Trail running honours for Durban’s Shandu
A Durban runner has won the Spur Trail Series.
DURBAN runner Tholakele Chairman Shandu was the overall winner of the KZN Ladies challenge open category Spur Trail Series.
The series consists of four races which took place at Inanda dam, night race at Giba George and Stainbank Nature Reserve, and the final race at Isithumba Adventure park. Shandu, who runs for the Glenwood Village based club, is also the co-ordinator of the Glenwood Wednesday morning Group Run, which is a program designed to prevent people from becoming victims of criminal activity by running in groups. The group run starts from Stella Athletics club every Wednesday morning at 5am and is open to everyone.
The Durban runner finished fourth in the first race, which seemed to motivate her to push harder in the remaining races. “With the two subsequent runs taking place at night, I knew I had a shot at getting myself into the podium as I enjoy night trails and most ladies are not comfortable with night running. My training includes running at UKZN’s Msinsi Nature Reserve in some evenings. The night sounds and shifting shadows of the bush are soothing after a challenging day. I wanted any podium position, but hard work made me first at isiThumba and the overall series winner in my category which was an absolute achievement for me,” she said.
The Durban runner began running in 2010 as she wanted to run at least one Comrades marathon before she turned 35. She eventually got hooked and has run every Comrades since. She also said that because of running, she is in the best physical and mental state she has ever been in.
