In less than a week, the Comrades Marathon will take place after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Local clubs have been busy on the road preparing for the 89.885km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on August 28, hoping to achieve better results than in 2019
Benoni roads have been a hive of activity as runners dressed in the ‘cheese and tomato’ of Benoni Northerns Athletics Club (BNAC) and red and white of the Benoni Harriers perfect their strides for the ultimate human race.
A total of 169 runners will line up for the BNAC with 49 novices and 49 members who will be vying for their green numbers (10th Comrades). One member will be going for double-green (20th Comrades).
In the 2019 Comrades up run, the club lined up with 155 members of which 134 finished. Five members were awarded their green numbers while four received double-green.
Zwelakhe Mkorwana was the first BNAC athlete to cross the finish line, clocking 07:24:14 to finish 468th overall. Kirsty Roux was the first BNAC woman to cross the line, finishing in 08:54:02.
The club will host its Comrades send-off breakfast on August 21 at the clubhouse in Northmead.
The Benoni Harriers is sending 24 runners. Four members will be partaking in the event for the first time and one will be going for a green number.
Like the sight of Jacaranda trees blooming in late September, the blue and white colours of Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) have become a familiar sight among the residents of Boksburg.
Also Read: 113 Boksburg Athletic Club members preparing for new Comrades Marathon date
The club’s runners took their Comrades preparations to gear two this year with numerous club runs while several members participated in events such as the Johnson Crane Marathon in March and Kwikscaff Marathon last month.
The club will be represented by a total of 70 runners with 11 participating in their first Comrades Marathon. Two members will be going for their green numbers.
A total 96 runners lined up for the club in 2019 with 71 finishing and 14 running in their first ultramarathon.
Nicholas McCann was the club’s first runner at the finish, clocking 06:43:30 to finish 110th overall and 79th in the open category.
The BAC will host a send-off breakfast at 343 Kingfisher Avenue in Sunward Park on August 21. The event will start with a run at 07:00 with the breakfast following at 08:00.
The club has urged all members going to the Comrades to bring all their nutrition (mixing instructions, name and race number) they will need at Hillcrest water point.
Also Read: Comrades prep talk at Boksburg Stadium tomorrow
