Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 125, December 2019 | Page 8

KALMER’S
CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador’s Blog
By Rene Kalmer
SPANISH EXCURSION
Early in May, Christine and I started plotting our plan to run the Valencia Marathon at the end of 2019. My sister has
very fond memories of Valencia, as she set her PB of 2:33 there in 2015 and also booked her spot for the 2016 Olympic
Games in Rio De Janeiro. The plan was to run the marathon and also add a bit of a holiday to the trip. Luckily, it didn’t
take too much convincing for the hubbies Andre and Aiden to join us this year. Our trump card was a 2-in-1 trip to also
go visit our friends in Dubai on our way back... at the same time as the Dubai 7’s Rugby Tournament.
I was a bit disappointed that I missed my goal of a sub-2:40, but grateful that I
could toe the start line in my first International race in almost four years. The “Little
Miss Sunshine” in me always looks at the bright side, though: I improved my PKPB
(Post Karli PB) by more than 10 minutes, and also clocked a PKPB for 21km (1:18)
– probably the reason for the somewhat slower second half of the marathon. We
actually learn the most from races that don’t go according to plan, so upwards and
onwards from here. I’m not exactly where I want to be, but definitely heading in the
right direction.
Chasing Dreams
L
ess than a month before the marathon, Christine managed to organise
race entries for the hubbies, too. Not too sure whether they were happy
or disappointed about this, but luckily they always have the “no training,
no problem” attitude. The only problem was that they had to start in the 3h45
marathon batch. This was totally against my hubby Andre’s race beliefs, as he
usually follows the “right at the back, links agter” race strategy, as that’s where he
normally meets his fellow sub-5-hour marathon running buddies.
Funnily enough, Team AA (Andre & Aiden) was also selected to represent South
Africa at the Ambassador’s event the day before the race, a parade of runners from
more than 100 countries that took part in the marathon. If only Andre took the race
as seriously as he took this parade – he even borrowed my Dad’s Proudly SA high-
top tekkies for the occasion! (Luckily, he left his ‘Fafster’ Speedo at home.)
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.
That’s where Elana Meyer’s Olympic dream came true in 1992, which launched
the Kalmer sisters’ own Olympic dream. I’m truly blessed to continue sharing this
running journey with Christine after more than 20 years, and we cried and laughed
together afterwards about our races. I’m proud of her overenthusiastic first half,
where she clocked season’s best times in the 10km and 21km before hitting the
wall solidly at 28km. Of course, she didn’t hear the end of that for our remaining
time in Spain!
As for the boys... They had a pretty similar race tactic to Christine, planning to race
the first half as fast as possible, giving themselves the maximum time (to walk) to
enjoy the scenery and atmosphere during the second half. (I’m shaking my head
and rolling my eyes as I write this.) This worked so well that they also clocked a
season’s best 2:03 for 21km, and Aiden went on to smash his PB, clocking 4:34.
Andre secured a solid Comrades qualifier in 4:44, while taking pics and videos
each 5km to document his race. It was hilarious to see how his excitement took a
steep decline as the race progressed!
Race day arrived and it was a beautiful clear day with maximum temperatures of
17 degrees Celsius, perfect for marathon running. My plan for the race was to run
together with Christine, but she got a bit over-excited and went off like a rocket.
Luckily, there were more than enough runners and entertainment along the road
to keep me company. My race went pretty much according to plan, as I went
through halfway in 1:18:15, but at 26km I started to suffer a little. Then at 35km I
passed Christine and could see that she had hit the wall solidly. I tried everything to
motivate her to come with me, but we all know that feeling where the mind wants
to, but the legs just don’t want to move anymore.
The amazing support from the crowd and the deafening sound of drums kept me
going for the final 7km, and I crossed the finish line in 2:43:09, overjoyed with
emotion to finish an international marathon again. Christine followed in 2:48:56,
and congratulations to fellow Murray & Roberts club member Jenna Challenor, who
ran a PB 2:36:50!
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ISSUE 125 DECEMBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
About the Author:
René Kalmer is a two-time Olympian, having represented SA in the 1500m at
the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the marathon at the 2012 London Games. She
has also won more than 40 SA titles in track, road and cross country at youth,
junior and senior level, in distances from 800m to the half marathon.
Fast Starters