Elana Meyer: A South African blast from the past

“My best days still start with a run in the mountains – I run for good health, energy, and to clear my head!” — Elana Meyer

If you remember such things as telephones that had cords, televisions that weighed as much as small cars and race t-shirts that were cotton, then you are probably around my age. I have now survived four decades on this beautiful earth. When I was a young impressionable (and skinny) young runner, I sought out anything to do with running, in book form or on the television just the way  kids nowadays seek out… well I’m not too sure.

One of the runners who I watched glide across the behemoth box of a television screen in my Nova Scotia childhood home and who graced the pages of magazines was a runner by the name of Elana Meyer. For those who need help remembering, she ran at the same time as those like Zola Budd and Mary Decker Slaney, other elites on the world stage.

She ran like the wind and she and many others from that era and the past are the ones who fueled my running dreams. They lit that fire, the desire to try to run like them. It’s one that still burns.

I recently had the chance to ask one of my childhood running heroes a few questions.

But first, a bit about her.

Elana Meyer

Elana Meyer is an Olympic distance runner from South Africa, who among other things, won silver in the 10,000m at the 1992 Summer Olympics. I remember her lean physique and her short-cropped brown hair and her smooth stride.

Running in South Africa, Meyer won her first half-marathon in 1980 at the age of 13. She ran 1:27. Meyer grew up on her family’s farm and was the second of four children. It was not long until she was competing against another soon-to-be famous South African runner, the barefoot running Zola Budd. Meyer worked hard and began to gain success. Unable to compete on the world stage for many years during the country’s Apartheid, it was not really until 1992 when Meyer got to shine.

In 1992, Meyer ran to a silver medal in the 10,000m at the summer Olympics. She is also remembered for embracing and running a victory lap with the Ethiopian winner, to thunderous applause.

Aside from her Olympic medal, she also set African records in the 15K and the half-marathon, was the gold medallist in the half-marathon at the 1994 World Championships and set world records at that distance four times. She retired from competition in 2005.

After some email correspondence, Meyer and I connected and I got the chance to ask a few simple questions.

NP: Looking back on your running career and running in general, what has it done for you?

EM: Running gave me an amazing opportunity to create a life through sport. I made a career out of my sport and travelled the world. I met amazing people and experienced great highlights. Today I am still involved with the sport — giving a next generation a chance to develop.  I still try to run every day. Running still energizes me, it keeps me healthy and fit, it clears my head (cheap psychology).

NP: What drives you to keep running and what is the motivation now?

EM: My best days still start with a run in the mountains. I run for good health, energy, and to clear my head!

Any running goals for the rest of 2015 or long term?

EM: I have done some marathons as charity runs with people but have not raced since I retired in 2005. I did an eight-day mountain bike stage race, Cape Epic, which was a great challenge which I loved. I will be turning 50 next year and I would still like to do an Ironman and run a stage trail race but my biggest satisfaction comes from the goals of doing successfully what I have set out to do: seeing young runners improve at Cape Town Marathon, Endurocad.

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Meyer is currently co-director of the South African Endurance Academy, a non profit organisation that provides a complete sports management solution for aspiring endurance athletes. She is also involved with the Cape Town Marathon which she hopes to help make into the country’s biggest race.

Having the chance to talk with her was an honour and made me think of my early days of as a young runner. It’s often that our childhood heroes star in our dreams and set fire to our desires.

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.

Do you have a running story to share?

runningwriter@hotmail.com

You can also catch Noel on Twitter @NoelPaine or on his personal blog, No Paine, No Gain where you may see a video chat I carry out with Elana.