Carletonville’s female running community on the go

Lizeth Kolbe says she became very frustrated when she could not exercise outdoors during last year’s lockdown and events like the weekly parkrun were called off due to Covid-19.
On social media, however, she saw that some active women in Pretoria had started a group called the Running Raspberries to establish a virtual female running com- munity. Kolbe started a branch in Carletonville and she and other female walkers and runners have been on the go ever since. They exercise on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
From 16:00 on Mondays, they do a time trial from the back of Slabbert Motors. The participants go through the gap in the fence behind Botha Street and then run five kilometres on the gravel road towards Waters Edge. Wednesday’s activity starts next to the horseriding club adjacent to Baard Street in Carletonville Extension 9 at 17:00. On Saturdays, the women gather at the 007 shopping complex and run on the R500 towards Fountain Private Hospital and back.
Kolbe says women who are not fit can start by running or walking only two kilometres. As everyone is accommodated, there are currently two club members who run 15 km at a time.
“The women running together makes it much safer for everyone,” Kolbe says. She adds that members constantly check social media for nearby races and then form lift clubs to get those who want to participate, to them. Professionals like physiotherapists are also part of the Running Raspberries “family” and can assist runners with advice on how to prevent injuries and offer help if needed.
Anyone who wants more information can contact Kolbe at 061 567 9700.