Team Active family kicking off the year successfully
Runners motivate each other to achieve their goals, and also work hard together to prepare for various events.
The ultimate running team, Team Active, is not only known for their enthusiasm but also for their motivated members.
The team comes together every Tuesday through to Sunday at 5.30pm at the NG Kerk Constantiakruin. This year they are celebrating their one-year anniversary as a running family.
Team members shared their experience of what it is like being part of Team Active. “This has been overwhelmingly positive. The team is friendly, welcoming and inclusive, and I’ve met some wonderful people. They motivate me to push myself more than any other group I’ve ever run with. I’ve done numerous runs with various groups and clubs in Johannesburg, and none of them came close to providing what Team Active has to offer. Joining them has been one of the best decisions I’ve made since I started running,” Estelle Whitby commented.
“From the moment I joined I was part of their family. I have met the most amazing and wonderful people at Team Active and will never change that for anything. There is just so much support and love for one another, doing what we all love most … running. Since I joined Team Active, I ran my first marathon. Had it not been for Laurie, and the training, love and support I got from him, I still would not have been able to do it,” said Liezl Wilson.
“I don’t regret meeting this awesome bunch of humans. Even though I have been training with them for just over a month, I feel I belong to a runners family. Everyone is so warm and helpful. We all work towards different goals, and as runners, we are on different levels, but we all help each other. Laurie is a great coach and is very dedicated to us all. He has a wealth of knowledge and every run comes with a new learning discussion afterwards,” Faheemah Limbada said.
“I have been running for over 50 years – to a good standard in my early life – so I have a lot of experience. In recent times, my running has become a bit stale. I joined Team Active when coach Laurie Lewis formed it, and gained a new lease of life, to the extent that I have had several top 3 finishes in my age group in road races. The enthusiasm and camaraderie of the group are amazing, with runners from several clubs getting together for training and to socialise. Thanks to coach Laurie’s knowledge and encouragement, it is wonderful to see the improvement in everyone’s running,” said Chris Reed.
“The crazy coach, Laurie, made me feel welcome from the first day I met them at Mugg & Bean at Town Square. Just coming off a knee injury, I realised that my excuse of looking after my knee was no longer valid when I joined Team Active. I just got on with running at my best. They are all about running better and helping their fellow runners with advice and support. My running has improved, my ‘phantom’ knee injury is now a thing of the past, and I look forward to running with them on weekends. I love the longer runs. I am still a long way from where I would like to be, but I believe I have everything I need to get there with Team Active,” said Lucy Theron.
Runners motivate each other to achieve their goals, and also work hard together to prepare for various events such as the Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans and much more.
“We encourage one another and rejoice in one another’s achievements. We all run at a different pace, but nobody is left behind. We have Laurie, who is an awesome coach and does so much for each and every one of us,” said Marie Millar.
“Everyone in the family has improved beyond their wildest imagination, and that is what we are about,” said team coach, Laurie Lewis. He also mentioned that they host an awards night once in a while where they award all runners for their achievements and reaching their goals to keep them motivated.
“We are extremely blessed and grateful for this amazing group of people, and need to thank NG Kerk Constantiakruin for allowing us to use these fantastic facilities and for the security on the route for our runners. Also a huge thanks to Lupo Bakery for being a great sponsor. We are not just runners, we are family,” Laurie concluded.
For more information or to join in on the weekly fun, contact Laurie on 072 879 3011 or lauriel@lightstoneauto.co.za.
