Louise Jacobs
by Roald Le Roux - when handing to Louise an amazing donation on 19 February 2011
"I think I speak on behalf of all of us that have come to know you, Louise, since late last year, that you are a great inspiration to us all. The passion and commitment you show in attaining your goal, running your first Comrades 2011, your interaction and jokes with us at the time trials and during races, and the ease with which you have slotted in to this newly discovered sport of road running, has on a number of occasions lead to us completely forgetting that you are unable to see. We are not the only ones that have mistaken you as being able to see all that is happening around you, as you so aptly pointed out to a marshal at one of your races late last year when you reminded him after overshooting a turning point in the race - “Speak to me! Can’t you see that I cannot see”!
And it is on this issue I wish to comment -“Can’t you see that I cannot see”! We have come to know that you are able to find your way around most of the hustle and bustle at the start; to follow the route well once the sun is up, and that you are able to keep a stiff consistent
pace, even during your first 42,2km. All this in spite of the fact that you cannot see, the stiff pace – a clear indication of your determination referred to earlier, and the inability to spot distance boards is a recipe for blowing on a race, as you are unable to feed off the information that is displayed by most running watches - are you running too fast or too slow; are you running outside your heart rate zone, what distance have you covered, what pace should you run at to reach the end of the race before the cut off time.
I was certain that it would be easy to locate such a product via the Internet. Almost all well known watch brands, and GPS/Watch Combinations offered all or more of the required features – but none with the most crucial feature we required – vox communication of all the displayed information on the face of the watch. In desperation I even tried Bendix, manufacturers of top end aircraft instrumentation such as, Radar, Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and the likes, most of which come standard with a Vox function – with no success.
It was at one of the time trials around the start of the year, after voicing my frustration to one of the members at Run/Walk for Life, who recalled reading an article in the December issue of Running of a newly launched product of this kind.
At the following time trial I was given a copy, and lo and behold, there it was – The Adidas I-Trainer. I could not wait for the next day, when I contacted Adidas South Africa, the official distributors of Adidas in South Africa. After speaking to their Sales Desk who confirmed the existence of the product, I was transferred to Ragna Nilssen, Senior Category Manager - Individual Sport at Adidas South Africa.
I was elated to learn that the newly launched Adidas i-Trainer boasted every one of the features Louise needed. I needed definite confirmation of this, and asked a third time if the required features were available, after which Ragna asked me in what application this product was to be used in. I then for the first time during our conversation told her of Louise and the constraints and challenges she faces familiarising herself with the information displayed on runners watches. I then also read her Louise’ letter after completing her first 42,2 published in the This and That.
While reading the letter I thought I had lost the call as Ragna went dead quiet, and when I asked if she was still on the line, she replied that she was in tears.
Ragna offered to forward what I understood to be a loan unit, which she said Louise could try to see if it satisfied her needs. It was only when I asked her within what time she required the unit back, that Ragna pointed out to me that I misunderstood her offer – Adidas would donate the watch to Louise. I was speechless......humbled and without words. The next day I received the following e-mail from Ragna, confirming the donation.:
Hi Roald
Dankie vir jou mail man. [Thanks for your mail]. En baie lekker om betrokke te raak hier.. [Great to get involved here]. Kan jy dalk asb vir my by haar man uitvind wat haar skoen grote is (UK sizing) en ook of sy pronate of ’n neutral runner is? ..[Could you please find out from her husband what her shoe size is and also if she pronate or is a neutral runner?] Ek dink Louise is regtig merkwaardig en sal graag ’n paar skoene vir haar ook insluit. Sy is regtig ’n inspirasie! [I think Louise is really amazing and want to include shoes for her. She's really an inspiration!]
Ragna Nilssen
Sr Category Manager - Individual Sport
To my astonishment it contained a second paragraph where Ragna informed me that she had decided to, over and above the i -Trainer, donate a full Adidas Kit to Louise, consisting of a pair of Adidas Running Shoes, Tights, Arm Pouch, Climacool T-shirt, Socks and Crop Top with built in heart sensor.
At this stage I could hardly contain myself. I decided that the presence of a larger group than the time trial group would make the occasion and surprise level that much more special when handing the hamper to Louise. On Friday afternoon prior to the Bronkhorstpsruit I received a call from Louise, confirming travelling with me to the race the following morning. At the end of the conversation she again discussed to need for such a product, as well as the need to get a new pair of running shoes within the next 6 weeks. Louise, it was such a privilege to share God’s goodness and favour fulfilled, right here, in front of my eyes with you and all present at the start of the Bronkhorstpsruit 32km, and not even having asked for it!
We all, and in particular the Zita Park Time Trial regulars wish you a wonderful and blessed training time in preparation for Comrades 2011.
In the words of Tim Noakes I conclude:
“You may suspect that the Comrades is different, but at the start, you are certain. The atmosphere carnival. We are an eccentric family doing for one day what we like best, and no matter how humble the results, for twelve hours we will be loved and applauded for it. From dawn until the sun sets in Pietermaritzburg, we are the children of the road, to be succoured, encouraged, praised, protected. Today there can only be one outcome – each runner a winner, each a hero God made a home in the sky for the sun, it comes out in the morning.....like an athlete eager to run a race.
So on May the 29th, some time between 05h30am and 05h30pm, you will find Louise and all of us, in mind, if not in body somewhere on the Old Main Road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, secure in the knowledge that this is the year. This is Louise’ and our year when we will finally defeat the coward within and so commence a heroes life.”
Roald le Roux
