But the sport icon says he doesn’t mind, as the watch and skoene, which smelt like “old cheese”, were both stokoud.
After the robbery and assault, he went home, put on a new pair of old tekkies, and continued with his run.
The attack occurred at 6am in Westcliff, Johannesburg.
Fordyce, 61, said as he was running, he noticed a car slowing down alongside him.
“I thought they wanted directions and walked towards the car. Two men inside the car then pointed guns at me. One got out and began kicking me. They took my takkies, which were old and smelled of old cheese, so they are more than welcome to them,” he joked.
“They probably thought my Adidas takkies and watch were a lot more valuable,” he said.
Fordyce said he was more embarrassed that he did not put up more of a fight.
“I think aside from a bruised ego, I am fine. They did take one of my gloves so I had a bit of a Michael Jackson look going on. They tugged at my shorts as well. I think they probably thought I had a cellphone with me. But I never run with valuables,” he said.
Fordyce said he managed to get home and put on another pair of running shoes and continue his training, as his “coach” (himself) expected him to.
“We cannot let the criminals win,” he said.
Fordyce has run the Comrades Marathon 30 times, of which he won nine times.