Silale aims for maiden silver at Comrades

Silale finished on the podium in the women's half-marathon at the Mandela Remembrance Walk in Pretoria and Lesedi AC Reconciliation Day Half-Marathon in Vosloorus. Both races were held last month.

January 11, 2026

Lebohang Pita 1 minute read

A photo of a runner in a blue and white vest and blue tights. — Christina Silale runs on the finishing straight at the Lesedi AC Half-Marathon.

Ultra-runner Christina Silale is aiming for an improved performance at this year’s Comrades Marathon – an up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg – and has set the wheels in motion, training for her first silver medal at the ultimate human race.

Silale, who turns 50 this year, ended 2025 on a high with top three finishes at the Mandela Remembrance walk and run in Pretoria and Lesedi AC Reconciliation Day Half-Marathon, in December.

The women’s Lesedi Half-Marathon top five are Silindile Chili (third), winner Zanele Maisa, runner-up Christina Silale, Zoliswa Mbiko (fourth) and Putumzi Macingwana (fifth).

The Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) athlete clocked a season’s best 01:29:51 at the Mandela Remembrance race at the Union Buildings for third place in the women’s 21km and ended her year as runner-up and first in the veteran women’s category in 01:31:37 at the Lesedi Half-Marathon in Vosloorus, which she said was her training run.

“The race was okay. It was a training run. Yesterday (December 15), I did 40km. I finished this half-marathon in 01:31:37. It’s not bad because I pushed myself at the Mandela Remembrance race. I clocked 01:29:51. There I was competing, but today was just a training run,” she said at Vosloorus Stadium.

Also Read: BAC runners give it their all

Silale is in a 10-month training programme for the Comrades Marathon, which is scheduled for June 14. She has achieved two Bill Rowan medals and a bronze in her three appearances, and this year hopes for a maiden silver medal.

To achieve this, the athlete will have to improve her Comrades lifetime best by over 25 minutes. She boasts a 07:54:32, achieved in the last up-run in 2024, and will have to finish the race between 07:00 and 07:30 for a silver.

“I’m in my 10 months of Comrades Marathon training. I hope to achieve a silver. Coach David Gamede said I should prepare for 10 months. I’m in my third month,” Silale said.

Reflecting on the past year, the Wattville resident was happy with her achievements, saying she’s seen massive improvements since linking up with Gamede and the BAC.

“I’m satisfied with my training. I’m growing as an athlete. I’m turning 50 this year. I hope for a top 10 finish in my category at Comrades. I have hope I will achieve it, given the training programme I’m on.”

Also Read: BAC’s Silale sizzles at marathon