Comrades novices excited by challenge

With three weeks left until the start of the Comrades Marathon, Roodepoort Athletics Club members are putting the final touches to their training regimens.

The event is between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Along with their usual participants, the club will be joined by five athletes running the Comrades Marathon for the first time.

Mzo Dlamini from Lindhaven has been part of the club for a year. He started out as a casual runner before deciding to join a club.

“I was studying in Durban where I used to watch the runners and I always thought that one day would be my turn to do it. That day has arrived,” he said.

He qualified for the Comrades in this year’s Pick n Pay marathon and his goals for the Comrades is to win silver medal or the Bill Rowan Medal.

“It is my first Comrades Marathon so I don’t want to aim too high or too low. I want to set goals so that at the end my family and friends can be proud of me,” said Mzo.

Kim Erasmus from Roodekrans has been at the club since the age of 10. This year she was supposed to compete in the marathon alongside her mother.

“We were supposed to be the mother and daughter team because it was our dream to do it together. Unfortunately she got an injury and doctors said she couldn’t compete. I will run for the both of us,” she said.

The 23-year-old aims to finish the comrades before the cut off time.

“To finish the marathon in 11 hours is the dream but my main objective besides that is to have fun together with my club mates and hopefully get a medal,” said Kim.

Lance van Niekerk is another novice from Roodepoort Athletics Club that will be participating in the Comrades marathon for the first time. The 57-year-old Roodepark resident started running last year and became addicted to the sport.

“It is the ultimate race in the world, so why not do it? It’s a challenge to improve your own time and distance. My first goal is to improve myself so that next year I can do better, that is the challenge. I’ve done all the club runs to prepare,” said Lance.

Godfrey Mokone is one of the aces of the club. The 33-year-old runner is confident in doing well in the marathon, aiming for a podium position. He started running as a means to keep fit and healthy after an injury forced him to stop playing soccer.

“I’ve been watching the comrades for year, wishing I would be there. Although it is my first race, I want to study the route and aim for a silver medal,” he said.

Is first big race was the Soweto Marathon in 2010 where he gained experience in running events of a higher level. “To run a marathon of such a level, you need to be mentally and physically strong and that is the things I’ve been working on,”said Godfrey.

Gary Peter from Wilro Park is excited to be participating in the marathon. He qualified for the event in March by competing in the Vaal Marathon. The 43-year-old started running for the club last year and has already reaped the benefits.

“I used to weigh 102 kilograms and smoked 40 cigarettes until my friends challenged me to participate in the Comrades. Its inspiring to watch ordinary people take part in it and cross the finish line. I wanted to do something that felt impossible for me so I joined the club,” said Gary.

However, last month Gary had an operation on his left knee and doctors advised him not to run by he refused their advise and will line up at the start of the Comrades Marathon.

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