Zola Budd kicks back

Zola Budd's children are showing signs of following in their mother's bare-footed steps.

Though Budd's eldest daughter, Lisa, 18, is eager to run professionally, Budd's memories of difficult times as a teenage world athletics sensation lurk in the background. She wants her children to take it slowly.

But it will be her younger children, twins Azelle and Michael, who will be foremost in the legendary runner's mind on Saturday when she takes on the Two Oceans ultra-marathon in Cape Town.

The twins - who won't be present at the race to cheer her on - celebrate their 16th birthday on Sunday. The children are in the care of her husband, Mike Pieterse, in South Carolina, US, where the family lives.

"They couldn't come because of school, but yes they will definitely be on my mind throughout the race," said Budd.

Born in Bloemfontein, Budd shot to fame in 1984, at the tender age of 17, when she broke the women's 5000m world record. But the race was in South Africa - a pariah apartheid state then excluded from international athletics competition - so the International Amateur Athletics Federation refused to ratify her time.

The teen was persuaded to apply for British citizenship and ran for the UK in the 1984 Olympic Games.

Her collision on the track with US favourite Mary Decker put both out of contention for the gold medal.

The following year Budd claimed the world record again while representing the UK and on this occasion the time was ratified.

"Yes, I was young when I ran internationally but I wouldn't want any of my children to go that route.

"These competitions take more of your time and need dedication, and I would rather have them spend most of their time studying and do athletics later," she said.

But all three children compete in high school athletics and train with mom during the off-season.

"We all train together; it is a really nice way to spend time with them."

Budd spends four months in South Africa each year coaching at athletics clinics in rural areas.

"My husband and I have been discussing the idea of moving back to South Africa for years . as soon as the children are out of school and independent, we will."