A runner’s story to inspire
Noeline Kruger is a new member at FHAC and she has been making her mark at the club with her tenacity and strong mental strength. I was intrigued, where did she come from, when did she start running? I sent her some questions to find out.
Noeline (NK) thanks so much for agreeing to answer my questions and giving us the inside scoop on your running journey.
When did you start running?
NK: I started doing the Park Run in October 2018, it was the first time I had run more than 800m in 30 years!
How did you start?
NK: I met a mother at Lloyd’s creche and somehow the discussion turns to “let’s do the park run on Saturday, it will be good for us and the boys can join us the week after”
She never arrived.
So, I thought, well I am here let me try it. So, I started running and then walked after 2km and then I thought, no man I can do this. When I finished, I was so proud of myself.
I went the next Saturday and the Saturday after that… It was just so amazing to see so many different people out there all with they own struggles and baggage. The feeling that everyone is welcome and strangers encourage each other. And that feeling of I am 30 seconds faster than last week. I very soon realized that if you want to reach a goal, you need to make your goals smaller and when you look back after 6 months you will realize that the mountain is halfway conquered. I am the kind of person that wants to fly up Mount Everest and beat myself up for not reaching it in 1day 😊
From 2018-2020 I did Park runs and every other 5km fun run I could find. At the big events I would always see the clubs and the support they gave to each other and then a lady at Milkwood 2019 run told me that I must join the Fish Hoek Athletics Club. My first thought was, oh no that must be for real professional runners and I am sure you must have provincial colours or something behind you to be part of a club. It took me year to fill in the application papers. Talk about self-sabotage and stagnation…
In Jan 2020 I got the guts together and we went to the club to pay my membership and get my T-shirts. That was a proud day. Then Covid-19 hit us. Everything fell apart. There was no work, no running nothing..
Then in August I typed out the message closed my eyes and pressed send on the FHAC what’s app group – I said I needed help and I needed a running buddy. Cara replied and now 9 months later we meet and run every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 06:00 in rain, wind and sun. It is unbelievable that a stranger can enter your life and have such a big influence on your growth process and give you that rope to pull you out of a very, very dark hole.
Just some background.
I was never the athletics kind. I was the “artist-type” and till this day cannot even climb a tree, the kids in the neighbourhood and my brother were very talented in sport, western province colours and awards you name it. So, you can image for a 12-year-old there was just no way I was even going to try and do athletics. I was the girl that liked to draw and be by myself. So, for me to be able to run a full 5km was out of the world, I am still very amazed till this day that it is in my DNA. So many people just stop living when they reach 40 almost like they think they know who they are and what they are capable off, for me it was the beginning.
Why did you start?
NK: The why only came much later for me. You always hear people talk about the good feeling and that you get addicted to running or swimming etc. After 5 park runs, I think I got that feeling of WOW this feels good, and every week your time improves , for me that was wonderful to see results every 7 days, finally I found something where I you can see that hard working is paying off. (I went through a lot of disappointments and failures that year and all our hard work just ended up in nothing)
What do you struggle with/not love so much?
NK: Struggle with – I measure myself against people that’s been running for years and I really need to work very hard in myself to bring myself back too .. you just started a few months ago baby steps. You will get there in good time.
I do struggle with a fast pace when a group run begins. I need to concentrate very hard to keep to my pace for where I am now. I also struggle a lot with run /walk /run it almost feels like the earth is sucking me in like quicksand, but I do understand I need to work on it. when I get a bit more fit, I will overcome that.
What keeps you going when it gets tough?
NK: I look back ( depends if I can see the route behind me or look at the km on my watch and then I tell myself you have come so far, just run to the next pole or the next km mark and then we can revisit how “we” (me and my inner coach 😊 ) feel. I talk a lot to myself and when I hear that voice that is telling you “ no man this is way beyond you” I start singing , talking to God or just think of that amazing feeling you will carry for the rest of the day when the run is done.
Tell us about your True Oceans 25km?
I was very nervous in the beginning. I only had one plan in mind – to finish under 3 hours, I broke it down in 5km pieces and after each 5 km I just mentally told myself this is just our normal morning run and before I know it will be done.
It was very hot. It was beautiful perfect day; the route is just so breath taking.
It was hard for me as I never run after 10:00 so that was a challenge (good one) and I have never run further then 1x 21km so I had to work hard to break through that mental block.
The most inspiring thing and something I will always remember is the people along the road that assisted with water and cooldrinks – I am telling you there is definitely still hope in this world if complete strangers can look out for you and assist you. There was a point somewhere in Kommetjie road where I felt for the first time I had nothing left inside me the only thing that kept me going was the fact that my Husband and boy will be waiting for me and then out of the blue 2 angels appeared (man and a lady sorry do not know who they are ) and they gave me water and coke and simply asked if I was ok? Did I need help?
They said, “you have come so far there is 1.8km left you can do it” And just like that I thought, well if strangers believe in me I can do this.. so, I finished, and it felt amazing. No world record was broken but I was so proud. And yes, I finished in under 3 hours.
What is next?
Comrades 2025-2028 maybe😊 😊 good to have BIG goals/dreams …
Keep on doing our morning runs and Saturday clubs runs
My very best friend is taking me to Knysna we are doing the Knysna forest run 21km in July.
And then whatever next half marathon is coming up this year I will be there in my Fish Hoek shirt to represent my club and give back to this club and the people for what they have done for me in such a short time .
“You” saved me you took me in, always make me feel welcome and every Saturday morning they would all will wait for me to catch up. Thank you for the opportunity, thank you that I can grow and learn to be an athlete/runner when I am all grown up 😉
For all the people that is still waiting for the planets to alien before you reach out again for your tekkies…. Just put them on and start running it is like falling in love for the first time and this time it is different because you start falling in love with yourself.
Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us, we look forward to being part of your ongoing running journey.
