Noel Young

Monday, March 23, 2015

BLOODY MONDAY <<< This is how I feel right now, I have just realised how busy my week is. It seems like sleep is a rumour this week right. Well cheers to the weekend it seems so far DAMN! Well from the #RunRevolution team here is our #MCM 


On who you are…

My name is Noel Young and I'm a 31 year old software developer from Pretoria, South Africa. To support my running habit (and put some food on the table...) I am currently building software for the construction industry based in Johannesburg. I'm a bit of an oddball because on the one hand I'm very much a geek, interested in computers, programming, and things like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. On the other hand I have always been into sport. Cricket was my absolute passion growing up and I also did some cycling, soccer, tennis, and a tiny bit of athletics.

On running… 

I have now been running consistently and participating in the Gauteng North road running scene for almost 3 years. Before that I was running every now and then for a few years and was also a smoker (I cringe at the thought now...) so I wouldn't go as far as even thinking that I could call myself a runner back then.

My running “career” took off quite nicely right from the start and I set my PB's for the 10km and 21km distance in my first season. I ran a 1:26:32 at the Synnyside Right to Run Walk 21km and 40:17 at A4A Athletics' 10km race at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve. I subsequently ran a few more sub-90's on the 21km distance in that same season and aspirations to one day run Two Oceans and perhaps even Comrades were starting to develop in the back of my mind...

My second season was all about learning to deal with injuries. With a combination of running too much and trying to run too fast I had developed shin splints. And the fact that I thought the best medicine was to ignore the injury only did more harm until the point where I couldn't even run around the block anymore. This forced me to re-asses my approach because obviously I was doing something wrong. I took a break for a whole month (longest month of my life) and then came back very slowly and decided to work on building a solid base of strength and fitness. I managed to sort out the injuries and did my first Two Oceans Ultra Marathon; having an absolutely awesome run on the day. I finished in a time of 5:47 which earned me not only the bronze medal but also, and more importantly, that amazing feeling of accomplishment which only another runner can understand! 

Now in my 3rd season I feel that I have put in some of the hard work on the road and also climbed up the learning curve in regards to nutrition and how to fuel myself for the longer endurance events (this is another whole blog post on it's own).



On Street culture… 

I don't know if I have too much culture to begin with – never mind street culture!

On Running culture…

For me running culture is an all encompassing aspect that is about more than just running. It's about being healthy, learning about nutrition, setting goals and putting into motion the necessary requirements that will enable you to achieve amazing things. It's about freedom from modern day obligations and an enjoyment of the outdoors. And most of all it's about belonging to a community that shares in a contagious passion ubiquitous amongst runners young and old. It's almost comparable to an addiction that has all the highs but no hangover.


On gadgets…

I am most certainly a gadget-runner! I started out plotting my routes using Google maps and then timing myself with a stop watch. Then I moved on to running with my cell phone and the various different fitness apps that are available these days. I have probably used all of them; Endumondo, Strava, Sportlyzer, Sports Tracker, Adidas and Nike+ to name but a few. Nowadays I run with a Garmin GPS watch and a heart rate monitor and it has made a world of difference in gauging my effort levels on the run.

On injury…

Injuries are the bane of any runners running season. I have had my fair share with the shin splints I got in my second season of running and also some minor issues with peroneal tendonitis. Learning how to manage your body with the injuries that you are prone to get is a vital part of the sport and if you can get that right you will have very happy and enjoyable running days.


On achievements…


Achieving a sub 90 (minute) half marathon was quite a big one for me and then finishing my first marathon (Deloitte Marathon in Pretoria) even though I only ran a 4:18 on the day. Then completing Two Oceans was nothing short of magical – it really is the most beautiful marathon in the world (at least as far as my experience goes). And finally, my most recent achievement was setting a new PB at the Johnson Crane marathon by finishing in 3:32. This has also put me in a C seeding for both Two Oceans and Comrades which I am over the moon about.


On future goals…


My running goals for this season are quite simple, sub 5 hour Two Oceans Ultra and to finish my first Comrades. Next season I might revisit my 21km PB and also aim at a sub 3:20 marathon but I have to forget about that for now...



On your social media…


I try to use Instagram to post about my running as much as possible. It's a nice place to connect with other like minded individuals and also a nice source of inspiration for those days when you don't feel like going out the door for a run. Please feel free to come say hello at @noeljyoung.

On Pink…

It's a colour...

On Pain…

Something that makes you stronger even though you may not realise it at the time.

When I die…

I want to have lived a life worth living, pushed myself to find out where my limits lie and also to have seen the world.



#RunRevolution 

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