Cruise Control

How a marathoner at sea finds time to do it all.

- Andre Valentine

Cruise director Handré Potgieter has been at sea for 17 years – the last eight with Seabourn Cruise Line. During that time he has run in places such as Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Iceland, and he’s participated in the London and New York marathons for charity.

Working on a cruise ship sounds like fun: you get to travel the world, see the sights and meet interesting people. Life is an adventure. But it isn’t all fun and games; Potgieter’s one of the busiest guys on the ship, and he’s had to develop innovative ways to fit it all in.

What got you into running?

When I started experimenting with road running and the occasional trail run, it became more than just a warm-up on the treadmill before a gym session. Then, the head of my department on the ship invited me to join the on-board running group.

Tell us about your first race.

I moved to Knysna in 2013. My trainer, Marsel Roos, suggested I work towards a goal. During one of my breaks from the ship, I entered the 10-K event at the Two Lagoons Race in Wilderness. I finished in 39:40. Then a week later I did a half marathon in George, and came seventh overall, in a time of 1:28.26. The rest, as they say, is history.

How long do you usually spend at sea?