Shellharbour’s Witold Krajewski doesn’t feel guilty about all the sweet treats he’s enjoyed over Easter, as he knows he’ll burn them off next week when he competes in his 27th Fitness 5 fun run.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A veteran of the five kilometre event, 66-year-old Mr Krajewski is the only person who has competed in every Fitness 5 since the run was first held in 1990, and he’ll be lining up again at North Wollongong on Sunday April 3.
“Whatever I eat this weekend, I will burn off next weekend,” Mr Krajewski said.
“My major goal is to keep fit and prevent major illness.
“But I love to eat sweets so running means I’m not guilty when I eat chocolate, because I will burn it off later.
“I love running. It is a good exercise. It’s easy and it is cheap. All you need is a pair of shoes, walk to the front door and run.”
In recognition of his commitment to running, Fitness 5 organisers, Kembla Joggers have issued Mr Krajewski with the number One bib which he proudly wears on his chest each time he competes.
He said he was especially looking forward to this year’s event that includes the new Kerryn McCann 10, which will run in tandem with the Fitness 5, providing an extra challenge for runners who want to test themselves a little further.
The 10 kilometre run has been introduced in honour of Illawarra athlete, the late Kerryn McCann who was one of Australia’s finest ever female distance athletes.
As a member of Kembla Joggers Mr Krajewski spent many hours running alongside the champion.
“I used to run with Kerryn and I knew her and her family very well.
“A group of us, including my son used to run together every Sunday morning along the top of Mount Kembla.
“She was a lovely person. She was a wonderful runner as well, but she was just a fantastic girl.”
The Fitness 5 event was established initially to raise funds for the campaign to build a new athletics track at Beaton Park, now the Kerryn McCann athletics track, which was built in 1993.
To date the event has raised almost $200,000 for charity including Camp Quality, Wollongong Hospital’s Children’s Ward and the Homicide Victims Support Group. Funds raised from the Kerryn McCann 10 event this year will support the McGrath Foundation. Register at: www.fitness5.com.au.
