Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 101, December 2017 | Page 11

KALMER’S
CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador’s Blog
By Rene Kalmer
THE PEOPLE’S RACE
The Old Mutual Soweto Marathon will always have a special place in my heart, as this was my debut marathon back in
2009, which I won in 2:44. The race attracts runners from all walks of life, and the support along the route is amazing,
with fans lining the streets with great enthusiasm, making this race one of a kind. (My husband, Andre, enjoys the fact
that there are lots of free beer stops along the route…)
As for Andre, he ran the half marathon and was very
proud that his 2016 muscle memory carried him
through to the finish in 2:27. He seriously needs to
start training again, though, as he has entered both
the Old Mutual Two Oceans and Comrades ultras
for 2018, after taking this year off…
QUALITY COUCH TIME
W
hen entering for the race this year, I
actually entered the full marathon, but
quickly realised that the half marathon
was more realistic at this stage of my comeback,
so I later changed my entry to the 21km. I have
to admit that an unsuccessful long run with my
sister, Christine, where I ended up sitting on
the pavement after 18km feeling very sorry for
myself, also played a huge role in the decision to
downgrade my entry.
Anyway, Sunday 5 November came around
and we were up at 3:30am for the race. I
was actually quite nervous about running the
distance again, as my racing had only been
up to 10km thus far, but I was also excited to
test my improving fitness as I continue on the
comeback road. Getting ready for the race whilst
also planning and packing for our seven-month-
old baby was also quite a challenge. I forgot to
have breakfast, but Karli had enough food for
breakfast, lunch and dinner packed in! (Andre
ended up changing Karli’s pre-race nappy in the
car just before the race, but at least he could
use some of Karli’s bum cream for lubrication
and to prevent chafing, as he had forgotten his
Vaseline at home!)
BACK IN BUSINESS
I had a good run and was stoked to finish the
half marathon in fifth place, clocking 88 minutes.
Running into the FNB Stadium is an amazing
experience and I hope to be back again even
stronger in 2018. The most important thing was
that I didn’t feel any pain, and I hope that my
injury is a thing of the past now. I was really
energised by all the support and it was a true
trip down memory lane. It was great running
competitively again, and although I realise that
there is still lots of work to do in order to catch
up with the leaders again, I am looking forward
to it and feeling motivated.
It was also great to have Irvette van Zyl winning
the women’s section of the full marathon, and
with Mapaseka Makhanya finishing in second
place, it gave the podium a proudly South
African flavour for the first time in years. Irvette’s
winning time of 2:41 at altitude was also a great
time, taking into account the difficult route and
scorching heat on the day, as there wasn’t a
cloud in the sky. Meanwhile, Mapaseka was
a real crowd favourite, having been born and
raised in Soweto.
After a long day in Soweto, we headed back
home and passed out in front of the television
while trying to watch the New York Marathon.
I watched the start, then only woke up again
when the leading women had 5km to go,
but I saw Shalane Flanagen become the first
American in 40 years to win the women’s title. “I
have dreamed of a moment like this since I was
a little girl,” she said after the race. Even better,
it was amazing watching her win a major title at
the age of 36, once again showing that female
marathoners tend to peak much later in their
careers. That motivates me, because in spite of
being a mommy now at 37, I believe there are
still lots of competitive kilometres in my legs.
To all the runners out there, watch out, because
the December holidays are here, with all kinds of
temptations… Stick to your training, watch out
for the Christmas and New Year’s overindulgent
meals, set your goals for 2018, wear sunscreen,
be thankful for your health, relax, and enjoy
precious time with friends and family. Here’s
wishing you all a blessed festive season and
many PB’s in the New Year!
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