Name: KathLYN Elena... now don't all start calling me that please!

Nickname: My family, great on nicknames - we all have one!, call me B. For many years at primary school I had to take my birth certificate into school, and I always wondered why, but it was probably because I didn't respond to Kathy!!
Born in Pretoria, grew up in Pretoria North on the slopes of the Magalies Berg with a very special, but probably a little wild, childhood. Have a younger sister and brother. Family always had LOTS of animals, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs (parents bred pugs and bulldogs), fish and a number of horrible biting water creatures in the water reservoir that served as our 'pool'. (Borehole water!). Spent every school holiday at my granny's beach cottage, right on the beach at Umtentweni. After Pretoria I spent a few years in Somerset West before relocating to Durban in 1990.

Work: Trained as an occupational therapist, and have worked in a number of very 'strange' places over the years. My field of interest and practice is chronic psychiatry (like Fort Napier and Town Hill Hospitals). Have worked clinically at Pretoria Academic Hospital (the old HF Verwoerd), Garanguwa Hospital (now Dr George Mokere), Tygerberg hospital, the Association for the Physically Disabled in Athlone near Cape Town and Ekuhlengeni Sanatorium (Umbogintwini) and academically at MEDUNSA, Cape Town and for the last 14 years at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (formerly UDW).

Walking history: In 1999 a friend invited me to join her on a 5 day wilderness hike at Umfolozi Game Reserve. I wasn't going to be eaten by any creature while there, so started walking just to get fit for that. Took out a 6 month membership at RWFL for that purpose. The animals didn't bite, but the walking bug did! I joined Highway around 2004 after making use of a number of 'special events' arranged by Highway and feeling that I wanted to be more part of all the fun! Best walking marathon time was 5h 30 on the Indian Ocean in 2006 (in preparation for walking to Rome). My 'worst' marathon was 6h30 minutes at Estcourt with Dave Bennett. I had SO much to eat that I probably put on 5 kilos during the race. My motto is be prepared (am a very good girl guide) ? so I never go to any race without everything but the kitchen sink in my vest pouch. A normal race will see me carrying marshmallow fish or mice, a plaster or two, tissues and wet wipes, money (might need to phone home), my medical aid card (just in case - you never know), a hanky, a marmite sandwich, a cell phone sometimes, my pace chart, a banana and often a packet of enerjellies (I kid you not!) I?ve done 3 ultra walks - best time is just over 7 hours on the Dolphin. Really prefer the distances - not a speed queen by any means. Favourite races are all those out-of- town ones, with LOTS of off-road. I'm known as the mountain goat, or the hill queen. The more off-road the better!! Races that come to mind are anything at Estcourt, ToneVale near Eshowe, Bergville to Winterton, Cherry and now White Clay. Would most like to do the London Marathon and the Vic Falls Races.

Greatest achievements: A number of special things stand out - in terms of walking the wilderness hike (I was so scared but loved every minute of it), and the 700km to Rome in 2006. What a sense of achievement! The friendships made while walking. Family wise - my son who has survived my mothering to turn 18. Ok my boy, you're an adult now!!! you made it. Learning the ancient craft of bobbin lace making.

Future goals: To complete my doctoral study before my next BIG birthday. To walk lots more while seeing the world. I've only just started. Sylvia, you said the bug would bite. My real future goal - to retire so that I've got time to do all the things that I want to do.