Peninsula Essence March 2021

Page 8

THE RUNNING man

By Joe Novella Photos Gary Sissons & Supplied

M

ick Duyvestyn, or “Duyvo” as he’s more commonly known around his hometown of Mornington, is peninsula born and bred. He’s one of those locals that everyone seems to know, and he’s a bloke that loves to run. Not just around the park, or around the block; in fact the longer the run, the more Mick enjoys it. Mick’s list of running achievements is impressive for someone who started endurance running so late. It includes competing in, and completing the likes of: Arthurs Seat Challenge, Two Bays Trail Run, Surf Coast Century 100k event, Great Ocean Road, Queenstown and Melbourne Marathons, The You Yangs, Wonderland, Devilbend and Mornington half marathons, just to name a few. So where did his love of endurance running start I wondered. Schoolmates perhaps, or an inspirational coach? The answer was much closer to home. “My Mum,” Mick said, smiling. “All thanks to Mum.” Mick grew up with four sisters and a brother, so the Duyvestyn house was always busy. “I was an energetic kid, couldn’t sit still and was an early riser,” Mick explains. “Rather than have me hang around the house, walking round in circles, causing mischief and waking the others, Mum would get me to run around the block a few times. I reckon she did it so I could use up a bit of energy before school.” Mick didn’t mind the early morning runs and towards the end of his time at St Macartan’s Primary, he was pretty fit. “I used to go ok in the school cross-country,” he said, “but I was more interested in team sports like footy, cricket and basketball. Running wasn’t really the main sport for me; it was an individual thing, something I did for fun. I did quite a few fun runs in my teens until I did my knee at 19 and after that everything changed.” continued next page...

E ssence

8 | PENINSULA

March 2021


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