Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 107, June 2018 | Page 18

ROAD RUNNING
BALANCED APPROACH
Even though her life is busy, Razaan makes the
time to spend with family and friends. “Find time for
yourself and do not allow a busy life to overwhelm
you. One of my favourite quotes says, ‘If it’s
important, you’ll find a way; if it’s not, you’ll find an
excuse.’ To me, prioritising my life is second nature. I
set a schedule for myself and stick to it. I think proper
time management is an important key to success.”
Legal Eagle
Razaan Kamaldien has shown
amazing juggling skills as she
manages the busy life of a top
Western Province junior runner
and a University of Cape Town law
student, and is now really starting
to fly in her running. – BY PJ MOSES
The youngest of four kids, Razaan’s family is what
keeps her grounded and focused on her goals when
a lot of other young people are caught up in the
distractions the world has to offer. “I think especially
girls need to find out what makes them happy and
give their dreams 100 percent effort. Running made
me a better person because it gave me a place to be
me, but also to be surrounded by a new family in my
club and the Cape Town running community. I don’t
judge other people and the way they live their lives,
but I prefer spending my time with family, training,
studying or going to the movies. It keeps me on the
right track.”
Another favourite pastime when she needs a break
from running and studying sees Razaan take out her
fishing rod and head to the nearest jetty with her Dad.
“I love fishing. People often laugh when I tell them
this, but it is a normal part of my life, and I don’t even
mind the smell of fish on me,” she giggles. “Okay
maybe I don’t love smelling like fish, but it doesn’t
bother me much. I love just being close to the ocean
– and I don’t eat what I catch, but release it back into
the water.”
RUNNING GOALS
have setbacks, or how to be a leader among the junior
girls that I compete with. Still, I wasn’t expecting to
do as well as I did at Two Oceans, because I was
sick with the flu just two weeks before the race. I
thought that I wouldn’t have anything in my legs, but
it all worked out and I surprised myself with finishing
strongly and taking the win in a time of 1:40!”
According to Razaan, the support and encouragement
of her Dad, who is also a runner, has given her the
wings to fly. “My parents have been very supportive in
all that I do, but especially my Dad, because he runs
too, and he knows how much work it takes. When
he introduced me to running it was only for fun and
keeping fit, but when I realised that I may have some
potential for being good at it, he was willing to drive
me around to races, even when he wasn’t running.”
She also credits a move to the Carbineers WP Athletic
Club as a catalyst in her becoming mentally and
physically stronger. “My coach Candyce Hall has been
great with the advice and support she has given me,
including teaching me about being patient when I
18
ISSUE 107 JUNE 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Razaan with her Carbineers WP ‘family’
I
n between a heavy academic workload, training for
the UCT hockey team and hours of training as a
runner, young Capetonian Razaan Kamaldien excels
at all she does. “I always want to be as good as I can
be at everything I try, and be the best version of me
in all I do!” she says. And she has certainly excelled
at running, since deciding to take it seriously four
years ago, having become a regular podium finisher
at road races all over the Cape. Recently, she raised
the bar for herself still higher by winning the junior title
at the 2018 Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon,
heading a very strong field of junior girls from across
the country.
As she moves up to the senior level, Razaan is looking
forward to the challenges ahead. “I’ll be running
against my heroes, women who have blazed a trail
for me and other young female runners. I hope their
knowledge rubs off on me, as we compete and
run together.” For now, her racing preference is the
half marathon, but she says she can’t wait to be
old enough to take on marathons and then ultra-
distances. “I enjoy the longer distances, but I know
that I still need to do the shorter ones to get faster. My
goal is to run a sub-40 10km in the next five years,
and by the time I hit my mid-20s, and with my coach’s
blessing, I can run marathons. I will be more than
ready.”