Johannesburg Flying Squad police officer finishes Comrades Marathon in style
JOHANNESBURG – Kriel only started to prepare for the marathon in January yet finished it successfully as he had planned.
The Johannesburg Flying Squad police are showering Warrant Officer Eddie Kriel with praise following his successful participation in the recent Comrades Marathon.
The annual long-distance running challenge was held on 10 June with an estimated 20 000 athletes participating.
Read: Comrades Marathon 2014
Kriel, who belongs to the Run-Walk For Life Athletics Club in Mondeor, said this was his second Comrades. He finished the race as he had planned in nine hours and 51 seconds.
“Last year it was my first time running the Comrades Marathon and I finished in 11 hours. This year I planned to finish in less than 10 hours, and it happened,” said Kriel.
“I’m planning to go back next year and, this time, I’m planning to finish in less than nine hours. This is a major achievement for me and I’m really proud of myself because I only started to run five years ago as an athlete.”
Although he had not participated in a major challenge before the Comrades Marathon, he has run a few provincial and regional marathons in Gauteng. He cited the Vaal Marathon in Vereeniging as well as the Irene Ultra Marathon in Pretoria as some.
Leading up to the Comrades, Kriel started preparing in January, running in the mornings and evenings, depending on his police work schedule. He clocked 120km a week between January and May.
Read: On this day in history: The first Comrades Marathon took place
“This has been a great achievement for me and thanks to all who supported me including my girlfriend and fellow Mondeor runners who were with me until the finish line,” he said.
Kriel also thanked his fellow police officers for their support and encouragement and said it wouldn’t have been this successful without them too.
Details: Eddie Kriel 011 248 1315.
