EasyEquities Born2Run: Our Comrades 2025 Dream Team

The Purple Pride Heads to KZN
The 2025 EasyEquities Born2Run contingent from East London is smaller than usual, but this team punches well above its weight. From determined debutants to comeback queens and Comrades legends, each runner brings their own story, grit, and goals.



Meet the Team and Their Investment Lessons
We’re proud to support these everyday heroes who lace up their running shoes to do extraordinary things. Here’s a look at who’s flying the purple flag—and the investment wisdom their stories inspire.

1. Gerald Cloete: Start with Clear Goals and Steady Progress
   Investment Lesson: Like preparing for your first Comrades Marathon, successful investing starts with clear goals and steady progress, even if the path is long and uncertain. Staying focused through challenges whether training in tough mountain conditions or managing life’s demands, pays off over time.
   
   Gerald is a Comrades novice who joined Born2Run with the express purpose of running Comrades. He lives in the mountains of the Eastern Cape on the outskirts of Elliot to be exact, where the weather is often extreme and snow falls are frequent in winter.
   
   Bob is providing his personal training schedule and the two men speak at least once a week on all manner of topics pertaining to running. With his young family in East London during the school terms much travelling is required, but still he remains focused since qualifying at the 2025 Buffalo Marathon in February.
   
   Bob is confident Gerald will reach his goal of a first Comrades medal with a time of between 9 and 10 hours.
   
   Gerald admits there is more than just nerves at play as he readies himself for solo journey to KZN with school exams equally prominent in “team Cloete.”
   
   
2. Karen Davis: Consistency Builds Long-Term Success
   Investment Lesson: Consistency and patience build wealth over time. Just as Karen has steadily accumulated kilometers and medals, investors benefit from regular contributions and long-term commitment, even when results seem slow or pressure mounts.
   
   Karen is an experienced runner who recently celebrated her 500^th parkun and on 8 June she will be running her eighth Comrades which means 2500km at parkun events in South Africa and internationally and she has accumulated about 700km at Comrades. Karen has also been the first finisher (woman) at parkrun, more often than any other women in South Africa and she is way up in the world rankings too.
   
   Her first Comrades was run for Gonubie Harriers in 2013 and she was then approached to join EasyEquities Born2Run by Bob, which resulted in her first “purple” appearance in 2014.
   
   In 2018 she set her Comrades PB when she ran 7:56:02. Bob who often works with her on her training suggested at the time that a sub eight was on the cards. Karen, however did not relish such pressure, but clearly went out with an open mind. At the finish in Durban, as Karen climbed “those stairs” in Moses Mabhida Stadium, Bob just smiled and Karen quipped “never again.”
   
   The deed, however, had been realised.
   
   Two Oceans 2025 delivered a second chance at the 56km ultra. In 2013 she ran 5:24:26 and 12 years later she ran a second ultra, clocking an excellent 4:54:57. This followed a coffee discussion between athlete and coach about a “probable” sub five hour.
   
   Will she do 10 Comrades? Of course she will! However first is 2025 and a decent time awaits. Thereafter her 10^th at the 100^th has to be so very special.
   
   Says Karen “one year at a time Bob, one year at a time.”
   
   
3. Lourens de Villiers: Quiet Consistency Builds Strong Foundations
   Investment Lesson: Experience is an investor’s best teacher. Like Lourens, who has steadily improved his marathon and Comrades times, building experience allows you to refine your strategy and reach new milestones.
   
   Lourens is a quiet member who nevertheless runs with great enthusiasm. He started his Comrades thought process in 2016 running for Eskom, but it was only in 2019 when he switched to Easy Equities Born2Run that he ran his first and at this stage only Comrades in a respectable Bronze medal time of 10:46:53.
   
   This year Lourens has qualified at Border’s and one of South Africa’s oldest and most respected marathons, the Buffalo Marathon which is run from the regions of Macleantown to the Buffalo sports club which overlooks the Indian Ocean and the East London Golf club. His time was 4:10, suggesting a bronze medal is close to a certainty, but a Robert Mtshali medal may well be the goal.
   
   The club will be rooting for Lourens on his second Comrades.
   
   
4. Tracey Kellermann: It’s Never Too Late to Restart and Improve
   Investment Lesson: Comebacks are possible when you stay persistent. Like Tracey returning to Comrades after several years, investors can overcome setbacks and re-engage with their goals stronger than before.
   
   Tracey is as determined a runner. A medical doctor in private practice in the region of Sunrise-on-Sea, Tracey has been training with Karen in the build up, inclusive of them running the Buffalo City Marathon, with extra distance added on the first of May. There is something special about that date as the Bee Gees taught in a song.
   
   She ran Comrades in the colours of Buffalo Road Runners in 2014 and 15 with a best time of 10:10:10. This will be her first outing since then and a first over 90km in our colours too. The team believes a personal best is assured given her qualifying time of 3:54:39 at Buffs. The time will be nine hours and the team will leave the minutes up to Tracey to focus upon.
   
   A third Comrades medal is assured.
   
   
5. Stephanie Kretzmann:Resilience and Passion Drive Long-Term Commitment
   Investment Lesson: Resilience is key, sometimes setbacks happen, but passion will bring you back stronger. Investors who weather market dips and keep focused on their goals ultimately find success.
   
   One of our most incredible “mileage” runners is Stephanie Kretrzmann who had run seven Comrades, her first was in 1995 for Old Selbornians and the second was 19 year later when she turned out in our colours at the 2014 race. In 2017 Stephanie ran a personal best of 10:45:48.
   
   Unfortunately she was ill last year and withdrew shortly before the start, but immediately sent a message to say “I feel dreadful and heartbroken...2025 has to be my Comrades year again.” 
   
   At the outset of 2025 Stephanie ran the Bay2Bay in Cape Town and one week later the Red Hill Marathon. As though that was not enough, on their way back to East London, she insisted on stooping off to run the Bay 50km in Nelson Mandela Bay.
   
   Om die Dam was her latest ultra marathon , which she picked up on after they landed in Jozi, following a two week break in Thailand.
   
   Always the same happy lady, the team hopes it is indeed a Big C in 2025.
   
   
6. Siyabonga Lele: Build on Past Successes and Push Boundaries
   Investment Lesson: Past successes are a foundation, but pushing boundaries helps you break new ground. Siyabonga’s move to Born2Run and his consistent performance show how growth happens when you keep challenging yourself.
   
   
   Siyabonga approached Bob to coach him towards the end of 2024 and he indicated he would like to join the club too.
   
   He started his running career, rather oddly, with EL Pacers who are walking club. Nonetheless he completed his first two Comrades for them. He then joined All Stars a friendly and performance based club, originally operating out of Duncan Village.
   
   Siyabonga has 13 medals made up of 2 bronze, 8 Bill Rowan and 2 Silver with a PB of 7:14:34 from 2016.
   
   This year he runs for us and is looking in great shape having qualified at Buffs with a 2:50:07 on a normal weeks training. He also ran the Mdantsane 50km finishing 4^th in the 40+ category in 3:39:47 also on Comrades training.
   
   The team is hoping, and believe that Siyabonga will come close to the seven hour barrier.
   
   
7. Wayne Maart: Humor and Discipline Help You Stay the Course
   Investment Lesson: Maintaining a light-hearted attitude can keep you motivated, but discipline with pacing and planning is what leads to success. A balance of fun and focus works for both runners and investors.
   
   One of the characters of the club is Wayne who is a “will he, won’t he” guy in every instance and pursuit.
   
   He also asks for a programme every year and follows it mostly. His first Comrades was in 2015 and he has now assembled five finishes with a PB of 9:31:12.
   
   Wayne’s sense of humour is a great tool for a race like Comrades as long as he does not let go of it, his humour that is.
   
   Wayne’s biggest challenge is sticking to his target times and watching his easting habits before the race. Pacing too is crucial, so if he concentrates the team expects he is good for a nine hour Comrades.
   
   
8. Sakhumzi Efese Peter: Experience and Endurance are Valuable Assets
   Investment Lesson: Experience and endurance accumulate into valuable assets over time. Long-term commitment and perseverance pay dividends, whether in running or investing.
   
   Race number 29922 will be worn by Efese who is well into his 60’s now and will be running his 20^th Comrades.
   
   In his day Efese was as tough as teak in distances of 42,2km through to any ultra that he could be challenged to run.
   
   He has also run 23 Two Oceans where he finished 7^th in 1989 and 9^th in 1991 when running for the Defence Force. Efese’s personal best is 3:23:46. In addition to the two golds he has 13 silver medals as well.
   
   At Comrades he has earned 10 silver medals, 3 Bill Rowan, 3 Bronze and 3 Vic Clapham. His PB is a 6:21:03 when he finished 55^th in 1999.
   
   Efese joined us in 2023 and along with our other stalwarts such as Makaya Masumpa and Liesbet Ntonzini they make up an impressive part of Border and Eastern Cape’s running history.
   
   The club we will be rooting for him on race day.

 Crossing the Finish Line Together
Whether it’s a first Comrades, a milestone race, or a comeback after setbacks, their stories remind us that success isn’t just about the finish time. It’s about the grit, the heart, and the lessons learned along the way.

As they head to the race, we’ll be cheering them on every step of the way because these everyday legends inspire us all to keep moving forward, no matter the distance.

Here’s to crossing finish lines, smashing personal bests, and flying the purple flag high!

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