Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) chairperson Mark Dingle has urged the club’s athletes to run smart, trust their preparation and enjoy the experience when they tackle the 99th Comrades Marathon on Sunday.

BNAC will be represented by 180 runners, including 33 debutants, on the 85.77km up run from Durban City Hall to Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.

The club once again ranks among the country’s biggest Comrades teams, a reflection of its deep-rooted connection with the iconic ultra-marathon.

“Comrades is more than just a race for us,” said Dingle.

“Our entire year is built around it. Even runners who aren’t doing Comrades get involved in the build-up, whether through training runs, club activities or supporting those preparing for the race.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie in the club. People see the enjoyment and the friendships that come from the process, and, a year or two later, they decide to enter Comrades themselves. That’s why we continue to attract novices and keep experienced runners coming back.”

Dingle believes the club’s regular hill sessions in Bedfordview have prepared athletes for the route’s notorious Big Five climbs – Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Botha’s Hill, Inchanga and Polly Shortts.

Last year BNAC enjoyed a strong showing, collecting four silver, 21 Bill Rowan, 19 Robert Mtshali, 50 bronze and 57 Vic Clapham medals, with 151 of its 174 starters reaching the finish.

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He expects another solid performance, particularly from a growing group of runners targeting silver medals.

“We’ve got about 10 runners who could potentially achieve silver medals if the day goes well,” he said.

“We’ve also seen many runners who were previously around the nine-hour mark realise they can push for Bill Rowan medals with a bit more focused training. We’ve put a lot of work into the hills and the hard sessions to prepare properly for the up run.”

Among those attracting attention is talented runner Bright Mikolongwe, who will make his Comrades debut.

Dingle believes Mikolongwe, who returned to the club this year after a two-year stint with Nedbank Running Club, has the ability to excel, but cautioned him against getting carried away early.

“He’s a phenomenal runner with huge potential, but Comrades is a different challenge. He needs to be disciplined over the first 50km and treat this as a learning experience. If he’s smart, he’ll have a very good race.”

On the women’s side, Alison de Bruin will spearhead the BNAC challenge and is expected to chase her first silver medal after an impressive season.

Dingle’s final message to the club’s runners was simple.

“Trust your training and trust your goals. The first half of the up run is relentless, so be smart.

“Enjoy the day, enjoy the crowds and support the runners around you. None of us is a professional – we pay to be there. Comrades is a special race, and you should enjoy every moment of it.”

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