René admits competition in Grand Prix is stiffer
"You can't afford to relax any more."
Local running icon, René Kalmer admits that the competition in the Spar Grand Prix has become that tad stiffer than before.
This following Mapaseka Makhanya’s success at this year’s Spar Women’s 10km Grand Prix.
“There is real competition now, but I can assure you that Mapaseka won’t have it all her own way next year.
“We’ll all be doing everything we can to beat her and claim the car for ourselves.”
René, who has won more Spar Challenge races than anyone else boasting three titles, adds that the introduction of the Grand Prix has done much for the development and improvement of road running in South Africa.
“Before the Grand Prix you just did your best to try to win the race, and you weren’t too concerned about times,” she says.
“But now that you get bonus points for beating your previous time, it means that finishing times have gone down significantly.
“You can’t afford to relax any more in case someone overtakes you.”
