Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 108, July 2018 | Page 11

KALMER’S
CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador’s Blog
By Rene Kalmer
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
It’s July, which means we’re halfway through the year, and in spite of the colder months being here, we’re actually rushing
into a new season of running.
C
omrades has come and gone, and while some
of the ultra runners will be in recovery and
hibernation mode, many more runners will
now be feeling inspired to start the awesome sport
of running. It’s a fact that thousands upon thousands
of people sitting in front of the television watching
Comrades found themselves saying, “If they can do
it, I can do it.” Well, that’s awesome, but you don’t
need to run Comrades immediately. Just start running,
and make sure you enjoy it. However, if the Comrades
is your goal, then go for it! I’m sure many of us had
childhood dreams of one day doing the Comrades…
Now it is time to act on those dreams!
Although it is freezing cold outside, it is great to
see so many new faces on the road, driven by the
inspiration of the Ultimate Human Race. But starting
a new sport can be a daunting and intimidating
task, with a lot of challenges and decisions to make,
including what shoes should you buy, do you need a
fancy watch, do you need special supplements, how
can you lose weight first, and when should you run
your first race?
2. Solo or Social
This decision is often influenced by a runner’s
personality. Some clubs are all about the social
interaction, running in a group, club runs, a clubhouse
with social functions and a feeling of belonging, whilst
others are more virtual, with online communities.
Some runners prefer running on their own, while
others are motivated by running with fellow athletes
in a group. Another advantage of a club is the
shared advice from fellow runners and gaining
useful tips on training, racing and nutrition from the
more experienced runners. Other runners can also
introduce you to new races, like a trail run or stage
race, that can be a whole new running experience.
Someone like former Comrades women’s winner
Caroline Wöstmann started running at a club just
to lose weight after her pregnancy, and ended up
winning numerous races as a professional runner.
Were it not for others that influenced and supported
her on her journey, she might never have reached the
heights of her running career.
Another big decision for new runners is deciding
whether to join a running club, and then which one,
so I would like to offer the following advice about the
choices in front of you:
3. My Pace or Yours
1. Location, Location, Location
Look for running clubs in your area and feel free to join
them on a ‘test run’ to see what works best for you.
Some people prefer a club closer to work, depending
on their training times, in order to avoid traffic and still
get in a run, so explore all the options.
A further advantage is runners of different abilities
coming together on club runs or time trials, which
can also help in pushing yourself harder by trying to
keep up with faster runners in the group. On other
occasions you might be the inspiration for other
newbie runners. A club run or time trial during the
week is often also the needed motivation to fit that
extra session into a busy work schedule.
5. Staying Safe
Running in groups has become more and more
important, as safety is a big concern nowadays for
all of us. Of course, running with a pepper spray is
recommended, and staying away from deserted areas
is non-negotiable, but running in a group is much safer.
6. Other interesting reasons
There are a few other things that people consider
when choosing a club:
1. What colour is their running vest? (As a kid I always
wanted to run for Florida because of their pink running
vests…)
2. Do they have a club tent with boerewors rolls after
races?
3. Do they have beer available after club runs?
The fact is that everyone is unique, with different
goals and needs, and often clubs are also part of a
certain stage in your life. Over the years I have run
for Krugersdorp, Roodepoort, Rentmeester, Ruimsig,
Nedbank, Powerade, Mr Price, Modern Athlete and
lately KPMG. All these clubs played a huge role in
developing me as a runner and I am grateful for the
experiences gained from them. So my advice to you is
to join a club as soon as possible.
4. Coaches
Certain clubs have full-time coach