Springs resident and avid runner Karin Smith (63) entered two marathons this year, and stood proudly on the podiums of both events.
On March 6, Smith won the 41km Johnson Crane Marathon in the grandmaster category, which is part of the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Championship.
Less than a week later, on March 12, she placed second at the 21km Race to Equality half-marathon, which also forms part of the CGA Championship.
Smith has been running competitively for more than 30 years and has competed in 24 Comrades Marathons and has no plans of hanging up her running shoes anytime soon.
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Her husband, David (65), has been her running partner for 35 years and has played a key role in her success.
“We love running together. He’s always by my side when I enter a big event,” said Smith.
To maintain her high fitness levels, Smith and her husband go on a daily run together, which has become a tradition for them.
They also partake in the Striders Weekly Time Trial together, as well as the parkrun every Saturday.
Running and competing is something that runs in the Smith family’s blood, with all five of their children also being keen runners, especially Jacques (40) and Fransli (35).
Jacques has competed in seven Comrades and Fransli three.
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The lockdowns proved to be no obstacle course in the Smith household, as they bought a treadmill to keep fit and made full use of curfew.
Smith said the running community has enriched her life. She encouraged young athletes and runners to join a running community.
“They are like a second family to me; we laugh and chat all the time and they have added so much value to my life,” she said.
Her next big race will be the Comrades Marathon, which is scheduled to take place on August 28.
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