The Running Event 2008. The Balega story

November 14th, 2008 by Conrad Stoltz

The Balega booth was located front row center. Pretty much the same place they have in the specialty running industry. The poster was shot on top of Paarl Rock near Stellenbosch.

“Balega is our #1 selling sock” “We love you guys” are but a few of the comments one hear from vendors. The specialist running industry is delighfully tightly knit and its heart warming to see camaraderie and gentlemanly way business is done.

New in the 09 line up for Balega is the PWT Performance Wool Technology style socks. They are a composition of 30% Merino wool and 27% Angora wool. Contrary to popular belief, wool is an excellent temperature regulator. Heats when its cold and cools when its hot. It also provides extra cushioning and the animal fibers have natural odor fighting abilities. The Angora wool is much smoother than “normal wool” so it doesnt shrink in the wash. Like Balega socks, Angora goats are quite successfully farmed in South Africa. To quote Rob Zellmer, the Angora “is Bob Marleys’ goat.” Click here to see why.

1980 Olympic womans marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson was a guest speaker and helped award the Most significant woman to the industry award. She has been an idol to me and many runner. Wow. What a night.

The Balega Ubuntu Award is awarded to store owners who has shown the Spirit of Ubuntu. A Zulu term which means something like “I am who I am through those around me.” Randy and his store partner of 25 years got the award and won a guided tour of South Africa with Bert and Tanya Pictor from Balega who lives in Stellenbosch in the Winelands.

There was a group run every morning and on Wednesday I decided to roll “off the couch” after more than 2 weeks of twiddling my thumbs. I entered the Indie 5k industry race. Decked out in the most amazing shoes (more in the next post) I blasted the 1st mile in 5.05, but the kid with the smooth stride was already gone. Just about then I reaped the seeds of “ice cream and beer season.” I got 6th in 16.24 and tasted blood in my lungs for the 1st time since high school 3000m track racing. My coach Libby has a nice qoute we used to poke the Ironman guys with: “If you cant go fast, go long” Well, I sure hope I lost a lot of fitness in 2 weeks, or I should be crossing the line to the “go long crowd.” 16.24 for 5k is not fast. Not even for the last 5 k of an Olympic distance race. After the bike and the swim.

On the way to the hotel we ran past the place where JFK was shot. It was right there - the grassy knoll, the 6th floor of the Book Depository and the JFK museum- just like on TV. But only in colour.

Chris Bevin from Balega on the right and what Paul Perrone looks like without his human suit…

Balega’s new range of socks incorporates PWT Performance Wool Technology styles. This is what they look like. Buy 1 pair and you wont wear any other sock. In South Africa the same sock is sold as the well known FALKE.