CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Defending series champion and London Olympian Rene Kalmer will return to competition on Sunday when she takes part in the SPAR Women’s 10km Challenge in Green Point.
Kalmer, who has been out of action for several months with an Achilles tendon injury, said she would not be putting herself under any pressure in her first race back.
“The injury was more serious than I originally thought, and I am just very happy to be fit and back on the road again.
“I’ll be running my heart out on Sunday, and I hope to be able to win, but I’m not going to put myself under pressure just because I’m the defending champion.
“I just want to get back into the shape I was in last year, before I was injured.”
Last year, Kalmer cruised to victory over Rutendo Nyahora and Irvette van Zyl (formerly Van Blerk), who will both be running again this weekend.
Kalmer, who first ran in the SPAR Challenger series in 1998, has won more Challenge races than any other runner.
“Irvette is probably the one to look out for,” said Kalmer.
“She’s run a number of races this year and has been running very well, whereas I haven’t competed for several months.”
Kalmer, who represented South Africa in the marathon in London last year, said her next big international goal would be the Boston Marathon on April 15.
