Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 127, February 2020 | Page 8

KALMER’S
CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador’s Blog
By Rene Kalmer
MY LOVE FOR RUNNING
February is (officially) the last month of summer in the southern hemisphere (ugh), but luckily also the month of love,
with Valentine’s day right around the corner… This had me thinking, “Why do I love running so much?”
going on. Luckily my hubby and daughter realise that just like people waking up
after that first cup of coffee in the morning, I’m a much better person, wife and
mom after a run. Most mornings after my run, I find them both in our bed, still fast
asleep and definitely not dreaming of running. It is also my time with God, where I
can admire His creation, as most mornings I’m blessed with a spectacular sunrise.
In Good Company
I
fell in love with running in 1990, after I finished my first 2km cross country race at
the age of 9. It wasn’t head over heels love at first sight, though, as I didn’t win
the race, or even make the podium... In fact I actually finished somewhere close
to 40 th position. I did, however, love the feeling that I was able to push my body
and complete a 2km race, whilst also contributing one or two points for the school
team just by finishing the race. I also dearly loved the fact that my mom rewarded
me and my brother, Herman, with a one-litre Coke for running so far!
Reason Upon Reason
Another reason to love running is because of its simplicity, and the fact that anyone
can do it! You just need a good pair of running shoes and the courage to take
the first step out of your front door to do it. It doesn’t matter what pace you run,
or how far you go. It’s just you, your running shoes and the open road in front of
you. At the same time, I also love the complexity that running has to offer. It’s not
just one sport, but a dozen different pursuits, from running different distances
to different terrains, from solo runs to group runs, pure relaxing runs and the
competitive aspect that races brings into the equation. I love them all.
What I love most about running, however, is the career that I’ve been privileged
to get from the sport. The opportunities to travel the globe and to compete on
the World Stage have been more than amazing, and this incredible sport has
introduced me to some of my best friends around the world – and with the help of
social media nowadays, we still keep in touch. I was very lucky to represent South
Africa a couple of times at the Word Cross Country Championships, World Athletics
Championships and Olympic Games, and I even tried my luck at the World Indoor
Championships. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I wouldn’t change it for
anything if I had to do it all over again.
Last but definitely not least, I love running because runners simply are awesome
people. Probably because we share the same kind of crazy routines, like getting
up at 3am to do a race… Added to this, I’m very lucky to also call most of the elite
runners my friends. On race day we will put friendship aside and push one another
to squeeze the best performances out of each other, but after the race we will
share a cool-down jog, with a good laugh about our race day war stories.
In the end it doesn’t matter why you love running, or what motivates you to put on your
running shoes... whether it’s for exercise, for friendship, for prize money, or for pure
enjoyment. There will always be a new road to explore, another race to enter, or a new
morning to enjoy a solo run in your neighbourhood while chasing that next sunrise.
I also run for my sanity,
because I love my family!
As a wife and working
mom, I enjoy the ‘me
time’ every morning
when I can get away
from it all, to be with my
thoughts and to reflect
on everything else that’s
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ISSUE 127 FEBRUARY 2020 / 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.
I also love “the burn” of a good track workout, where you know that you have
left everything on the track, and where you can
taste the blood in your throat. I know it
sounds disgusting, but only a runner
will understand. Running is the
one activity that’s physically
exhausting, but at the same
time mentally and emotionally
recharging.