From the Couch to Comrades
CEO of Mzansi Athletics Club Polokwane, Richard Bilisy Ramabiyane says he hopes to train at least five novice runners for the Comrades Marathon.
POLOKWANE – The 38-year-old, from Penina Park says he wants others to know they too can achieve this feat, all they need to do is put in the work.
With a slogan that reads, “C to C” or Couch to Comrades, Bilisy says he wants to motivate others to take on the challenge. “I also used to think that I can’t run the Comrades Marathon, until I did it. I have thus far run four marathons, one of which I trained myself. It was hard but I was not going to let myself down,” he explains.
He completed four long distance races in preparation for the Comrades, including the Kaapsehoop Marathon (42.2km), Kosmos 3in 1 (73km), Loskop Marathon (50km), and the Mall of the North Marathon (42km).
Bilisy says the benefits of running are countless but the most obvious ones include:
- Improved health and fitness
- Fun
- Travel
- Change of lifestyle
“As part of our vision, Mzanzi Athletics club in Polokwane aims to encourage all persons to run at least one marathon in their lives,” he continues. According to Bilisy, the club has designed a training programme for athletes who wish to train for the Comrades.
“This programme is coordinated by our Club Coach, Lufuno Mudau, who is passionate and experienced in training runners. He has completed six (6) Comrades Marathons, and assisted more than ten people to prepare and successfully finish several road races.
“We would like to make running fashionable in Polokwane, especially in the black communities. Running is as addictive as a drug but a good drug as one benefits a lot from running,” Bilisy concludes.
To contact the club coach, call 071 482 6826.
