How They Fared At the 2019 Comrades Marathon (isiZulu)

It is only in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, where the Comrades Marathon, an annual ultramarathon of approximately 89 km is run between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. This is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. In the year 2018, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works had its fair representation of athletes at the event. EThekwini Region’s Lindani Ngcobo – a novice and affiliated to the Orcas Academy participated in the 2018 marathon. He participated in the 2019 run, passed Cato Ridge cut off at 7:48 and bail out.

The Hollywood Athletic Club’s Thobani Mkhize residing at New Germany group at KwaSwaymani (Wartburg), also from eThekwini Region under the EPWP Unit. He started to run Comrades marathon between 2017 and 2019 with no break in between. His time run reflects as such: 2017 was 10:34 with a Medal Bronze, in 2018 was 09:43 for a Medal Bronze , in 2019 was 08:59 for a Billy Rowan medal. Thobani is targeting for Silver medal in 2020 under the coaching of Comrade Gold medallist Prodigal Khumalo. Thobani’s other distances this year involved 3 route tests. The first route test was on the 20 January 2019 from UKZN Howard to Intshanga Kwathinta School of Deaf 60 KM. The 2nd route test was on the 30th of March 2019 started from Glenwood Stella Athletic Club to Botha’s Hill completing a 70 km distance. The third route test on 5 May 2019 was the Cato Ridge Primary School route that covered a 60km distance. The qualifying marathon he ran thus far this year was the Delliote Marathon that he managed to complete with time standard of 03:30.

Amid being challenged by continuous influenza during the year, Thobani managed to train harder. He had learnt to train twice a day on weekly basis, which is equivalent to 1h30. Saturdays would be a resting day and spent about 5 hours in the early hours on Sundays. His diet focus is more on wholegrain food to support his body system.

Byron Pillay, with his Comrades race number 24991, is affiliated to the Chatsworth Athletic Club, has ‘back-toback’ medals so far. This is his fourth consecutive (2nd run up), finished within the timeline of 11:44. This year to date, he has run the Two Oceans, 56km Ultra, Hillcrest 42.2 and Ballito 42.2 this year. His balanced diet as a vegetarian has been key to his success.

Unfortunately, Kemele Moloi from Midlands Region did not make it to the start line this year. This also include information update from other runners who also could not provide their participatory status for the 2019 Comrades Marathon before completion of this piece for publication. Nonetheless, we are hopeful that the athletes such as those who normally participate at the race. Thokozani Gabuza – who has completed four races in her career, Funeka Xhanti – novice, Thobuyise Mchunu – has two Comrade Marathon races under his belt to date and Mitch Levin – who ran his 12th race, both are from Southern Region as well as Jean Nxumalo and Xolani Mthethwa fared well.

According to Rowyn James, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Race Director, the CMA has formally retracted the clause mentioned in the 2019 Entry Form that the qualifying period for the 2020 race will coincide with the opening of entries. James said, “The CMA Board decided to review this decision in the best interest of the sport of road-running. We are pleased to confirm that the qualifying period for the 2020 Comrades Marathon will be unchanged from that of recent years, with official Comrades qualifying races between August 25 2019 to May 2 2020 run in a time of 4hr50min for a standard 42.2 km marathon, and a sliding scale of commensurate qualifying times for events longer than 42,2 km.” In addition, Cheryl Winn, CMA Chairperson said, “The prevailing sentiment of the CMA Board is that, as the Comrades Marathon we have an obligation to the greater running community in terms of supporting other races which are in many instances both their respective club’s and province’s lifelines.”

Sport is an opportunity. The reality is that there is always a winner in any sporting event. Motivation is key to an accomplishment. Apart from the chosen sport of ultra-running, there may be a number of motivating factors for athletes, sportsmen and women to choose an endurance sport. Included among the motivating factors is living healthy life style, self-improvement, fame, money, ego, personal goal, and self-appraisal. Thanks to the runners.