A step towards the perfect run

The News recently spotted a trend in Krugersdorp: everyone seems to want to get fit.

So the News spoke to Raymond Nel, Chairperson of the Krugersdorp Road Runners Club, and found that the club is not only about running.

“When you join, you can either run or walk. We have lots of members who walk instead of run,” he said.

For only R600 per family per year, the News considers joining – to walk, of course.

Raymond said the club is about 30 years old, established in the early 1980s under an oak tree next to Monument Dam.

“Members then used to run around the dam and had a soft drink afterwards.”

In the late 80s the clubhouse in Coronation Park was bought, and is still being used by members who gather there every Thursday evening.

“We are a family-oriented club that strives to involve the whole family even if not everybody runs,” the club profile on their website states.

Because the club is a nonprofit organisation, it hosts two races annually to fund its upkeep.

The Road Runners is affiliated with Gauteng Central Athletics and adheres to the main body’s rules and regulations.

“Many members are serious athletes, aiming to compete in the Comrades Marathon,” said Raymond.

He said the rest of the club members see Thursdays as their weekly exercise day. You can decide whether you will walk two kilometres or run four or eight kilometres. Most members start off without the goal to become serious runners, but after their health improve and they reached their short-term goals, they become more serious.

Nel explained that the members have social gatherings and every Thursday night he has his beer afterwards without feeling guilty for not exercising.

If you are interested in joining, visit the club’s website www.krugersdorproadrunners.co.za for more information.