Johannesburg, South Africa – Popular road running stars, Mapaseka “Speedsta” Makhanya and Rene Kalmer, have once again been named Ambassadors for the SPAR Grand Prix 10km Challenge Series.
Makhanya, who won the Grand Prix title in 2013, is one of the elite athletes who take part in the very competitive SPAR Women’s 10kn Challenge races that are run in six centres around South Africa.
Well-known for her bubbly personality, big smile and ever-changing hairstyles, “Speedsta”, whose Twitter handle is @mapasexy, is an ideal person to represent the series and to promote it.
Makhanya was primarily a track runner and started road running to help with her track training. She has since added marathons to her busy schedule.
“I feel humbled and very excited to be asked to be the Grand Prix ambassador again,” said Mapaseka.
“The SPAR races can change people’s lives. They are not just about the elite athletes – the Mapasekas and the Kesa Moletsanes and the Irvette van Blerks –they’re about motivating women to take up running and to keep running,” she said.
“I always enjoy meeting the women who possibly only run one race a year. It’s about lifestyle and about the community of women. I get goose bumps when I think about it.”
She said she had only started training a few weeks ago, following the tragic death of her only brother as a result of a motor accident late last year.
“My first appearance of the year will be at the SPAR Women’s race in Port Elizabeth on Saturday May 5.
“I think it is fitting that I make my return in a SPAR race, because they have become such an important part of my life,” said Makhanya.
Kalmer is also an ideal ambassador, having won more SPAR races than anyone else She won her first title at the tender age of 14 and has continued to shine in the SPAR races since then. She has won the prestigious SPAR Grand Prix title three times, in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
“I am a huge fan of the SPAR Races and it is a great honour for me to be an ambassador for the races,” said Kalmer.
“SPAR have been with me every step of my career, from my first race as a 13 year-old, to winning the Grand Prix, going to the Olympics and coming back to racing after the birth of my daughter Karli,” she said.
“SPAR celebrates all kinds of women, from the elite athlete to beginners, mothers and those who take part in a race once a year.
“The Challenge series has done so much to promote road-running in South Africa. A lot of women start off by running one of the races, and then find the road-running bug has bitten them,” said Kalmer.
“I love the fact that so many women are involved in the SPAR races, so those of us who are the elite runners feel part of a whole community. The elite runners also enjoy taking part in a race that is all about women. It is much more satisfying to win a race when you know that you are the first person to cross the finish line.”
In recent years, Kalmer has focussed on longer races, and on Saturday, she will be running her first Two Oceans ultra-marathon.
“If I wait until I am ready, I will never do it. This year is the 50th anniversary of Two Oceans and I want to be part of it,” she said.
