MRS ANNELINE ROFFEY FROM CAPETOWN AN ATHLETE,COACH AND THERAPIST DIGESTS HOW TO BECOME TOP CLASS IN ATHLETICS

 Mr Pace Show that is questions and Answers 

Presenter: Collen Makaza 

Guest: Anneline Roffey 

Date: 12 October 2021

Time: 1800hrs to 2030hrs

Venue: Chitungwiza Harare Zimbabwe

Contacts: 0733741960/0776769684

Email: mrpacemakaza@gmail.com 

A Pleasant day to you all. Welcome to Mr Pace Show tonight's Guest Mrs Anneline Roffey from Capetown

Please Anne knowledge your presence

Hi guys! Pleased to be here 🙌

Thanks so much first question 👇👇

*1.Q- Welcome Mrs Anneline Roffey from Capetown, can you tell us more about yourself when and where were you born?.*

Good day Collen, thank you for having me. I was born in Cape Town and grew up in Stellenbosch. I went to school in Stellenbosch and studied law at the University of Stellenbosch. I have  a LLB Law degree, but never used it as I chose to pursue a career in running 😅

*Yooo seriously??*

True story 😅 Four years of studying law just to end up running 🤭

*Very Amazing story.*...

*2.Q- Do you still remember the person who helped you to start running?*

Yes, it was my father. He was a very good runner himself in his young days (he ran a 30min 10km), and he is the one who made me fall in love with running.

Hahaha l liked words *fall in love with running*💃💃

*3.Q- Tell us how was performance in athletics during your primary and secondary levels?*

I wasn't an outstanding runner in my school years. I took part in athletics and cross country, but my father did not want to push me, he wanted me to just enjoy running as a youngster. He was scared that I would burn out as an athlete if I pushed too hard as a junior.  It was only when I finished school that he started to train me properly, and that was when I became more competitive.

*4.Q- What inspires you to be a runner?*

The urge to always better myself, and push myself to the limit, to be healthy and to meet wonderful people. Runners are really nice people 😁

*5.Q- Do you have a coach to guide you on your trainings?*

Yes, my husband Cecil Roffey. When we met, he took over the job of coaching me from my father. And he has been the one to guide me with my training since then 😁

*For how long have you been with that Nice Coach*

From about 2002 up untill the present 😅

*6.Q- Can you give us the names of your training partners and how did they contribute for you performance in sport?*

I've had many training partners throughout my running career. Before we started our group the Speedsters, Cecil and I used to train alone. And I ran most of my personal best times during that time. So I guess he was my best training partner ever 😅  (although he was way too fast for me at that time!). But since we started the Speedsters years ago, I always had a strong lady by my side to push me to be my best. To name a few, Leanda du Bruyn, Anél Terblanche, Amy Abrahams, Icarien van Deventer, Laila Abouzaid. We pushed each other in training and in competition, to bring out the best in each other, but without being competitive with each other.

*7.Q- What motivated you to take running as part of your life?*

When I was still in school, I tried all different kind of sports, like netball and tennis, but clearly I had no ball sense, and was never really good at any of that 😂 But then I discovered running, and realize it is something I can do any time that I want to. I don't have to get pick for a team, I can go out and run any time, on my own. I discovered that it was a way of escaping stress, especially during my last two years at school when I was quite focused on my academic results. I started training with my father's training group (a group of students) and I fell in love with the sport.

*Wonderful!!*

*8.Q- Name your first running club and how many clubs did you ran for during your days?*

My first running club was Maties Athletic Club (Stellenbosch). Since then I ran for four other clubs (Mr Price, Adidas, New Balance, which is now Cape Multisport Club, and Nedbank, my current club).

*When did you join Nedbank the green dream team*😇

I think I joined them four years ago

*9.Q- Do you ever compete or won medals in any S.A national champs?*

I have competed in a couple of national champships, for Boland as well as Western Province, in track, road and Cross Country throughout my running career. Apart from some team medals, I won a gold medal at the 2016 Cross Country champs in the Masters devision, as well as a silver in 2018.

*10.Q- Do you ever represents S. Africa at all Africa games or World Championships?*

Unfortunately not. That was the dream, but I never got to fullfil that dream.

*11.Q- At what age did you start professional running in your career as an athlete?*

I started running competitively at the age of 20, but more professionally at the age of 23 I think.

*12.Q-  Who was your best coach and manager in your career as an athlete?*

That has to be my husband Cecil. I ran all of my personal best times under his guidance.

*Super!!*

*13.Q- What is your best shoe brand as an athlete?*

If I have to pick one, it will probably be Adidas. Their racing shoes always worked for me.

*14.Q- who was your rivals in your professional career as an athlete?*

My biggest rivals was Zintle Xiniwe, Bulelwa Mtshagi, Bulelwa Simae, Anél Terblanche, Thozama April, Nolene Conrad to name a few. And even Dominique Scott before she went overseas and became an Olympian 😅

*All Big Names in athletics..*

*15.Q- What is your best meals before and after the race or competition?*

The evening before a race I like to have a carb filled meal. Usually a big plate of pasta. And a small glass of wine to calm the nerves 😅 The morning of a race I can't eat much, but I have a cup of coffee and try to eat a small bit of porridge, like Future Life. 

What I have after a race, depends on the distance I raced. When I raced a marathon, I will just eat anything that I see 😂

But usually I like to have a chocolate flavoured milk (Steri Stumpi) straight after the race. And then after that, my ultimate power recovery snack is a peanut butter sandwich.

Nice and clean👌

*16.Q- What is your best and worst race in your career as an athlete?*

My worst race is probably the New York Marathon in 2004 😅 It was my first marathon and I wanted to run under three hours. I was in pretty good shape, but did not take into account the amount of walking and traveling we were going to do days before the race. I lined the starting line with sore hamstrings, but still went out at my sub 3hour pace. But halfway through the race I started walking. I mostly walked the second half of the race, crying 😂 And ended up finishing just under 4hours. Although it was my worst race, I cherish the memories and do not regret doing it. 

My best race was probably the  first Total Sports ladies race in Stellenbosch. I have never felt as strong as I did on that day. We were three ladies racing head to head all the way, and I sprinted to finish in first position half a second before Dominique Scott, who was still a junior and upcoming runner at that stage

*17. Can you name your best road race of all time and why?*

There is about 5 races that really stand out for me. But if I have to choose one, it is the Constantia Villiage 15km race in 2003 I think. That is the race where I made the shift from a Law graduate looking for a job, to a runner pursuing a professional career in running. Cecil told me that day if I run a certain time for the 15km, I can cancel my last interview I had line up at a law firm, and he will support my running dream. I ended up running much faster than that, and till this day that is still my personal best time for a 15km 😅

It goes like *Yes Yes l did it*👏👏👏

*18.Q- What is your best times in the following distance from:* 

*1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10km, 21km and 42km?*

1500m: 4:36

       3000m: 9:59

       5000m: 17:12

       10km: 35:22

       21km: 1:19:07

       42km: 2:54

*Good times you posted*👏👏👏

*19.Q- what are your setbacks or challenges you face as female athlete?*

Many female athletes goes through some kind of eating disorder during their careers, thinking that the lighter they weigh, the better they will run. I certainly went through a stage kind of like that as well, where I deprived myself of proper nourishment in order to be as light and skinny as possible. While I trained really hard at that time, the results never showed in races during that time. I just never had enough energy during the race. 

And then one of the challenges as a small female athlete is finding proper racing shoes that fit 😂

*20.Q- What's inspires you to come a Coach?*

I have made many mistakes in my running career, but I have also done a lot of things right. Through all that I have learned a lot, and I like to pass on that knowledge to someone who still have the potential to achieve great things. It is so satifying to help someone achieve a goal. And running will always be part of my life...

*True like me*🙏🙏

*21.Q- Which club are you coaching currently and how many clubs did Coach before?*

I see myself more as an assistant coach to my husband Cecil at the moment 😅 We have our own training group/Academy, the Speedsters, which consists of athletes from different clubs. I focus more on keeping the athletes in one piece, with my Fascia release and alignment therapy, and to avoid injuries.

*By the way, what really Therapist  does to help athletes?*

I check the athletes alignment, and muscle balances. I test which muscles are too weak, and which too tight. And according to that I can ensure that they strengthen the correct muscles to avoid injuries.

Thanks Anne 🙏🙏

*22.Q- Can you name some of the top athletes you helped, work with or you Coached?*

I have worked with a lot of athletes, but some of the top athletes that I help with my therapy on a regular basis is Leanda Du Bruyn, Anél Terblanche, Madelé Du Plessis, Star Shayamano,  Nic de Beer who is a top trail runner, to name a few. I have also helped Rutendo Njahora and Fortunate in the past.

Saw some Zimbabwean names that's great 👏👏

Wonderful 😊😊😊

*23.Q- What are some of the challenges you face as female Coach?*

To be honest, I don't really face any challenges. In fact, it is actually benecial when you coach female athletes, because you can relate to many female problems, and understand what they are going through.

*24.Q- How do you manage to do running, coaching and Therapist at same time?*

As I said, at the moment I am assisting Cecil in his coaching job, and because I am also training with the group, it's quite easy to give my imput into the training. My therapy is my main job, but as I am working for myself, I can fit my clients around my training schedule, and my daughter's needs 😅

*So clever*

*25.Q- During these lockdowns and Covid erra how did you manage  keep your athletes fit and focused?*

In the first couple of weeks of lockdown, when we couldn't leave our houses to train, I worked out little gym programs for our athletes to follow at home, to try and make it fun and interesting.

*26.Q- Your words on age cheating and drug use in sport?*

I think it is unacceptable of course. As an athlete you feel cheated on when someone else takes away your glory because of that. But if running is your passion and your dream, you should not let cheats dissuade you from doing what you love.

*27.Q- Your words of encouragement and motivation to upcoming athletes and Coaches?*

To athletes: stay focused, be consistent and don't expect overnight miracles from your coach. It's a team effort and both sides need to commit.Be honest with your coach, he or she relies on your honesty when it comes to how you are coping with the training. Be patient, to get to the top is a process.

*28.Q- How Running, Coaching and Therapy change your life financially?*

I gave up a law career to run professionally. But the little money I made from running did not cover my expenses, so I went into therapy, to work as a massage therapist. To be honest, if I continued with a law career, I would have been better of financially, but I doubt that I would have been as happy and content. I followed my passion, and I don't regret it 😀

*On point*🙏🙏

*29.Q- Your future plans in sport?*

I recently took up trail running, and there is some goals I want to achieve there. Then I still want to race some marathons, and I would love to attempt the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon.

*Surely Two Oceans and Comrades way to go Anne go*😇😇

Definitely 🙌😀

*31.To your profession as sports person, whom you think is responsible for your success in your sport activities?*

It has to be Cecil. He is the one who supported my dream of being a professional runner, even though he knew he would have to support me a lot financially as well 😅 But he always supported me, never complained and guide me as coach. Every time I had a setback, he always believed that I will come back stronger, and during every setback he encouraged me to keep on believing.

*Big up to Cecil your all time Great Supporter*👏👏👏

*32.Q- in brief tell us about your family and their support to your profession as sports person?*

Like I said, my husband is my coach, and together we have the Speedsters training group. He is as passionate as I am about running, so for us it's a team effort. We have a seven year old daughter, who is basically growing up on the tartan track 😂 So we go together to every training session and race.

*Over to you guys Questions next 5minutes please*

Thank you very much for such a great interview

Thank you very much! 😀

I am not involved in recruitment for Nedbank club. I know anyone can join the club as an runner, but then there is certain criteria to be picked for the elite team. 

My husband and I manage our Speedster training group, which consist of athletes from different clubs.

Thanks so much Anne the show was great.. I never wanted it to end

Well articulated🥰🥰🥰

Thank you Mrs Roffey for sharing your motivational and interesting story about your  career as an athlete.

I also want to thank the group participants for your Support and cooperation