Menzi Tshayiza is fast becoming one of Ugu Athletics Club’s top runners.
He used to be a keen footballer, playing for the Bhobhoyi based team, named Manchester United after the trophy-winning team in England.
Menzi said that he stopped pursuing football as career because of the injuries associated with this sport.
He was spotted running in the Port Shepstone area (Marburg, Albersville and Oslo Beach in particular) by Farouk Naroth, a member of Ugu Athletics Club.
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When asked if he belonged, he said ‘no’, and was duly asked to join. In his first fun run, Menzi finished the 10km race in 35 minutes and came third.
At this point he indicated that he was, in fact, a long distance runner.
On a training run in hilly Oribi gorge, he ran 42km and finished in 3:11:06. After that run he complained that his shoes were hurting.
Upon closer inspection, club members found out that the shoes were not running shoes, but old and torn ‘takkies’.
The club then resolved to look for a sponsor and Luckys Sports and Fishing, a local sports store, agreed to supply him with running kit, based on his performances.
With his new running shoes, Menzi took part in the 48km Hibiscus Coast Marathon.
Unfortunately, he arrived half an hour late, but he gave chase anyway and eventually finished 15th in a time of 3:15:31.
In August last year, he took part in the Mandela Day Marathon and clocked a time of 3:09:13.
And in October, he raced the Goss Balfe & Sapphire Coast Marathon and finshed in time of 3:04:01.
With these type of performances, Menzi can only improve in 2018.
* In other club news, 14 runners took part in the Hillcrest Marathon in Hillcrest last weekend.
This is a qualifying race for the Comrades Marathon which takes place on June 10 this year.
Five competed in the 21.1km half marathon and all finished comfortably, while nine took part in the 42.2km and also finished comfortably.
Two of the club’s top runners did exceptionally well, running a ‘Sub Three’, that is running a marathon under three hours.
They were Innocent Cele and … you guessed it, Menzi Tshayiza.
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