Endurance sports events are always full of surprises and the Totalsports Challenge 2012 was no different. With Dan Hugo the perennial favorite, most expected him to cruise to an easy victory as in years past.

But a plucky dairy farmer from the Eastern Cape had other ideas.

Stuart Marais threw caution to the wind, making this year’s Challenge a “down to the wire” duel, finishing only five minutes behind the better known Hugo, both athletes shattering the previous record by a long way.

Ariane Kleinhans was victorious in the ladies division of the 2011 Karoo2Coast mountain bike race on Sunday.

This 100 kilometre event between Uniondale and Knysna was held in summer-like conditions with over 3000 participants.

It was a welcome return to form for Kleinhans, who sustained a broken hand while leading the World Marathon MTB Chamionships in Montebelluna this past June.

“I don’t follow a set training schedule. I try to dictate my training by opposites,” says Jonas Colting, two-time Ultraman champion and one of the world’s top long-distance triathletes.

A native of Sweden, Colting is perhaps one of the most interesting and resourceful professional triathletes around, having developed a successful ‘side industry’ around his athletic career.

Professional athlete, writer, coach and motivational speaker all make up Colting’s daily lifestyle and he was kind enough to answer our questions in between these commitments.

Geddan Ruddock and Timo Cooper of Team Geru-Tico were victorious in the annual Trans Baviaans Ultra Marathon mountain bike event in Jeffrey’s Bay on Saturday.

The Western Cape duo finished almost 20 minutes clear of their closest competitors, Team Loutrans from the Freestate.

Simons Town, December 1992. Another south-easter, another race and I’m nursing a broken wrist. As an aspiring albeit injured teenage triathlete now unable to compete in the opening Olympic distance triathlon of the season, I have eagerly volunteered to help out at the event as race marshall directing traffic and handing out water sachets to my fellow competitors.

But at least I’ll have a front seat view of the action.

About twenty minutes before the race start, I notice a large, familiar figure resembling a local fisherman casually walking down from the terraced parking area overlooking Long Beach wheeling a Lejeune 753 bicycle complete with shoes clipped in the pedals and carrying a shopping bag slung over his broad shoulders.

“Do you okes know where I can find a floor pump? My tyres are a bit pap”, remarks the barefoot stranger resplendent in old Dulux stained tracksuit pants and top and a Longmile visor.

This guy is no stranger. It’s Keith Anderson – South Africa’s finest triathlete, UCT graduate, fisherman and legendary waterman.

“Steve Hofmeyer!” exclaims Conrad Stoltz with a grin after opening up a copy of Alexander Parker’s book, “50 People Who Stuffed Up South Africa”.

“Zapiro is my favourite satirist” he explains, noting the hilarious illustrations of the complexities of everyday South Africa found in this amusing read, which I had bought just prior to our meeting at a Knysna coffee shop.

The Caveman, as he is known, had just finished taking part in the Waterfront Rush, a waterborne obstacle course-cum-adventure race with his fiancé and SA Netball captain, Liezel Wium, and was eager to get warm after a dip in the icy waters of the Knysna Waterfront.

Faris Al-Sultan is the team founder and the leader of Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon. He started his Ironman career at the age of 19 on the island of Lanzarote. Within a few years he became the German epitome of Ironman. In 2005 he was crowned Ironman world champion in Kona, Hawaii.

Crank recently caught up with this Tri Legend.