While most of the participants \u2013 ranging in ages from nine to 90 \u2013 took to the streets in the name of fun and charity, there was also some serious racing at the head of affairs in the Eastern Cape\u2019s biggest road race.<\/p>\n
Rene Kalmer, who will be representing South Africa in the marathon at the Olympic Games in London this year, clinched the 10km title while 13-year-old Simone Weitz, from Johannesburg, took home the 5km crown.<\/p>\n
Local granny Mazelle Cloete (41) was running her fifth Women\u2019s Challenge with her children Chad (13) and Robyn van Rooyen (19).<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy this race very much. I ran the 10km three years ago, but only because I arrived too late for the 5km.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adding to the festive atmosphere was the throng of male participants in the 5km, all in varying degrees of drag.<\/p>\n
Tights, skirt and pink halo was 27-year-old former national hockey player Paul Blake\u2019s outfit of choice as he participated for the first time after being dared to enter through his charity fundraising campaign Dare the Donga.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was dared R200 to run in drag. The weather was beautiful and I loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The main event, the second in SPAR<\/a>\u2019s five-race national Grand Prix series, was more serious with two Olympic marathon qualifiers in Kalmer and team-mate Irvette van Blerk getting off to a fast start.<\/p>\n Kalmer, racing in the colours of Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng, built up an early lead, which she maintained throughout to win comfortably in 33:30.<\/p>\n Zintle Xiniwe, from Mr Price Western Province, was runner-up in 34.01 with Van Blerk completing the podium in 34.15.<\/p>\n Having picked up a hamstring niggle while training, Kalmer called her win \u201ca miracle\u201d. \u201cI haven\u2019t been able to train all week, and even thought of pulling out.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Blerk, who is coming down with flu, said she had \u201ctired legs\u201d. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t one of my greatest races, but I\u2019m happy with third.\u201d<\/p>\n While Kalmer always loves running in the Friendly City, Van Blerk is still getting to grips with the wind, which had picked up during the 10km.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first half was fine; the wind was from the back. But the long straight (into the wind) felt like it was never going to end.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rene](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/1358d_Rene_Kalmer.jpg\")
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