About The Founder * Organiser

History in South Africa is being made - announcing the DECA Ultra Triathlon; an IUTA-sanctioned event (International Ultra Triathlon Association based in Germany). This will be the largest triathlon event ever held in South Africa & the entire African continent! DECA South Africa will be a groundbreaking event for the country. It is already popular in Europe, North & South America.

The DECA involves completing TEN FULL Ironman Triathlons, which includes swimming 38 km, cycling 1800 km, and running 422 km in just 14 days.

Meet a remarkable woman! At 55 years young, Retha Rousseau is a superhero balancing a very busy daily schedule. Living in suburban George, South Africa, she's not just any mom – she's a mom to a special needs child. Retha is also an accomplished ultra endurance athlete, taking on ultra-triathlons like a boss! Her husband, Willem van Den Berg, is a sports physician currently based and working in Canada USA. While she's managing her bustling life (from work to sports) she's also fast gaining serious recognition in South African sports circles with the spotlight on this epic event - She's unstoppable!

SPOTLIGHT on Retha Rousseau - the lady behind the title of Event Owner & Organizer

PROFESSIONAL CAREER
#BusinessWoman #Attorney #Conveyncer for past 35 Years
#PropertyLaw Specialist #PrincipalRealtor #BusinessOwner of a successful #RealtorCompany

HOBBIES, PASSIONS & RELAXATION:

Sport (Running, Cycling, Swimming)
Avid Gardener & collector of Bromeliads - flowers have over 900 different species
Foodie at heart "I eat with my eyes - food moves me"
On the rare occasions when she can take some downtime, Retha builds puzzles & loves to play the piano!
Travel

'Event Organizer realising her passion, vision & dream'

Bought & secured exclusive rights to bring DECA to South Africa
March 2025 launches the inaugural DECA in SA & also the first ever on the African Continent with annual gatherings of ultra-tri athletes from around the world
IUTA Sanctioned World Record Race line-up with the back-up of crucial, accurate timekeeping - Secured IUTA ultra-tri Specialist Timekeeper all the way from Switzerland

'The Starting Line'

Retha started running when she was just 6 years old & has not stopped...

Primary School : Netball, Track & field Athletics, Cross Country

High School : Netball, Hockey, Track & field Cross Country, Squash

'Cross-over to Ultra Endurance Races'

Decided in 1994 want to do Comrades marathon
Completed first Comrades Marathon in 1995
Have since started & finished 9x 89 km runs between Durban & Pietermaritzburg & vice versa
Last Comrades 2015 (180 km worth of training in the 6 months leading up to the Comrades & finished in 10hrs 40mins

I basically shuffled 900m & walked 100m from start to finish as I knew I did not have the training in my legs. According to all stats I never even should have started the race but my mind compelled my body to break through the pain-barrier. Needless to say my body took a grueling beating & it took me a long time to recover - but I did it!"

Ironman History & Victory

"It took me 24 years to finish Ironman"

Retha decided in 1992 to attempt Ironman. Because South Africa had the rowing Ironman & she could not 'swim' (having an absolute fear of water till this day); Retha took up rowing. The year however, when she was ready to enter, it was cancelled as South Africa was the only country in the world still hosting the canoeing Ironman & subsequently switched to the swim Ironman; her dream was shattered. (This was her turning point to focus on the Comrades).

In 2005 Retha made the decision not to let Ironman beat her & took up swimming lessons. "...well It took my coach 6 months before I put my head in the water in the swimming pool!"

"In 2006 I was brave & stupid enough to enter Ironman; needless to say I bailed about 600m into the 'sea' swim."

"My 2007 attempt... That day we had such bad sea conditions that they told us to prepare for a 13km run in place of the swim leg, however in the end they made us swim & I managed to finish the first round in 58 minutes; on the second round they made us run 300m up shore before we entered the water due strong currents. I managed to get through the first kilometre BUT on my way back to the jetty & exit during my swim; I wanted to orientate my sight - when I looked up there was just a wall of water in front of me! I had a complete meltdown of sheer panic with a gripping fear of water & drowning. A lifesaver managed to calm me down & get me going again but I was so panic-stricken that I was starting & stopping, struggling to breathe & in the end I missed the cut off coming around the last buoy"

"It took me 4 more years to build up the courage to enter yet again. This time I was in really good shape... but then life happened. Everything in my life that could go wrong leading up to the 6 weeks prior to Ironman, went wrong. Burglary at my office, my daughter fell ill & I was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. On top of everything else, I was bitten by a spider, some of my staff quit & I was left picking up the pieces."

"I missed my flight by 2 minutes due to road works & detours & was forced to drive to the event. It took us 23 hours; subsequently missing registration & race briefing. 3Am the morning of race, I decided that I do not have the emotional strength to pull me through a 16 hour day. I got up, went to the starting-line; picked up my bike & race packs & packed the car & drove back home. When the race started I was on my way back home & to this day I have not regretted my decision, it was the right thing to do for ME at the time."

"In 2015 my husband was working in Whistler & he told me about Whistler Ironman - it's a lake swim so I entered & finished my Ironman in 2016! It took me from 1992 to 2016, to finish Ironman - but I did it & now I am doing all sorts of crazy things like training for DECA Races that I have done!"

About 55 Marathons & 45 Ultra's
9 Comrades Marathons
2 x 250km Desert self sufficient races (Kalahari & Augrabies Extreme Marathon)

Retha says, "The desert races were simply wonderful experiences. You run with a back pack containing your own food & all they provide is water every 10 km & a camp fire under starlit skies. All other provisions you have to take care of yourself. The days are long, usually covering 76-84km!"

Several 120 km Stage Races

"The exciting one was the Lesotho Wild run in the Maluti Mountains. We had a map & compass as there are no roads or trails & you have to find your own way to camp before sunset. We went up to 2200m above sea level. Amazing."

"Himalayan 100 mile stage race of which the 3rd day is the Mount Everest Challenge marathon - here we went up to 3200m above sea level - I finished as the 9th lady."

Retha is a member of the seven continents club & has finished a marathon on 5 continents being Berlin, New York, South Africa (several), Mount Everest Challenge Marathon (Asia & Antarctica - with Antarctica being the penultimate highlight).

Cycling

Grand Fondo's - Whistler, Banff & Penticton
Prudential Ride London
Panorama 5 day cycling Tour & the Jock 4 day cycling tour
Cape Town Cycle Tour

Triathlon's

Several 70.3 races in South Arica & Whistler Canada
DECA Mexico (finish the 38km swim, 1800km cycle & 7/10 marathons - currently training for DECA Garda

Retha shares her Life Philosophies

"Perseverance & determination alone are omnipotent"
- My dad taught me this when I was 10

"You only get beaten when you give up"

"Find something positive in everything - even the negative stuff"

"Face your fears otherwise they will always rule you"

"When you are about to give up look back & see how far you have come - It always reminds me of my inner strength & restores my self-belief"