Striders member to run in the Comrades Marathon
A teacher wants to inspire learners to go for their dreams
Kwa-Thema – Kwa-Thema Striders’ member Sanele Ximba has qualified for the Comrades Marathon that takes place in June in KwaZulu-Natal.
This was after he took part in the Johnson Crane Hire Marathon which took place in Benoni on Sunday.
Ximba finished a 42.2km race in 02:54:08.
Ximba ran in the 20 to 39-years-old men category and his stats are as follows:
-Rank overall – 21 of 2608 starters
-Rank gender – 21 of 2099 starters
-Rank category – 15 of 631 starters
Originally from Msinga, KZN, Ximba (33), who is a teacher by profession, said, “I am from a very rural area which is mostly associated with violence, crime, alcohol abuse and many bad things.
“I want to be an inspiration to my learners and children back home that your background doesn’t define you and can’t stop you from achieving your goals.”
“You can leave the rural and move to the city and still be able to treat yourself with honour and respect and be a good reflection to those who remain in the rural,” he said.
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Ximba said motivating others doesn’t need or require one to speak to them but actions can be a motivation.
Ximba started running in 2016 and started taking an interest in marathons in 2017, running his first comrades in 2019.
“Running also serves as emotional therapy.
“Though I started running in my late 20s, I want children to know they can start as young as they are, as running is not just healthy but therapeutic as well,” concluded Ximba.
