January 2017. Training for Bernita consists of exercising six days a week, she says it is very important to incorporate weight training with running, she will race every Saturday and on Sundays she will do a run on her own.

Her advice to fellow Team Vitality members and runners wanting to run Comrades

Bernita says you must “visualise how you will feel crossing that finish line! You CAN do it.” She says you will have to work hard for it but at the end of the day the reward is huge. She says you must “set your mind to it and go get that medal”. Join a running club to meet other runners and before you know it you will go back for more. She says runners share their knowledge so you should listen to them and try what they recommend. What’s more is they have training programs for beginners.

"Your biggest competitor is yourself"

Bernita Bornmann