On The Couch with SA Olympic Marathon Runner Rene Kalmer

1 Favourite dessert / sweet

Belgian Waffle with caramel sauce.

2 Favourite movie

How to loose a guy in 10days.

3 If you could go see any band live, who would it be?

Train

4 Have you ever arrived at an event and discovered you didn’t have your running shoes? (I know Russian Basketball captain has arrived at an international game with no shoes and a mate of mine recently went travelling with two right shoes)

No, luckily not! I have a checklist. Racers - check, running vest -check. race number - check, energy drink- check, stopwatch - check.

5 Best road trip to an event?

December 2011, my sister, Christine and I went to Zanzibar. We used local transport, daladalas (2$) instead of 50$ Taxi rides,to save money for cocktails. The highlight was when we swam with dolphins at Kizimkazi.

6 A moment that stands out for you while competing? (Can be running down The Mall in London, seeing someone in the crowd or a light drizzle as you compete against millions in China)

Running the marathon at the Olympic Games was a career highlight especially seeing all the support on route in the pouring rain.

7 What do you think about while running?

Just keep running! Just keep running!

8 Best conditions to run in?

Sunny, not too hot or humid! No wind or rain. Basically Durban in the winter.

9 If you could shake anyone’s hand and hang out with them for half an hour, who would it be?

Paula Radcliffe

10 A day in the life of an SA Marathon runner entails…

Get up at 5am to do a morning run with Christine, sometimes Irvette joins us.

Breakfast, before a 9am Pilates classor gym session at Virgin Active.

A sport massage once a week, not so pleasant experience.

An hour nap before I meet my coach Gerrie Coetzee at the track for a quality workout.

11 Best part of the London Olympics?

Th London Olympics was one big highlight. Staying in the Olympic Village with 10 000 Sport stars. The dining hall that's open for 24hours and can seat 5 000 people at a time. All the freebies from generous sponsors like Adidas and Oakley. Having a lot of family and friends in London to support me, all wearing "Run Rene Run" t-shirts that was designed by Christine. of course coming back from London with a boyfriend...

 
12 Favourite destination (Can be to compete or for holidays)

Island anywhere

13 New Year’s resolutions – did you make any and have you stuck to it / broken them yet.

Not big on New Year's resolutions or keeping them.

These are daft either or questions… 
14 Early morning catches the worm or late night owl?

Early morning catches the worm.

15 Sugar or spice?

Spice

16 10km or Marathon?

10km, especially a Spar Ladies 10km

17 Left or Right foot first

Left

18 Rugby, soccer or Cricket? (Give team names)

Rugby! Big Cheetah supporter

On The Couch with SA Olympic Marathon Runner Tanith Maxwell

Caught up with SA Olympic Marathon Runner, Tanith Maxwell after she came ninth in the Berlin 25km race. She is preparing for the upcoming SPAR Women's 10/5km Race

1 Favourite dessert / sweet?

Desserts in general are a favourite, but I guess crème brûlée edges ahead of everything else!

2 Favourite movie?

Enjoy historical movies, but I think 'atonement' stands out above the rest!

3 If you could go see any band live, who would it be?

I honestly don't know! I like music, but am not into live concerts so nothing comes to mind!

4 Have you ever arrived at an event and discovered you didn’t have your running shoes?

Not quite as bad as no shoes, but I did arrive with no liners in my shoes! It was a very hard run and the blisters were dreadful!

5 Best road trip to an event?

I think it has to be traveling down to race the 'Voet of Afrika' in Bredasdorp! Had never been there and I had quite a raucous bunch of runners that I had organized a lift with! Not the usual way I travel to events!

6 A moment that stands out for you while competing?

I think stepping onto Tower Bridge in London during the Virgin London Marathon! It's such an amazing landmark and to have the whole bridge to yourself makes it extra special!

7 What do you think about while running?

Get asked this a lot and I really have to sit and think about it! Easy runs I can think about literally anything, but harder training sessions ......well then nothing!

8 Best conditions to run in?

Being a Durbanite I like the warmer conditions! Tried to run a race in March in Poland and couldn't get my legs to function properly!

9 If you could shake anyone’s hand and hang out with them for half an hour, who would it be?

The Queen, Queen Elizabeth! Have always been an avid supporter of the English monarchy and Queen Elizabeth is a remarkable figure!

10 A day in the life of an SA Marathon runner entails…

Gosh there is not much besides eating, training and sleeping! It really does get that monotonous and boring during heavy training!

11 Best part of the London Olympics?

Have to give you two! First, walking into the stadium for the opening ceremony and the second coming down the finish of the Olympic marathon in the Mall outside Buckingham Palace! Both magical moments!

12 Favourite destination?

Love Scotland! Nothing beats training in the highlands around a picturesque loch! The weather can let you down though!

13 New Year’s resolutions – did you make any and have you stuck to it / broken them yet

Don't make New Year’s resolutions! Some friends and family tend to make for me, but I never stick to those either!

14 Early morning catches the worm or late night owl?

Definitely an early worm, fade significantly from 9pm!

15 Sugar or spice?

Sugar, can't get enough!

16 10km or Marathon?

Marathon for sure! Don't have the zippy 10km speed!

17 Left or Right foot first

Right! I'm right handed and not very coordinated!

18 Rugby, soccer or Cricket? (Give team names)

Has to be rugby, and it's the sharks all the way!

YMCA World Basketball Challenge Hoop Springs Eternal

The opening shot, Philani Mabaso from SPAR Amazulu FC was the first participant to stand on the line shooting a hoop to get into the Guinness World Records at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal down in Albert Park.

Inspector Luke Kalidin from the Albert Park Metro Police gears up to shoot a hoop at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal.

Kristin Degou from PeacePlayers International shows a young ball player the steps.

The interest, the queue to shoot a hoop.

Participating in the Guinness World Record attempt, Olympic Marathon Runner from Kloof, Tanith Maxwell is pictured shooting a hoop at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal on Saturday in Albert Park. Durban had two venues where people were able to shoot a hoop and tallied up a total of 1,925 people in the global basketball challenge. South Africa had four centres participating, Soweto, Athlone in Cape Town and Student Y at the Howard Campus joined Albert Park in the challenge. Maxwell was number 167 to shoot a hoop, having arrived early to participate and Olympic Hockey Player and current South African captain Lenise Marais joined in the fun activities being number 773 to be recorded to shoot.

Participating in the global basketball challenge, Albert Park residents Jared Anthony (12 years old) and Nicholas Govender (10 years old) enjoyed the day’s activities at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal. 1,925 people in Durban took part in the Guinness World Record attempt that had over 70 countries around the world enjoying the sport that the YMCA invented.

Saturday’s Guinness World Record basketball attempt saw a variety of games being played, pictured here is Timo Nzombo from Albert Park United as he goes high in an effort pass during the game against the PeacePlayers International. Americans Kyler McClary and Kristin Degou defend as the Albert Park United player attacks in the exhibition game at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal global basketball challenge.

Young and old all lined up to shoot a hoop on the day.

Debby Van Der Heerver dribbles the ball up in a fun game at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal global basketball challenge, the Bluff resident was part of the Guinness World Record attempt.

Olympic hockey player and current South African captain, Lenise Marias smiles before shooting a hoop during the Guinness World Record attempt, Marias was the 773th person to shoot at Albert Park at the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal.

  

YMCA World Challenge Hoop Springs Eternal

Durban: Albert Park: 13 October

A fabulously successful day saw hundreds of people of all walks of life come down to Albert Park to participate in the YMCA Hoop Springs Eternal global basketball challenge.

The aim of the fun filled day was to be entered into the Guinness World Record where YMCA’s from around the world, starting in New Zealand and finishing up in Hawaii, aimed to welcome 5 million people to attempt to shoot a hoop.

The YMCA who invented basketball in 1871 had over 70 countries participating around the world with four centres in South Africa including Student Y at Howard College UKZN and YMCA Central in Albert Park. The number of people that supported the record attempt is over 3 thousand with 925 recorded at Albert Park and 1,000 people at Student Y. The record attempt also included two South African Olympic athletes, Marathon Runner Tanith Maxwell and Hockey Player and current captain, Lenise Marais who both successfully stood on the line, effortlessly finding the centre of the hoop.

The theme of the day was basketball and new comers to the game were treated to a coaching session by the American based Basketball organisation, the PeacePlayers International, as well as watching them in action in an invitational game between the PeacePlayers International and Albert Park United.

Rev Ian Booth CEO of Greater Durban YMCA enthused, “We are astounded by the response of people who came down to participate. Young and old all lined up and were counted.”

Talking about if the Guinness World Record had successfully been broken, Booth continued, “We await the news. The World Alliance of YMCA in Geneva is gathering all the tallies from across the globe. I know that Argentina managed to get over 20,000 people and the Czech Republic recorded 1,174 people. Once the documentation is handed over to the Guinness Book of Records, they have 16 weeks to analyse, so the process is lengthy!”

Close to two thousand people from Durban joined five continents, 96 cities and thousands of fun spirited people in a global celebration of basketball in the hope of creating a Guinness World Record.

Chatting to an Olympic Marathon Runner - Tanith Maxwell

SPAR Weekend Witness 10/5km Women’s Race

Alexandra Park: Sunday 9 September

With the country basking in the midst of the Olympic glory, the Witness had the honour of catching up with South African and Olympic marathon runner, Tanith Maxwell from Kloof yesterday (Thursday), finding out about her Olympic experience ahead of her next race in the SPAR Weekend Witness 10km on Sunday, September 9.

“The excitement and thrill of being part of such a huge event was brilliant! It's been eight years of dreaming of that moment!” a smiling Maxwell expressed.

“I was standing alongside that Olympic torch and to see all those individual flames being pulled together to unite as one big flame is something I will never forget! And stepping into that stadium, for the opening ceremony, in our brightly coloured outfits and hearing the stadium erupt was the best for me!”

Maxwell, who qualified for the marathon when she competed in the Rotterdam Marathon in April this year was one of three South African athletes to qualify, competed in the 42km race and finished the race 81^st overall in a time of 2:40:27. “The weather was typical British weather, with a light rain trickling down so conditions were wet underfoot for most of the race. It wasn’t my fastest but I did my best!”

“I would have to say that my highlight of the games would be standing on the start line of my first Olympic marathon!”

“The route was magical, it took in all the famous landmarks in London! BUT the best part of the race was the support on the side - for the first 5 km I couldn't feel or hear my feet hitting the ground! I will never forget that roar and constant cheering from the crowds!”

Having run the Virgin London Marathon, she explains, “The route was very different from the Virgin London Marathon! The Olympic route was run on multiple loops, starting and finishing in The Mall, while the city marathon starts at Blackheath and finishes in The Mall.”

Revealing if she many anyone more ‘famous than  herself’ she states, “Absolutely! Being in the athletes’ village, I was able to make contact with athletes I have admired and followed with interest on TV and in magazines! I may have even asked for their autographs,” she admits, smiling. “In the dining hall I met up with Sally Pearson, the 100m hurdles gold medallist, Alyson Felix, 200 m gold medallist. I met the number one tennis player Novak Djokavic, at the opening ceremony! And at the warm-up track, Asafa Powell, Mo Farah and so many others that I cannot think of now!”

“The week after my race I spent taking in as much as I could of the Olympic atmosphere! I went to the triathlon event in Hyde Park, the walking events in The Mall and generally made the most of being in the Olympic city! There was so much happening and I made sure I was there!”

Having arrived home a few days ago, she is slowly adjusting back to reality, “It's quite tough getting back home, my ultimate dream is behind me and I need to make decisions as to where I am going from here! For the time being I just want to enjoy my running with no pressures attached! I always enjoy racing so I will incorporate some shorter races, starting with the SPAR Weekend Witness 10km race next month in Pietermaritzburg and then look to a spring marathon in Europe next year!”

Asked what is still on her bucket list, now that she has achieved her dream, “It has to be doing an ultra-marathon - I have always said that I won't stop running until I have tried the likes of a Two Oceans or a Comrades Marathon!”

“I would like to be hopefully remembered as a ' down to earth ' athlete that has represented her province and country from sub junior days. A keen competitor and someone who inspires woman to take up distance running!”

Concluding, the lean running machine enthuses, “My advice to anyone out there would be the dream is never too big or too out of reach! The only demands are 100% dedication, commitment and self-belief! With that Olympic dreams can become a reality!”

Join Tanith on September 9 for Pietermaritzburg’s most beautiful road race which begins at 08:00. Entry forms and more information is available online at www.sparwomensrace.co.za