No headaches for two parkrunners

1 January is typically a day where adults recover and children are left to their own devices. The New Years’ celebrations tend to leave people either lazy or hungover, but a unique few spend the morning exercising.

Two regulars at the Roodepoort parkrun took their runs to the next level by participating in two parkruns on New Year’s Day. James Bantom (21) and Rolando Ndhlovo (15) were almost superhuman by completing two 5km runs in the early hours of the Wednesday morning.

They started the Roodepoort parkrun at Len Rutter Park in Florida at 7.30am, and then speedily made their way to the Sterkfontein Heritage Lodge in Krugersdorp for another run that started at 9.30am. This was their first parkrun at that venue, which is known for its difficult course, and they impressed with their completion times.

James smashed it at the Roodepoort parkrun and finished in first place with a time of 18 minutes, 4 seconds. Rolando was hot on his heels and finished in third place with a time of 18 minutes, 58 seconds. In between them, was another parkrun regular, Corne De Fouw, who set his personal best with a time of 18 minutes, 48 seconds.

James and Rolando then made their way to the Sterkfontein parkrun where they finished in the same places that they had about an hour before. James’ first-place time was 20 minutes, 20 seconds, and Rolando’s third-place time was 21 minutes, 55 seconds.

James has been doing the weekly parkruns for two years and says that it is just for fun and to try and beat his personal best, but this year he has a goal of doing a marathon and will use the parkrun as practice.

Rolando has been doing the parkrun since 2016 for no reason other than fun and fitness. He has no big plans for his running but will continue to do the parkruns that he is so passionate about.

Three days later, on Saturday, 4 January, both James and Rolando were back at the Roodepoort parkrun finishing in 12th and 5th place respectively.