Amanzimtoti Athletics Club siblings notch up another Comrades victory

COMRADES-tackling duo, brother and sister Steven Msomi and Thobekile Zama have notched up another marathon, bring Steven’s count to a whopping 20 marathons and Thobekile’s an admirable 10.

The duo train together year-round and swear that their club is what carried them through all their marathons.

During an interview with the Sun, Steven explained that of all 20 Comrades Marathons that he has tackled, this was the first time it rained the night before. While he was worried about the day’s conditions, sister Thobekile remarked that it was very cold in Durban at the start, but it warmed up in Hillcrest as the sun began to rise.

“Comrades really only begins when you’re 50km in, near Drummond,” said Steven. “The up run is really something else. You have to be very strong not only in body, but also in mind.”

Read also: Amanzimtoti’s resilient athletes tackle gruelling 89km Comrades Marathon 

The duo train together from Monday to Thursday and over the weekend separately when they can, as Steven works most weekends. Prior to the 90km marathon, Steven had completed a 42km long run and Thobekile a 52km long run. Steven finished in 10:59 and his sister in 11:54, both are very pleased with their time.

To those who took on the marathon, but didn’t complete, Steven said that its not that they didn’t train enough.

“Sometimes your legs just don’t want to move anymore. When that happens, no amount of strength anywhere else can get you to the finish line in time. It’s like a tree without roots. No matter how strong the leaves or branches are, the tree can’t grow,” he said.

He congratulated all those who tackled the challenge or are training towards it. Both siblings paid gratitude to Toti AC, for their constant support.

“For all of our Comrades they have taken care of us. Both our club and Aquarius Pharmacy make sure that all runners are in excellent condition and equipped to run the marathon,” said Steven.

Thobekile and Steven agreed that joining your local athletics club is a great way to work towards your athletic goals, live a healthy lifestyle and meet amazing people.

“The grace of God, and the support from the Toti AC committee and fellow runners is what carried us through,” said Steven. “When you’re running a marathon and you look around, you’ll always see that bright orange colour supporting you. Toti is there supporting us wherever we go. If I could, I would buy boerewors and Windhoek beers and have a braai at the club, to thank everyone for the support they always give me. ”

The pair congratulated Comrades Marathon’s organisers for putting together an amazing event.

“I give Comrades 100 per cent on the care it offered the runners. In my 19 marathons before this one I have never known the athlete care to be so good,” said Steven. From massages readily available to athletes both during and after the race, to the fully-stocked refreshment stations offering potassium infused drinks, Coke or water, the event was extremely well planned.”

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