Sbonelo aims for non-stop title

FOUR-TIME Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon winner, Sbonelo Khwela, will be tackling the event on Friday 4 March alone.

“Two weeks between Dusi and Non-Stop Dusi is a short time, but I think it’s better like that because then you don’t have to train for non-stop, you just concentrate on recovering and then use what is left over in the tank from Dusi,” said Sbonelo.

“I first wanted to do the Non-Stop Dusi on my own in 2014 but then I got scared just before the race and that’s when Hank McGregor and I teamed up together. I then did it in my K1 last year and I really enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to doing it in my K1 again this year,” he added.

Having spent much of the KwaZulu-Natal river marathon season in a K2 as he prepared for the recent FNB Dusi, Khwela will spend a few brief training sessions making the adjustment back to his K1.

“I won’t actually train for the Non-Stop Dusi but I’ll do a few sessions of Shongweni Dam just to check my K1’s setup. I’ll also do one or two short runs with the boat to get used to running with my K1 again and loosen the legs up.”

With a reduced focus on his physical preparations, Khwela will spend much of his time preparing mentally for the energy-sapping challenge.

“Although it is raced on almost the same route as Dusi, non-stop is a very different race and you have to be mentally strong for it. When you go past the normal Dusi day one and day two finishes, you think to yourself ‘If this was Dusi, then I’d be finished for the day’, but it is still a long way to the finish at Blue Lagoon You also eat a lot more during non-stop and so you need to plan when and what you’re going to eat very carefully, while getting your hydration right is very important too. You also have to pace yourself very carefully because it is a very long day,” he said.

Having claimed the Non-Stop Dusi title in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 with Thomas Ngidi, Thulani Mbanjwa, Andy Birkett and McGregor respectively, Khwela finds himself lying third on the list of most Non-Stop Dusi wins behind ‘Dusi Duke’ Martin Dreyer (7) and Thulani Mbanjwa (5).

While the likes of Birkett and his 2016 FNB Dusi-winning partner, Lance Kime, have confirmed they will not be taking part in this year’s Non-Stop Dusi, Khwela still expects a tough challenge as he goes in search of his first individual victory at the event.

“It is still early; some of the guys will still be scared and still trying to recover from Dusi. By the time non-stop comes though, I’m sure a lot of the usual guys will do it as always. Either way, I’m not too worried about who else will be there as I’m just concentrating on racing in my K1,” said Sbonelo.

The 2016 Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon starts at Camps Drift, Pietermaritzburg at 5.30am on Friday, 4 March with the leaders expected to arrive at the finish at Blue Lagoon, Durban at approximately 1pm.