{"id":414059,"date":"2020-02-07T00:53:30","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T07:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=414059"},"modified":"2020-02-07T01:43:21","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T08:43:21","slug":"chad-ho-chases-8th-midmar-mile-title-as-prep-for-tokyo-2020-tilt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/chad-ho-chases-8th-midmar-mile-title-as-prep-for-tokyo-2020-tilt\/","title":{"rendered":"Chad Ho Chases 8th Midmar Mile Title As Prep For Tokyo 2020 Tilt"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Chad Ho targets and eighth Midmar crown<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Thanks to Karien Jonckheere for helping to compile our Midmar Mile reports<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Local hero <strong>Chad Ho<\/strong>, the former World 5km champion and Olympic marathon swimmer from\u00a0KwaZulu-Natal, will be chasing an elusive eighth title when he takes on a strong international field at the <strong>aQuell\u00e9 Midmar Mile\u00a0<\/strong>near Howick, South Africa, this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>The event, dubbed the world\u2019s largest open water race and featuring around 12,000 swimmers covering the 1.6km distance over two days of racing, forms part of Olympic preparations for Ho and\u00a0<strong>Michelle Weber<\/strong>,\u00a0one of South Africa&#8217;s top open water swimming prospects. Tokyo 2020 would mark Ho&#8217;s third and Weber&#8217;s second Games.<\/p>\n<p>Ho, 29, last won the race in 2016, when he also set the record for the fastest time of 17 minutes flat. But he\u2019s determined to add title number eight to his impressive haul of accolades which includes a 5km open water world title.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWinning is always the main priority and I am confident in my ability to win my eighth title,\u201d the race\u2019s most successful swimmer told <em>Karien Jonckheere<\/em>. \u201cHowever, it will come down to race day and if it is my day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ho\u2019s first taste of victory came in the 13 years and under category, which he won back in 2004, and since 2008 he\u2019s finished in the top 10 in the main race every year, including his run of seven titles from 2010 to 2016.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI don\u2019t think there are any secrets to success in open water swimming. It is all about who performs on the day, who is in their best condition, who has picked the best line and the water conditions during the race. It&#8217;s anyone&#8217;s race, which is what I love about it. The international swimmers definitely add a competitive edge, they push you harder and it makes for great viewing for the spectators.\u00a0In saying that, it is also not something I allow to cloud my focus. I can only control my swim and how I do on the day, so I choose to remain focused on that.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The mile isn\u2019t contested in open water at the Olympics, the nearest thing the traditional 1500m that&#8217;s been a part of the Games for more than. a century. Even so, Ho explained that the Midmar Mile still forms an important part of his preparation as he looks to qualify for his third Games.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMidmar allows me to assess my current progress. It is not the distance I need to qualify for but it is an opportunity to race. Every opportunity to push yourself before the Olympics is a good one,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>The first step in achieving that qualification for Tokyo 2020 will be finishing in the top two at the national championships in Jeffrey\u2019s Bay in March.<\/p>\n<p>The 2016 champion has been competing in the event from the age of 11, racking up a remarkable record along the way. While she\u2019s all focus and resolve when she\u2019s in the water, it\u2019s what takes place before and after the racing that brings her back each year.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt is every professional athlete&#8217;s dream to compete at the highest level of competition. To say I have not only been to one, not two, but three Olympics is an indescribable feeling. This is what I spend every day working towards, and knowing my efforts paid off in the end will make it all worth it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>But first he\u2019ll be looking for another Midmar win\u00a0and training has been ramped up to give him the best possible shot at that.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cTraining has been going well. We are currently in a period of doing high mileage and have been for about two weeks now. Some days are really tough and I am finished at the end of the day, but it is what is required to compete at the level I am aiming for.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Ho has been lining up on the banks of the KZN dam since the age of six, so the event is of particular significance to him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMidmar is an event whereby family, co-workers and friends can come together and take part in an event as a team or even as support for any individuals taking part,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cFor me personally it is a family-orientated weekend. I don\u2019t get to have my family by my side at races very often and this is the one event that allows for that. I have been doing Midmar since the age of six and it has always been a significant event for myself and my family.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_414228\" style=\"width: 268px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-414228\" data-attachment-id=\"414228\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/chad-ho-chases-8th-midmar-mile-title-as-prep-for-tokyo-2020-tilt\/ashleyhogg\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1485,990\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ashleyhogg\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;7.2.20 Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy:   Jetline Action Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy:   Jetline Action Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-414228\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"ashleyhogg\" width=\"258\" height=\"184\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-414228\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Jetline Action Photo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One of Ho&#8217;s main rivals is Britin&#8217;s\u00a0<strong>Ashley Hogg<\/strong>, who came nail-bitingly close to victory at the Midmar \u00a0in 2018 and finished fifth last year.<\/p>\n<p>Hogg will be one of the main international threats, along with American <strong>Brendan Casey<\/strong>, in\u00a0the main men\u2019s race.<br \/>\nThe 21-year-old Hogg, a university student, \u00a0said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cComing close to gold a couple of times in the past has taught me valuable tactical lessons,\u00a0both borne from my errors and others&#8217; successes. I have not only learnt\u00a0more from coming so close, but I am also more driven to get that win.\u00a0It is an Olympic year, so everybody will be nearing their best in preparation to grab one of\u00a0the limited Olympic qualifying places. There will be, unquestionably, tough opposition this\u00a0year, but I am as prepared as possible and excited to see how I stack up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_414229\" style=\"width: 266px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-414229\" data-attachment-id=\"414229\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/chad-ho-chases-8th-midmar-mile-title-as-prep-for-tokyo-2020-tilt\/ashleyhogg2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg2.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1350,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ashleyhogg2\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;7.2.20 Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy:   Jetline Action Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy:   Jetline Action Photo&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg2-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg2-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-414229\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/ashleyhogg2-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"ashleyhogg2\" width=\"256\" height=\"183\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-414229\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashley Hogg &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Jetline Action Photo<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Hogg, who is currently completing a Masters degree in chemistry in Manchester, England, relishes\u00a0the opportunity to leave what South Africans has amusingly called &#8220;his soggy hometown&#8221; behind for the warmer climes of KwaZulu-Natal each year.\u00a0\u201cThe Midmar Mile comes at a time when there are few competitions across Europe, and the\u00a0conditions in the winter months don&#8217;t lend themselves well to swimming outdoors,&#8221; said Hogg. &#8220;It is\u00a0essential that we keep race-ready during these months, and Midmar allows us to race\u00a0against the world\u2019s best while in hard mid-season training.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As for the event itself, Hogg can\u2019t say enough about what it offers visiting swimmers:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThere are very few races that I have been to in any country that can provide the same year-on-year guarantee of a world-class field, a strong sense of welcome and community, and\u00a0impeccable organisation. This consistency is something that, as an athlete, allows us to\u00a0focus on what we need to, without worry \u2013 swimming fast. This, along with the fantastically<br \/>\nwarm reception we receive as international competitors, makes for such an enjoyable\u00a0event. My teammate, <strong>Bailey Hairsine<\/strong>, and I haven&#8217;t hesitated in coming back for the last\u00a0three years now.\u00a0Every time I race the Midmar Mile, I am reminded of how kind and hospitable the people\u00a0are. I find this rings true across the event, from seasoned competitors and first-time\u00a0swimmers alike.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Midmar will be the first test of Hogg&#8217;s 2020 race season as he rises up the ranks of open water. In 2018, he claimed a\u00a0bronze medal at the\u00a0Marathon Grand Prix in Wuhan, China and the same year finished in the top eight at the World Junior Open Water\u00a0Championships.<\/p>\n<h3>Michelle Weber: &#8220;Tokyo Training Going Well&#8221;<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_195608\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-195608\" data-attachment-id=\"195608\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/chad-ho-chases-8th-midmar-mile-title-as-prep-for-tokyo-2020-tilt\/sa-national-aquatic-championshipsolympic-trials-149\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/michelle-weber-2016-rsa.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2400,1401\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Anesh Debiky\\\/Swim SA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 7D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 13: Michelle Weber during the heats session 800m freestyle for women on day 6 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials  on April 13 , 2016  at the Kings Park Aquatic Center pool in Durban, South Africa. \\nPhoto Credit \\\/ Anesh Debiky\\\/Swim SA&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1460716443&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Anesh Debiky\\\/Swim SA&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;300&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;SA National Aquatic Championships\\\/Olympic Trials&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SA National Aquatic Championships\/Olympic Trials\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; APRIL 13: Michelle Weber during the heats session 800m freestyle for women on day 6 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials on April 13 , 2016 at the Kings Park Aquatic Center pool in Durban, South Africa. Photo Credit \/ Anesh Debiky\/Swim SA swim, swimming, durban, sa nationals, olympic trials, 2016, south africa, heats, finals, kings park, pool, trials, rio olympics, qualifiers&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Michelle Weber &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Anesh Debiky\/Swimming South Africa&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/michelle-weber-2016-rsa-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/michelle-weber-2016-rsa-1024x598.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-195608\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/michelle-weber-2016-rsa-700x500.jpg\" alt=\"DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - APRIL 13: Michelle Weber during the heats session 800m freestyle for women on day 6 of the SA National Aquatic Championships and Olympic Trials on April 13 , 2016 at the Kings Park Aquatic Center pool in Durban, South Africa. Photo Credit \/ Anesh Debiky\/Swim SA\" width=\"700\" height=\"500\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-195608\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michelle Weber &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Anesh Debiky\/Swimming South Africa<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Weber won the mile back in 2016 preparing for the Rio Olympics that year. She has been competing in the local event from the age of 11, racking up a remarkable record along the way. Tokyo qualification on the horizon, she\u2019s all focus and resolve when she\u2019s in the water but it\u2019s what takes place before and after the Midmar racing that brings her back each year.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019ll be returning for the 2020 edition of the world\u2019s largest open water swimming event from 8-9 February, where she\u2019ll be gunning for more glory.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI love the Midmar Mile. I was raised in Umhlanga, so we went up every year for it. I think it\u2019s just so special to me because my family started out just going to open water events for fun. We used to camp on the weekend and take a boat out, and our canoes and stuff, and just enjoy the weekend and then have a swim and braai [short for <span class=\"SDZsVb\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"link\" data-term-for-update=\"braaivleis\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwi-vrm78r7nAhWSUlAKHShcAbgQgCswAHoECAEQCw\">braaivleis, Afrikaans \u00a0for BBQ or grill<\/span>].\u00a0So I think that\u2019s what makes it so special for me, and it holds a very dear place in my heart,\u201d she explained.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Weber\u2019s chief target for the year is competing in the 10km open water swim at her second Olympic Games in Tokyo this August, so the aQuell\u00e9 Midmar Mile is not quite as gruelling a challenge, but it will still provide a crucial opportunity for Weber to test herself against some tough competition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy training has been going well. It\u2019s an Olympic year, so it\u2019s obviously a really big year for me as well as a lot of other athletes. I think the competition is going to be quite tough on both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s side. Everyone is going to be swimming really fast,\u201d said the 23-year-old, who\u2019s now based in Franschhoek in the Western Cape.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI love doing the Midmar and I think it\u2019s cool for Olympics. Firstly because I get to see all my friends and just to get a break, but also it fits into my training schedule for the Games &#8211; just to see how fast I\u2019m getting and how I\u2019m feeling in the water. It\u2019s great because it\u2019s a month before Nationals, so any concerns or anything I feel isn\u2019t right in my training, I can fix very quickly.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A top-two spot at the National Championships will be the first step to qualifying for Tokyo, where only a limited number get the opportunity to compete.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt\u2019s pretty tight, and it\u2019s hard, because in open water swimming, we only have 25 swimmers in the event compared to pool swimmers, where there are a lot more. It\u2019s hard because conditions change, race tactics change \u2013 you need a lot of experience for this, and I\u2019ve been doing this for a while, so I\u2019m pretty excited to see how I\u2019m going to do.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"attachment_398339\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-398339\" data-attachment-id=\"398339\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mental-health-issues-driving-coaches-out-of-sport-says-olympic-mentor-leigh-nugent\/kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1097,803\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1571214944&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;18.10.19 Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Kareena Lee, with Susie O&#8217;Neill and coach John Rodgers at the handing over of treasure: a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Ian Hanson&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers-1024x750.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-398339\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"Kareenaleesusieoneilljohnrodgers\" width=\"240\" height=\"171\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-398339\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kareena Lee, with Susie O&#8217;Neill and coach John Rodgers at the handing over of treasure: a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games &#8211; Photo Courtesy: Ian Hanson<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Much of that experience has come at the famous KwaZulu-Natal dam, where Weber has notched up an incredible record over the years. She\u2019s finished in the top eight on each of the 12 occasions she\u2019s competed, winning the 13 years and under category in 2009 and 2010, and the senior title in 2016, while finishing second last year behind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/kareena-lee-dedicates-dream-come-true-olympic-marathon-selection-to-coach-john-rodgers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Australia\u2019s Kareena Lee<\/strong><\/a>. Said Weber:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt\u2019s always amazing having the internationals coming through. It\u2019s cool to race against them and also see how they do and chat to them while they\u2019re here. I think that\u2019s the nice thing about open water \u2013 a lot of people do take it seriously, but it\u2019s also a lot more social than pool swimming. So just the vibe they bring is pretty amazing.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She added: \u201cFor this year, I\u2019m not sure who will be the biggest competition. You never know what\u2019s going to happen on the day. Open water is strange like that. Conditions change, you can get a wrong line, and it could just not be your day.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI just love open water swimming, though, because I get to travel to so many different countries and I don\u2019t just swim in a pool, I get to swim in some of the most beautiful oceans, lakes, dams and rivers, so I think that\u2019s what makes it so incredible. I love the adventure that comes with it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.midmarmile.co.za\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">More information on the aQuell\u00e9 Midmar Mile.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chad Ho targets and eighth Midmar crown Thanks to Karien Jonckheere for helping to compile our Midmar Mile reports Local hero Chad Ho, the former World 5km champion and Olympic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7532,"featured_media":145775,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,11,1,10],"tags":[121074,39965,28516,35056,28510],"class_list":["post-414059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-open-water","category-uncategorized","category-world","tag-aquelle-midmar-mile","tag-ashley-hogg","tag-chad-ho","tag-michelle-weber","tag-midmar-mile"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - 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