Comrades Marathon – locals prepare, run in memory of Erika Bantjes

Despite the early winter chill the city’s streets remain alive with runners doing their final preparation for this year’s Comrades Marathon set to be run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg next Sunday.
While proper training, avoiding late stage injuries and a balanced diet are the topics most discussed among the athletes at this stage one Pietersburg Road Runners (PRR) member, Dries Stoltz, will be running the Comrades after a ten year absence. This time he will do so in memory of his erstwhile running partner Erika Bantjes, who died with her husband Pierre in an accident on the N1 in October last year.
“We were running partners for years. Our last Comrades together was in 2009. I was involved in a serious car accident and could not run for years after that. Following my recovery I became lazy but when Erika passed away I promised myself at her funeral that I would run the Comrades again in her honour,” Stoltz said.
PRR allocated Bantjes’ Limpopo Athletics (Lima) race number to Stoltz to be worn during the marathon.
“I started training in November, 2 km at a time, but eventually gained momentum and a higher fitness level and have since completed several marathons totalling 1 400 km since then,” Stoltz said.
He added that he doesn’t follow a special diet but that training alone lifted his spirit again. “It has been hard but I am already feeling much better and motivated. Erica and I ran six Comrades together and I want to do this again not only for myself but for her,” he said.
Speaking to one of Polokwane’s well-known athletes, Rocky Mojela, it became clear that proper training prior to the Comrades is the most important element of any athlete’s preparation.
“I do not have a special diet but I never skip a meal and stick to a combination of high carbohydrates and protein and a lot of vegetables. It is also important to keep well hydrated with electrolytes and vitamins,” Mojela, a member of Polokwane Athletic Club (PAC) said. He will be running his 11th Comrades this year.
Mojela indicated that one has to complete at least two or three ultra-marathons during the year in order to be well prepared for the Comrades. Besides that he has put in a lot of effort in hill training, time trials and easy runs to cover at least 80 km per week.
Mojela is well known for being the bus driver who, at many a race, leads a group of athletes by setting the pace for them to complete a race within a certain time. “This year I will also be the driver of the Comrades and plan on finishing the race in ten hours. The golden rule while running Comrades is to start slow, manage your time and pace and finish strong,” Mojela said.

Story: RC Myburgh
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