Wentworth athlete eagerly anticipates first Comrades Marathon

BIANNCA Manning is amped and ready to take on her first Comrades Marathon in just a few weeks time.
The world-famous almost 90km race, which will be in its 96th edition and the 48th ‘down run’, is scheduled to take place on June 11.

This year, the race will be starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. Manning, 34, of Wentworth, said she was encouraged by her son to enter.

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“My family and I watched the Comrades from the side of the road, because we had family members participate and it was also very exciting. We also like to support the runners.
“However, my son told me last year, ‘mom, why don’t you run next year? Look how excited we get for strangers, imagine if we have a family member run the Comrades’. After that day I decided to take part,” she said.

Manning, who is a member of the Bluff Athletic Club, said she has been training since September last year.
“I joined the club and got a lot of advice from experienced runners. However, not everything works for you, so the first few months was trial and error to see what works for me. I now plan my runs week by week. I train three times a week.
“Leading up to the Comrades, I have been doing a lot of long runs and have been working on my pacing. I also make sure to eat the right foods and take supplements that work me. So far, the journey has been amazing, with a lot of ups and downs,” she said.

Manning, a key account manager, said there are many benefits of running.

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“Running is a great stress and anxiety reliever, energy booster and of course a great way to maintain fitness. However, it also helps me start my day on a positive note and gives me those happy endorphins to take on the day. It makes me feel accomplished and energised for the rest of the day,” she said.
The mother of two said it was important to have the right running shoes.

“I initially had the wrong pair of running shoes which caused knee pain and I struggled with hills. However, I replaced my running shoes and I added hill sprints to my training schedule to improve my fitness,” she said.

Manning said her advice to those wanting to take on the Comrades, was to be fully committed.
“At first it will seem extremely hard and painful, but the more you train the better you become,” she said.

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