Running groups aren’t what they used to be. The new (and unconventional) generation isn’t only about getting fitter and faster… – By Lisa Nevitt
The Nine Four, Cape Town
Paul Ward, Founder
I was working on a fashion project in Berlin when Joey Elgersma, captain of The Berlin Braves, invited me to photograph his running crew. So I grabbed my camera. As we ran through the city streets, I noticed a unique side of Berlin; and connected with local, creative people, who were collaborating on some inspiring video and photographic content.
There was nothing like this in South Africa, and I missed running with the crew when I returned to Cape Town.
My friends are a group of people, aged 20 to 30, who like me are creative: artists, illustrators, designers, sneaker-shop owners, models and bloggers. We come from all over the city: Bishop Lavis, Tamboerskloof, the city centre and the southern suburbs.
At the time, we all listened to the same music and partied together; but there was never a reason for us to meet up outside of that. None of us had been interested in running before. So in the beginning, it was just a casual thing; a creative crowd, running through city streets at night. Even if we’d planned a longer run on Saturday morning, you’d still see half of our members out clubbing at 4am. We ran hard and we played hard; it wasn’t about sacrificing either one. But as we pushed ourselves to get stronger as runners, we shared in the sense of achievement at finishing our first race, and celebrated our victories together.
So in 2014, we made it official, naming our crew The Nine Four – a number inspired by the year that South Africa became free, and symbolising the freedom for mixed groups of people to run together, in any area. One of our members, Daniel, a graphic designer and illustrator, designed the rabbit logo to symbolise an animal that you can chase, but you can’t catch. He had to make it look sexy, to get creative people who didn’t care about running to start caring about it!
We now have a base – a clubhouse called The Burrow, in the heart of the City. Half of it is lockers and showers, and the other is a living room with couches, table tennis and an X-Box. Although running is the core, hanging out together afterwards is still paramount in building a family that supports each other – not just in running, but in all aspects of life. That’s why we’ve limited our number of members to 30.
We recently threw an after-party at The Burrow for an event one of our crew hosts: Sneaker Exchange. We had our own people DJ’ing, cooking and designing flyers. It was great to have the collective resources within our own crew to make this cool night happen.
We’re also part of the Bridge The Gap (BTG) movement, which connects running crews from around the world. In 2014, we organised South Africa’s first ever BTG. Captains and crew members from London, Amsterdam and Berlin participated in the Soweto Half Marathon.
The Crazy Fruitcakes, Durban
Jenni-Lynn Marillier, Founder
Some people think we’re nuts, running in the cold weather. At this year’s Ox Pecker Trail Run, dew had frozen on our tent, and the ice cracked when we opened it to get out.
In today’s society, it’s hard enough for people to share their true feelings, let alone support each other. But I met my friends when they were running: sweaty, no make-up, hands on their knees, huffing and puffing. When we got together in a social setting, I thought, I have so much respect for you. I felt like I could be honest with them, without judgement.
Friends are the fruitcakes of life; some are nutty, and others are soaked in alcohol. I started our group with my next-door neighbour Kathy, my cousin Carrie, and a work colleague, Karen; so I guess you could call me the egg that binds all the ingredients together.
We are a group of 18 to 20 trail runners; some of us refer to ourselves as ‘hobblers’, others are ultra-marathoners. We live in the Upper Highway area in Durban. We are aged between 45 and 55. Our occupations range from ‘business-owner’ and ‘accountant’ to ‘medical-sales rep’.
Typical Durban people, we love the outdoors. We have strong family ties, and one thing that cements our bond further is that our families get on well together.
Everyone who’s in our group was ‘found’ on the trails. For example, Leanne had stopped during the KZN Summer Trail Series; her hydration pack was sloshing because she hadn’t got all the air out of it. So we helped her, and then fumbled our way to the finish line through the mist. When we swopped numbers – because she wanted me to forward some photos I’d taken – I discovered she lived within five kilometres of me, and asked her to join us.
Through running, we support one another: we cheer each other on at races, push each other up hills, and hold each other’s hand over river crossings. I came off my mountain bike just before the Molweni Trail Run this year, tearing my AC ligament. The realisation there was no chance I would be ready for the race was devastating. Then Leanne said: “You may not be able to run, but you can walk.” So, one arm immobilised in a sling, I walked with her for two weeks. If it hadn’t been for Leanne, I might’ve written running off completely.
It translates to our relationship outside of running. We braai together, camp together, go out for ladies’ nights, and have Christmas parties. And, boy can we laugh. Wet-your-pants laughter!
The Hash House Harriers, Durban
Delwyn McNamara, Member
Durban Hash was founded in 1971 by Peter Dominey, and is part of a worldwide organisation of friendly groups of runners who practise the ‘sport’ of Hare and Hounds.
What exactly is the sport of Hare and Hounds? Some runners are hares, and others are hounds. It’s the hare’s job to mark a four- or five-kilometre trail, using a variety of materials: mielie-meal, chalk, paper. A pack of hounds follow the trail.
But it’s not that simple: three ‘H’ signs are used to mark various checkpoints, which in turn indicate three possible routes. Hounds branch out to find the correct route; and once they’ve done so successfully, the leading hound shouts: “On, on, on!” This lets the back markers know they’re on the right route.
Back then, Hash was known as a drinking club with a running problem: we did very weird things – like running naked in the streets. But as the laws on public indecency have evolved, so too has the group. Nowadays, we’ve mellowed out. But that’s not to say we haven’t kept Dominey’s traditions alive.
We form a circle after each run, where the hares are thanked for the run, and important life events like birthdays are celebrated. But it’s also where the sinners – those who’ve transgressed the rules, particularly by showing too much athletic prowess – are punished. Adults are ‘fined’ by having to down a shooter.
Once, four of the girls were targeted for running in a different direction to the route the hare’s markings had suggested. Our punishment, in the circle, was to lie in the middle of it. In a bucket, the other Hashers mixed a foul concoction of dishwashing liquid, sugar, syrup and tomato sauce – and threw it all over us!
Each new Hasher is given a nickname, in a ceremony that takes place in the circle. Then your new name is registered online, which means you’ll be welcomed at any Hash run in the world. International Hashers will put you up and show you around.
Your Hash name is derived from a silly thing you’ve done. Mine is ‘Rough Rider’. A fellow Hasher (Hash name ‘Marlboro Man’) once asked me what it’s like to wear a saddle on your back. As a joke, I responded by telling him to get on all fours. Then, I placed a saddle on his back, pulled down the stirrups, and climbed aboard. Taking his role rather seriously, he reared up graciously on his hind legs.
Ungraciously, I slid towards the ground.
My first run with Hash took place when I moved back to Durban in 2010, after a 15-year absence. By then, all my old friends had moved on, and my dad had recently passed away. I needed companionship.
Lots of people join Hash, but they don’t always like what they see. We’re a group of (mostly) 45- to 80-year-old adults – entrepreneurs, doctors, pharmacists and retirees – and most have families; and yet, we like silly songs and traditions. We are a confusing array of beer boeps and lean Comrades machines. But while our group may not be for everyone, rituals and traditions, and our acceptance of runners of all shapes and sizes, give us our sense of belonging. One run with my Hash family, and I never felt lonely again.
Thesis Run Cru, Soweto
Wandile Zondo, Co-Founder
‘Official’ running clubs tend to judge you based on your pace, or which races you’ve run – which sadly, puts lots of newbies off. But our crew is beginner-friendly: our philosophy is that anyone can run, from high school to tertiary students, and from bankers to creative souls. As long as you’re passionate about running, you will be accepted into our movement.
Thesis (in this case, ‘research to illustrate a new point of view about street culture’) began as a streetwear and lifestyle brand. A small store in the Sowetan township of Mofolo Village, selling T-shirts and bucket hats inspired by youth culture in the streets: art, graffiti, music.
I come from a family of runners; my uncle founded the Soweto Marathon. As a result, I had been running since high school and had never stopped. So when we opened the shop, I used it as a base for my training runs. People noticed – half of them lived in the neighbourhood – and they wanted to join me.
I put together a calendar of races we could train for, and took to social media. A core group of 30 to 40 people met every Saturday morning at the Thesis store, to run in the streets of Soweto. We started sharing photographs via WhatsApp and Instagram. The older generation, kids, and taxi drivers cheered us on when they saw us running.
And by 2012, the movement had gathered momentum. We started hanging out at the store after our runs, which then extended to having braais at each other’s houses. We’ve become a family that looks after each other, whether running or outside of running.
Take Londiwe; she joined our group as a complete beginner. When we first saw her, we were running in Pimpville: she was overweight and moved slowly – it’s fair to say, she had a long way to go. Her brother was already a member of our crew, and invited her to join us.
But there’s always someone in our crew who’s more experienced than you, and who’s more than happy to share their expertise. We helped Londiwe to improve by sharing our knowledge of nutrition and training. First, she ran a 10-K. Then a half marathon. And this year, she’s training for the Soweto Marathon! We took her by the hand and made her feel comfortable about running. At the same time, we encouraged her to test her limits.
That sense of looking out for each other also extends to more experienced members. Last year, I sustained a calf injury just before the Soweto Marathon. I’d planned to run it under three hours, and had already reached my training peak. My friends encouraged me to forget about the silver medal, and instead focus on healing and rest. If I hadn’t listened to the advice my crew shared, I might still be carrying that injury with me today.
If you’re a part of the Thesis ecosystem, just by the knowledge we share, you’re bound to improve your running.
The Bearded Brothers, Cape Town
Rae Trew-Browne, Founder
When I used to run on my own in the past, I was so concerned with following a structured training programme – running X distance at such-and-such a pace – that the little frozen streams on top of Table Mountain, and the snow in the Cederberg, might have passed me by.
But founding a casual running group, The Bearded Brothers, has helped me to realise that what’s actually important is enjoying the experience of running: getting out in the mountains, meeting new friends, and enjoying the scenery.
The Bearded Brothers started out as a blog that reviewed trail-running gear. Co-founder Theo Naude and I were close friends beforehand, and had always enjoyed the mountains and hanging out together. Both of us have beards and like drinking coffee.
We started taking action photos of products when we ran in the mountains; but it became more than that. Our backdrop was always a rad landscape, like Jonkershoek, Victoria Peak or the Cederberg, and by sharing our scenic images on social media, we were showing people what’s out there; clouds, forests and mountains. Our images inspired others to get out there and see these places with their own eyes. That – and the rise in popularity of trail running, beards and coffee! – inspired them to join us.
Nowadays, we’re a bunch of five or six friends who run together – some with beards, some without. The most important thing is that it’s completely organic: there’s no membership list, and in fact I don’t think the guys even know they are Bearded Brothers. It’s too relaxed to call it a group.
Aged between 21 and 40, most of us work in the creative industries. Our running experience ranges from guys who’ve been running for around a year, to those who’ve been doing hard-core mountain races
for years.
Most of us don’t particularly look like your ‘average’ runner: sometimes we’ll wear collared check shirts, which goes against the norm of poly shorts and skin-tight tops. We have tattoos, and we aren’t clean-cut and shaven. You do get a lot of hipsters working in the creative industries, so it’s not like we’re trying to look like that on purpose for our group; our image is merely a reflection of the subcultures we’re already involved in – and I suppose wearing what feels comfortable gets right back to the roots of running.
When we’re training and running together, we’re not stressed about hitting a pace. It’s all about enjoying the experience, meeting new friends, and then sharing photos after the run over coffee, and brainstorming our next adventure.
As a result, I’ve learned to relax. It’s great getting to the end of a run without feeling disappointed about my pace.
One of my friends, Chris Walley, ran with me for the last 20 kilometres of the PUFfeR Trail Run. I was tired and dizzy, and occasionally, even falling asleep. I felt safer knowing Chris was there – especially once when I stumbled, and he caught me before I fell backwards. Without Chris’s support, I probably would’ve bowed out of the race at Constantia Nek.
Most of the guys came to my bachelor’s. We hiked to Tafelberg, and once there we slept in a cave.
Like I said, we were friends before we started running together. But in many ways, my experiences in the mountains with my friends have completely changed how I approach running.