OAKDENE – Persistant runner and gardener by profession, Thulani Sithole, started running competitively in 1997, a step that gave him the confidence and courage to part take in his first Comrades Marathon in 1998.
Having run in over 30 races in nine Comrades events since, the 40-year-old South-based runner says he is eager to participate in the 2014 marathon.
Some readers may remember Thulani from an article published in the CHRONICLE in 2012, when he reached out to communities and good Samaritans to assist with donations of his much-needed running equipment.
This year, he is back in action, training hard for the races and again hoping to receive the same level of generosity as before.
“I started saving for my races as soon as I had a job, but it was hard,” remembers Thulani. “I have received a lot of support from Reverend Nkabinde.”
He added that he trains hard for the marathon. However, the disappointment of not being able to go due to a lack of funds and because he doesn’t have some of the necessities, can be very discouraging.
There are various issues stemming from insufficient funds to participate in the Comrades, whether it is money to travel to the race, or a shortage of gear and accommodation, but his passion helps him to stay focused on his goal to win the Comrades one day.
The 2014 Comrades Marathon will take place early on Sunday June 1 in Pietermaritzburg and is set to finish at the Sahara-Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban.
With a first-time track record of eight hours 40 minutes in 1998, Thulani says he anticipates the distance to be 89km, although it has not yet been officially confirmed by organisers. The final distance will be made known in time.
Thulani’s participation record in at least 16 Comrades Marathons should allow him to qualify for free entry to the event, but he says that he doesn’t mind that he has to pay entry fees like every other athlete. He hopes that come June, he will have received all the running necessities needed to perform his best.
