“ It actually felt like a reunion in the toilets , seeing all the familiar faces standing in the queue to have that last stop before lining up .”
ROAD RUNNING
René and the Boys ( Aiden left , Andre right ) with their medals
Appreciation
Post By René Kalmer
I have always joked and said it is easier to run Comrades than supporting / seconding . This year the proof was in the pudding … Yes , it ’ s definitely easier to run Comrades than seconding . So , a super special shout out to all the supporters out there , especially my sister , Christine , my parents and my kids ! It was bittersweet not to share Comrades 2024 with Christine , but she did an amazing job supporting , seconding , and babysitting the kids and grandparents . Thank you , sis , you deserve a GOLD medal !
do , because I had to do all my running before school . That ’ s because in the afternoons , I had extra-murals , including coaching netball and hockey teams .
MA : Doesn ’ t the school have an athletics or cross country team that you can coach , and also run with for training ?
RK : They ’ ve got an athletics and a cross country team , but there is a teacher that ’ s doing an amazing job there , so I ’ m just helping out . I ’ m actually doing my sprinting and hurdles coaching course next week , and will then coach the sprinters , but maybe I ’ ll convert a few of them to distance …
MA : It ’ s nice to see you giving back to the sport in that way , by coaching and passing on the love of running . I think a lot of top athletes would like to do that if they could …
RK : It ’ s very special for me .
“ It actually felt like a reunion in the toilets , seeing all the familiar faces standing in the queue to have that last stop before lining up .”
Medals and smiles the day after the race !
MA : The last question for you today also picks up on the interview we did earlier this year , where you and Christine were joking about being so excited about getting elite seeding because it would mean you could use the elite portaloos before the race . Sorry , can ’ t resist asking : Were the elite portaloos as good as you thought they would be ?
RK : Haha , luckily we didn ’ t have portaloos at the start , we had five-star toilets there at the Royal Hotel . It actually felt like a reunion in the toilets , seeing all the familiar faces standing in the queue to have that last stop before lining up . It really was special lining up with the elites … and using the elite toilets !
The family reunited after Andre ’ s finish
MA : Well , Rene , once again , huge congrats on your Comrades debut and silver medal . To be honest , after all these years of watching you running the shorter distances , then going up to the marathon distance , competing at the Olympics , and running Two Oceans , we weren ’ t sure if you would go any further , but watching you tackle the Comrades was just as good !
RK : No , thank you for the interview … and finally , I can call myself a real runner now that I have run the Comrades !
Thanks also to René ’ s hubby , Andre van Wyk , for helping with the Zoom set-up for this interview … and for giving her a Comrades entry as a wedding anniversary gift !
Images : Marathon Photos , Christine Kalmer & courtesy René Kalmer
14 ISSUE 169 | www . modernathlete . co . za