Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador ’ s Blog
KALMER ’ S CORNER kalmer ’ s corner by RENÉ KALMER
Time for a New Start
The New Year is upon us and you know what that means … New Year ’ s resolutions , new running goals , and time to give 2020 the boot for good ! It is no secret that we all love the idea of a “ fresh start ” that the new year brings , but more than ever , we are ready to embrace the new year with new hope of what could be .
The question is , how do we set running goals for 2021 when all our optimistic running goals for 2020 vanished amidst the COVID-19 pandemic ? After all , goals like running your first marathon , qualifying for Comrades , or running your first , 10th or 25th Comrades Marathon all went up in flames as masks were added to our daily routines . Or , maybe you were planning an overseas trip to tick off a bucket list marathon , or maybe you were simply planning to run your first parkrun ….
For many of us , 2020 has been an extremely
challenging year , but it is time to reset and get ready for a new year . I am ready to welcome 2021 with open arms , because it also means I can start running again after giving birth to our son , Ivan . I stopped jogging when I was 28 weeks pregnant , as I was battling with the pregnancy-related aches and pains . Pregnancy is a lot like running , where you just have to listen to your body . I swopped the road for the gym , where I still kept fit with sessions on the watt bike or elliptical trainer . I also enjoyed strength workouts that were suitable in my third trimester .
For now , my New Year ’ s resolutions look pretty much like the rest of the population ’ s goals … Getting back in shape , losing weight , exercising more , and staying fit and healthy . I am looking forward to swopping from just daily pram walks to a more structured running programme .
Tender motherson moment with Ivan
Hoping for normal racing in 2021
For runners everywhere , including myself , a finish line in the near future is the ultimate motivator to hit the road on a daily basis , to focus on nutrition and general wellbeing . like getting enough sleep in order to recover properly . Even though there is no racing ( as we know it ) on the horizon for the near future , it is still good to set yourself some goals . For the time being , those goals will not be based on races , but it is a good time to reflect and remember that running is so much bigger than just racing . Therefore , my goals for 2021 look a bit different from previous years .
1 . Think BIG ! It is time to make a list or reassess your long-term or lifetime running goals . Make a list of things that you can start doing now to make those dreams a reality in the next couple of years . One of my lifetime goals is to enter for my first Half Ironman event and then to go on and complete a full Ironman . So I will have to start looking for a bike …
2 . Become a better runner by not running as much . Not having a goal race that dictates your weekly mileage is the perfect opportunity to try out new areas of fitness , like biking , swimming , elliptical training or rowing . It is also the perfect time to focus on core strength , flexibility and mobility training . Not only will your running benefit from the extra strength training , but it ’ s also a good way to avoid injuries .
3 . Run ‘ naked ’ at least once a week . I knew I would have your attention at the word naked … Occasionally , it is good to give yourself a
In 2020 Rene has swapped Sunday long runs for quality family time
“ tech-detox ,” forgetting about pace , distance and heart rate , and just run on gut-feel . It is a good way to become more in tune with your body and surroundings . Of course , that won ’ t stop you from constantly looking at your bare wrist during the run ...
4 . Try something new . I already shared my own long-term ‘ BIG ’ goal with you , but in 2021 I want to try something new , like entering for my first proper trail run . While I ’ m terrible at any form of running off the track or tar road , I am looking forward to the new challenges and excitement of going off-road onto the road less travelled .
5 . Challenge yourself . Stretch yourself to new limits . You ’ d be surprised by what you can achieve when really pushing yourself . See every obstacle as a stepping stone to reaching new heights , enjoy the adventure of uncertainty , and just enjoy every step of the journey .
And most importantly … Remember that running has not been cancelled ! So , let ’ s make 2021 the year of new beginnings , new challenges , new goals and a new start . Happy New Year !
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 .
Images : Courtesy René Kalmer
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ISSUE 136 DECEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za