Although she never considered herself a runner, Shaina-Rae Bauwens is training for this month’s 56km Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. We chatted to the entrepreneur and East Coast Radio presenter about what got her into running, and how she stays motivated to keep going.
“I despised running!” laughs Shaina-Rae. “My whole family are fitness fanatics – my brother is a professional sportsman, my dad owns a gym and my mom was a runner. My mom always tried to get me running on the Umhlanga promenade, but I hated it!”
Although she never thought she would be converted, it was a sense of community that ultimately drew her to the sport. Two years ago, Shaina-Rae and her husband Pascal opened Now Coffee, a roastery and coffee shop in Glen Ashley, and this unexpectedly led to a new perspective on running. “I met a group of runners through my coffee shop called the Colombo Cavaliers,” she explains. “They asked me to come run with them. The next thing I knew, I was entered into a 25km race!” The feeling she got from being part of a close-knit, supportive group made her realise why people run, and soon she was hooked, eventually taking the leap to enter the Two Oceans Marathon.
She completed the Hillcrest Marathon in February to qualify, and against all expectation, loved the experience. She ran with a friend, which made all the difference. “If I was running by myself, I would never do it,” she says.
Shaina-Rae is very excited about her upcoming marathon. She has struggled with some health issues recently, but isn’t going to let that slow her down. “The mind is so powerful,” she says. “Every run that I do, I dedicate to someone and I keep them in mind. That pushes me through.”
Details: IG: @hey_shainarae
As someone who has fallen in love with running, she has a few tips to share with other newbies…
JUST START (NO MATTER YOUR FITNESS LEVEL)
“I was always scared of being too slow,” she says. “I didn’t want the pressure of trying to keep up with everyone.” When she changed her mind set and decided to run at a pace she felt comfortable, she found she could actually enjoy it.
FIND A GROUP
“There are so many groups out there,” says Shaina-Rae. “Even if they are running for 10 kilometres, try join them for the first three.” Getting to know the people makes all the difference. Find your community, even if it takes a few months.
GET INTO A ROUTINE
A running routine is very important if you want to maintain your fitness. Shaina-Rae started by running every Tuesday and Friday, and gradually started running more often. Although she keeps a goal in mind, she makes sure to go easy on herself if she’s having a bad week.
EAT A BALANCED DIET
When it comes to nutrition, Shaina-Rae is all about balance. “I eat everything in moderation,” she explains. “I don’t cut out anything – I eat carbs, protein and fats and just make sure I’m as well-rounded as possible.”
WEEKEND ENERGY
Listen to Shaina-Rae on East Coast Radio every Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 5pm.
Text: Jennifer Campbell Photograph: Julian Carelsen
