At 67 years old, Springs Striders Athletics Club runner Karin Smith is as unstoppable as ever, recently completing the prestigious BMW Berlin Marathon in Germany in 4:27.

Smith said she was happy and grateful to have completed the marathon, which forms part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, describing the opportunity to participate as a privilege.

“For me, running has never been only about finishing times. It is about enjoying the journey, appreciating what my body is still capable of doing, and being thankful for every opportunity to participate in this wonderful sport,” she said.

Smith recalled the moment she crossed the finish line as she approached the Brandenburg Gate as emotional.

“I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I had been given this opportunity,” she said.

Smith’s preparation followed a familiar pattern of regular running and longer distances to build endurance, continuing the momentum gained from races earlier in the year, including the Comrades Marathon.

However, her final weeks of preparation looked different from what she had initially planned.

“At the beginning of September, my husband, David, our daughter Madeli, and son-in-law Hein and I embarked on a wonderful holiday of 30 days that included cruises and visits to several European countries.”

Although she managed some treadmill running aboard the cruise ship, exploring new destinations and spending time with her family meant she could not follow her usual training routine.

She also recalled experiencing a few challenges on race day, particularly navigating the large number of runners on the course.

“Berlin is famous for its fast, flat course, and a blue line is painted along the road to indicate the shortest officially measured route. Naturally, many runners follow this line to avoid running unnecessary extra distance.

“With so many runners on the road, it was often difficult to maintain a comfortable rhythm,” Smith said.

She added that she felt stiff and uncomfortable during the first 10km, but gradually settled into a better rhythm as the race progressed. After about 32km, she had to concentrate on maintaining her rhythm and remaining patient.

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Despite the difficulties, Smith said she was pleasantly surprised by how strong she felt towards the end of the race.

“I reminded myself that I was there to enjoy the experience, not to become frustrated about things beyond my control. The wonderful spectators certainly helped me to keep smiling and moving forward,” she said.

One of her highlights was seeing South African flags among the spectators and hearing fellow South Africans cheering.

“There is something very touching about hearing encouragement from your own country when you are so far from home,” she said.

The experience was made even more special by sharing the trip with her family. Her husband, David, participated in the Generali 5km race the day before the marathon.

On race day, David hired a bicycle and made an effort to follow her along the course, finding places where he could cheer her on.

“It meant so much to know that he was somewhere out there supporting and encouraging me. Being able to share both our running experiences made the weekend even more memorable,” Smith said.

Her faith in the Lord plays an important role in her life.

“Running has taught me that we should never take our abilities or opportunities for granted. Life is a gift, and being able to do something you love, share it with people you love, and experience the world along the way is a tremendous blessing,” she said.

Smith encouraged aspiring marathon runners to believe in themselves and to avoid comparing their progress with that of others.

“There will be difficult kilometres, moments of doubt, and days when training feels hard, but those are often the moments that teach us the most about ourselves,” she said.

Smith said she is encouraged by the phrase ‘seize the day’, which continues to shape how she approaches opportunities.

“We should not keep postponing our dreams until the time is perfect. Life is precious, opportunities are gifts, and we should embrace them while we can.

“Above all, remain humble, be thankful, keep moving forward, and never lose the joy of doing what you love,” she concluded.

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