It’s a new year and with that comes a lot of fresh energy. It’s time for a fresh take on our goals and to make room for new beginnings and new targets.  If 2024 didn’t reach your expectations, you can put it behind and move on.  If 2024 was as memorable as you hoped, use that to dream even bigger.  I have seen the new-year-new-me memes, but I still like to write down my goals at the start of each year.  It keeps me accountable throughout the year, and it gives me an indication of my self-awareness when I look back to see how close (or far away) I got to what I set out to do.

That brings me to our first OMR Challenge:  

• Write down your 3 biggest running goals and send it to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
• Don’t be afraid to dream big, at the same time, be a realistic about your goals. Big goals are often made up of smaller steps so acknowledge where you are and think realistic about where you want to be in 12 months. 
• Your goals will be kept secret, but we will be cheering you on all the way!!
• We will do “stocktaking” and give those who have reached their targets the chance to share their inspiring stories with the community.

Well done to runners who got off to an early start at the Varsity Kudos 15km race yesterday and all the best to everyone running races across various cities including Cape Town, Polokwane, Pretoria, Mbombela, PMB and more.

Welcome New Members:

This month, we welcome the following new OMR members:

HOT topic: Summer Training

Did you know that South Africa has one of the highest monitored UV levels in the world? As runners, we are often exposed to direct sun and as much as we love those summer runs, we must take care of skin health.  The sun is most powerful between 10am and 4pm, so keep this in mind especially on long runs or race days.  There are numerous ways to protect your skin from the sun so start by adapting some healthy habits – you will only have your younger self to blame if you don’t.

CANSA recommends doing the following to protect your skin from the sun:

Wear effective sunscreen, even on a cloudy day.

Wear protective clothing such as caps that also provide protection for your neck and ears.

Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses with a high UV protection rate.

Umbrellas aren’t just for rainy days. Sun umbrellas can help protect your skin against the sun. (It is a good idea to carry a foldable umbrella in your car to avoid getting caught out unexpectedly).

Spend time educating yourself about the effects of sunburn and the correct ways to avoid it.

Until next time, have yourselves a super January and remember to join the conversations on our dedicated running forum if you haven’t already!!!