He is a prodigy. At such a young age, Daniel Jonck, a grade 11 student from Treverton College in KwaZulu-Natal, is an athletic genius. He thrives on long-distance running. He would love to compete in the Comrades Marathon and the Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc (UTMB World Series Finals), a thrilling trail running event!
To get ready for all these events, which are different from other track and field, Daniel states that it is quite challenging to find someone who could coach him. However, he will continue to pursue his goals until he reaches them, even if he must train all day and night by himself.
Life may not always be simple and straightforward, but one thing that keeps us going is doing what we love.
The beauty of nurturing what you love to do is truly phenomenal and the results that come from it make it worthwhile.
Furthermore, nurturing what you love from a young age teaches one discipline, confidence, and above all perseverance.
“Funny story, I actually never enjoyed running. Until recently, after completing the Grand Traverse. Running kind of seemed enjoyable,” says Daniel.
Normally, or as normal as it can get, people usually quit running after experiencing the pain that comes with it, running out of breath to the point where it feels as though your lungs are about to burst and your heart is about to burst out of your chest.
Oh! And don’t forget when your legs get all wobbly and can barely make it to the finish line. Well, that’s what most people experience when they participate in marathons, or anything to do with running, really.
Daniel’s mother, Claire Perrett recalls how Daniel had his own way of figuring out what he liked to do. “He didn’t enjoy conventional school sports growing up. He enjoys being out in nature, challenging himself and the possible risks add some adrenaline. After completing the Grand Traverse with four other students from his school, Treverton College, one of the teachers suggested he try trail running. He was a natural!”
Being the youngest participant in the 40km marathon, Claire didn’t worry about Daniel as he had proven that he was capable of taking care of himself and pushing forward.
“Daniel did his first overnight cave hike at the age of 3. He then spent his pre-school to Grade 1 years living in the berg where his activities were hiking, mountain biking, horse-riding, and exploring. At the age of 8, he discovered sailing. In 2020 he was even meant to represent South Africa in a world regatta (2 weeks before the event, it was cancelled due to COVID). I’ve always helped him plan his activities accordingly – how to dress, what hydration and nutrition are necessary, what the risks are, and so forth. He also learned the importance of knowing your limits and that there’s no shame in quitting when you know you’re going dangerously beyond your capabilities.”
That’s the beauty and gift of being a parent, being able to trust that your child will find their own footsteps in the world and reach beyond their wildest dreams. Daniel has used this love and support to jump into the unknown knowing that his strongest supporter is right behind him, along with the rest of his family and friends, his faith, and his school.
“I am incredibly proud of Daniel and his achievements. However, it would be wonderful if one day he could secure a sponsorship, especially for footwear. He has flat feet and hyperhidrosis which can result in foot fatigue and feet that blister easily. I never realised running was even a possibility for him. It does mean that he has to be very particular about his shoes. Because of the nature of the terrain that he runs on, even the best shoes only last 400km before starting to show excessive wear,” states Claire.
Daniel stays in shape and sets his mind on the game by prioritising training, school, and his personal life. One of his biggest inspirations is Kílian Jornet or rather the ‘unparalleled champion of mountain men’.
He enjoys sailing as a way of relaxing and spending time with family and friends. His love for sailing has guided him in terms of deciding his future career. He plans on studying Marine Engineering, possibly at The Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands.
“It’s not something that you hear often, (at the moment, no universities in South Africa offer Marine Technology). My grandfather had always been designing stuff, which I found so interesting. I sort of knew that I wanted to go into engineering.”
Daniel encourages young people to fight for their dreams and have faith in God and if it is meant to happen, it will definitely happen.
Divine timing is something that keeps a lot of people going and striving for better in life, Daniel is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
