Ambassador Q&A - Chantel Nienaber
CHANTEL NIENABER
Chantel is a trail running ambassador for inov-8 and has been living in mountain town Stellenbosch for the past seven years.
Question and Answer
I don’t only have one: My Merino base layer and the my 3-in-1 gloves/waterproof mittens are an absolute lifesaver!
What’s the one thing you think that people don’t know about the inov-8 brand?
I don’t think that many people realise Inov-8 caters for a broad variety of athletes/runners.
The fact that you have options of a zero drop to a 9mil drop (according to the arrows markers on the heel) and the option of: standard, to a “precision fit” toe box; not to mention the selection of lugs/tread that will cater for your training grounds.
You can therefore, specifically find the shoe that “is made for you”.
At the age of 32, I had never run more than 10 km's. The CEO of the company that I worked at entered us into the Two Oceans half Marathon in 2005.
2007, was when I actually “got into running” - for the 5 days Cape Odyssey trail race. 250km from Hermanus to Stellenbosch.
I competed in OCR for about four years, from 2013-2017. I stopped completing after a serious injury during a OCR in Jhb.
Jan 2011 - this was the first race where I had to step up to the plate and WIN.
It was a 15km trail run in The Crags (close to Plettenberg Bay). I just about killed myself, as this girl lying second wouldn’t let up- I later found out it was Landie Greyling.
Of all days to ask about... my alarm goes off at 3:15am (to ensure I’m up by 3:30 latest).
Meet my first client at 5:10am for a training session - thereafter go, go, go - fitting in six sessions before midday. (Traveling between clients due to Covid, adds a new dynamic re time management).
Where did you grow up?
I Was born in Pretoria, grew up in Johannesburg and moved to George just before my son was born (22years ago).Our short wheel base Landrover Defender Tdi (she has taken us all over the country).
Cheese or Avo.
If you could have an unlimited storage of one thing, what would it be?
Biggest pet peeve?