Ryan Sandes - This will soon be the new home of the domain ...

enzymes that serve as antioxidants. For lunch, Trevor digs into
a bowl of sprouts and salad. Dinner time, it’s more sprouts with
either grilled fish or chicken. He also eats a South American grain
called quinoa, which is tasty and high in protein. He doesn’t eat
any potatoes, bread or rice. “Some people walk into my kitchen
and comment that it looks like a farm, but I believe living this
way basically guarantees you a disease-free life. I know for sure
it has helped my running tremendously. I don’t think I am a
talented runner. I think my improved ability has a lot to do with
my changed diet.” In a restaurant, he usually orders grilled fish.
“I don’t like any sauces on my food. Just give me the food the
way it was supposed to be, with no additives,” says Trevor.
LIVING LIFE
Yes, he has a life and he does have junk food once in a while!
“After the Donkey’s Pass race, we had dinner with friends and
I had two glasses of red wine and game. I enjoyed it, but while
driving back the next day, I could already feel the effect it had on
my body. At home, I went on a bit of a detox and I was fine.”
For Trevor, eating healthily has become a lifestyle which he has
adapted to and enjoys, especially the benefits he reaps from it.
For the last couple of years, he has not suffered from the pain
that goes with arthritis. “Of course I get sick, but to me it is not
necessarily a bad thing. It’s your body’s way of getting rid of
toxins. I just try and dose myself with natural supplements. I have
not been to a doctor in thirty years or taken any medication.
I don’t want to give away my powers to doctors. I respect them
and they serve a valuable purpose, but I feel I can heal my body
better the way I know how. I do visit a homeopath from time to
time. You can take control of your own health; it’s just a matter
of believing it.”
Trevor’s wife, Gaynor, and two sons, Evan (13) and Jody (8),
don’t eat the same meals as him. They do have some sprouts
and salads, but Gaynor prepares a different meal for her and the
boys. “I’m very fortunate that my wife helps me to prepare my
food. I have my family’s support and without my wife helping me
it would be very difficult to stick to my eating plan. I give my boys
some supplements, but it’s up to them to change their eating
habits if they want to. Change must come from them and they
should not be forced into it,” says Trevor.
TRAINING AND RACES
Trevor mixes up his training with speed work, hills, cross country
runs and long distance. In the months building up to Comrades,
he runs about 12km some mornings. These runs include two
so-called ‘hot spots’, where he runs flat out for 1km and then
eases off. Track training on Tuesdays consists of about ten 400m
sessions and once a week he does a time trial. Thursdays are
reserved for long hilly runs followed by a long club run or race on
the weekends. “I do anything between 100km and 120km
a week, but in peak training weeks just before Comrades,
I run over 200km a week. I usually join my club on a Comrades
training camp where we train on the Comrades route. Then
I run 40km a day for four days. I love it. It is so inspiring and a
great confidence booster.” Trevor includes strength training in
his exercise regime and trains mornings and nights with two
kettlebells, which he feels have strengthened his legs, upper body
and core area.
He finds the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon to be a tough race as it
usually forms part of his build up to Comrades and he is not very
fit at that time. He remembers one particular Two Oceans where
// Some people walk into my kitchen and comment
that it looks like a farm, but I believe living this way
basically guarantees you a disease-free life. //
he sat at the side of the road
feeling as if he was going to die.
“I didn’t train well that year and
thought I could run on memory.
I didn’t bail, which was good. I did
bail once in my life and that was at
the RAC Tough One.” Trevor ran this
Randburg race shortly after his one
year lay off from running. “I wasn’t
used to the distance and gave up at
about 28km. I got into a car and
was later devastated that I bailed.” His favourite race is the
Rhodes Ultra Marathon, which he has run four times and won
twice. “It is a beautiful race. I’m not the sort of guy who will win
any road races, but to win a trail run like that was special.”
FAST FACTS
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He has a competitive spirit and loves to give his all. “I always
measure myself and say, ‘Well, if you did that, what else could
you do?’ In every race and training session I like to run on the
edge and push myself.”
GOALS AND DREAMS
Trevor would love to run
even faster, but for that
to happen, he feels he
will have to follow an
even stricter diet and
train harder. “My
dream is to run a sub
six hour Comrades,
but I’m not getting
any younger.
It gets harder the
older you get.
I’m going to
run one more
Comrades next
year. Then I
will have done
ten. After that I would like to
concentrate on Two Oceans.” He believes
wholeheartedly in his healthy way of living, but is very
cautious of telling other runners what to do. “I would rather
live by example and if others see it works for me and they want
advice, I am willing to share my story.”
Trevor has one ultimate dream, “To run Comrades at the age
of 100. I want to be the oldest finisher of Comrades.”
MICHELLE PIETERS
Not being able to run makes me feel… As if something is missing. It’s almost like a drug.
I run because… It helps me in everyday life and in my business. It’s like a form of meditation. While you run you can
think about things and let go of a lot of other things.
I like long distance running because… It builds character.
Hardest run ever: Cross country Championships - Witbank
Words to live by: Never give up.
Words of advice: If you work hard, you will achieve. It’s not about wishing for it, it’s about going after it.
Running mentor: Frank Da Ascencao.