Meet Brett Coutts
Brett never ever thought about running Comrades or even running at all.
He joined a club because his two older brothers had entered Comrades, so to be part of the family team Brett entered his first Comrades in 2015.
Well it took a few years, but Brett finally achieved his Back-to-Back medals in 2018 and 2019.
Brett is now known as the close shave qualifying king.He enjoys his quiet time with a bit of up-tapering depending on what races Kim keeps entering him in 🤭
Meet Kim Coutts
Kim started running mid 2016 because she was tired of waiting around for Brett who was running marathons.
She conned Andre into running her first half marathon with her in Nov 2016.
She subsequently completed her back to back Comrades Marathons in 2018 and 2019.
Since COVID, she has shifted to favoring the shorter distances over both road and trail🌄
Meet Melissa Arnold
Melissa was an avid treadmill runner in the gym until a colleague took her to parkrun.
Even though “trail” is where it started she prefers road running and will still bum shuffle over a log bridge on the trails. Mel has run over Ou Kaapse weg but is currently trying to convince Andre’ to run over Polly Shotts with her 🤣
Meet Jeanette Vester
My running journey began in 2014, not out of ambition, but out of support. A friend started a Run Walk for Life club, and I joined to back her business—fully intending to walk, because I had never run a day in my life. On that very first day, boredom got the better of me, and I started run-walking laps around the field. That small, impulsive decision marked the beginning of my love for running.
I spent many years firmly rooted in road running, completing numerous half marathons and two Cape Town Marathons before Covid arrived. During lockdown, I discovered trail running, and slowly but surely, the trails began to steal my heart. What started as a substitute became a passion, and trail running has since overtaken the road-running bug.
These days, you’ll find me running the roads during the week with my huskies by my side, and exploring the trails around Johannesburg on weekends—always chasing movement, connection, and the joy of running, no matter where it began.
Meet Kelly Robinson
Kelly is a parkrun enthusiast. From a weekly 5k she began consider longer distances, just for the experience! She now runs the occasional half marathon, 15km however is a favourite distance. I also really enjoy the night running events. When not out running Kelly is an avid reader.
Meet Mark de Klerk
Mark has been running on and off over the years. When in his 20’s, he was coached by Bernard Rose and did his best 21k in 1h12, and his best marathon in 2h47.
But then life got in the way and some recurring injuries over the years resulting in his almost not running at all for some years. In Feb 2014, his son Nick dragged him off to a Parkrun at Delta after having breakdown and landing up in a clinic. Nick said he was at his best version of himself when he was running regularly (in fact Nick called him a “lump of a father” as he was also overweight). Over the next few months, Mark started enjoying his running again and mentally and physically being in a healthier space.
Mark has now done more than 340 Parkruns at 145 different venues. He has done numerous marathons and one Two Oceans and many many 21k’s, which is his favorite distance. In September 2023, he did his PB (version 2 of himself) for the 21k at the Gun Run in 1h48. Mark is proud of his 4hr 56 seconds for the 2021 Cape Town Marathon (although his Garmin said he did it in 3h59:33 as the route was about 200m too long). The 2023 CTM was tough and hard – the wind and heat was not kind to him.
Mark lives in Fairland and operates his company called Bullia Consulting doing Retirement Fund Consulting, mainly on Trustee and Governance services.
He is looking forward to making a contribution to the club and helping it prosper as your Road Captain.
“When you see and run pass me on the road, you have permission to shout at me as I don’t run with my hearing aids” – Mark
Meet Jackie
Jackie as a walker, a slow walker, not one of those speedy walkers who wears a “W” on their vests.
She is an avid parkwalker at parkrun with over 380 parkuns at over 160 different venues.
Recently started doing longer walks at various races proudly wearing her Origins kit.