Runners are geared for the Comrades

He joined the club at the beginning of the year after relocating from Secunda to the Lowveld.

“I enjoy running as it is a stress reliever. And it seems after 30 years it must be working,” Kooyman said with a smile.

He will run the gruelling race with his daughters, Mariska and Tanya.

“It is a privilege to have my daughters by my side. My youngest, Tanya, will compete in her seventh Comrades and Mariska in her first. Time is not a factor for me. The moment I set a specific time, it puts pressure on me. We will have to wait and see what happens on Sunday,” added Kooyman.

The Comrades Marathon is one of the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathons. In its 92 year history the race has been lauded for its camaraderie, endurance and triumph of the human spirit.

LVCC has 15 novices who will be doing this race for the very first time and there are two runners who will be doing their back-to-back race.

Also read: Results: Comrades Marathon 2016

Paul Theron is on his maiden voyage while wife Schizelle will go for her third Comrades. Ntokosa and Lala Majola are a husband-and-wife team that has travelled this road many times.

Lovers Hlatswayo is going for his 10th medal and will wear a yellow number, which is the colour to carry on your way to green.

Local hero, Iain Toomey hopes to complete his 28th Comrades all in LVCC colours.

Last year the legs of Jairzinho Mokoena (LVCC) conquered the deceptively tricky 91st Comrades Marathon in 06:36:46. He completed the 89 kilometre route for the fifth time and also was the fastest runner of the local clubs. He ranked overall 90 of 16 807 participants and was the 88th man
to finish.

This year’s Comrades Marathon is an “up run”. It starts at the Durban City Hall at 05:30 and cut-off time is 12 hours later at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg – a distance of approximately 88 kilometres.

LVCC
Novices
Mariska Kooyman
Alfred Nkosi
Paul Theron
Ntokoza Khoza
Bobby Robert Malatji
Thooveneshvaran Padayachee
Werner Pakendorf
Zodwa Nkosi
Manda Gomes
Anru Liebenberg
Moshito Mokonyama
David Adams
Goodman Gobeni
Vuyisile Sipho Mashabane
Fikile Correene Shiba
Antoinette Small
Morris Ndhlovu

Going for first
Nhlanhla Mnisi
Ruan van der Merwe

Going for second
Richard Mnisi
Sifiso Mkhwanazi
Jacqueline Labuschagne
Julius Marsh
Jacques van Tonder
Alta Linstrom
Lianda Wells
Pieter van Immerzeel
Johan Eksteen
Tyrone Hinrichsen
Lisa Main
Wimpie de Beer
Derek Reilly
Magareth Msibi
Going for third
Schizelle Theron
Professa Mthethwa
Rodney Manyise
Chris Vosloo
Zweli Mpantsha
Gladys Mabuza
Thomas Mthethwa

Three going for four
Eddie Mc Gee
Adele Smit
Brian Mashego
Yolandi Human
Ciska Bouwer
Siyabonga Mdletshe
Urna Stevenson

Four going for five
Monday Mabuza
Henrique Mbendane
Zakhele Ntuli
Fanie Bekker
Anelia Fourie
Joshua Sibiya
Sipho Ngomane

Five going for six
Elsa de Beer
Fanilakhe Ntshangase
Jairzinho Mokoena
Kgoroshi Diphofa
Madabuza Khoza
Vusi Mkhonto
Paul Norman
Martin van Gass
Johannes Makola
Daleen Joubert

Six going for seven
Tanya Carter
Venessa van Aswegen
Butterfly Sibiya
Mark Greeff
Seven going for eight
Filip Lokotsch
Ntokozo Majola
Brad Carter

Running for green
Lovers Hlatshwayo

First time wearing green
Mausley Pilane
The green team
Wessel Bhayi
Peter Lekuba
Lala Majola
Eulalie Erasmus

Double green and beyond
Hezekiel Hlophe
Iain Toomey
Jan Kooyman.

Nelspruit Marathon Club
Novices
Cindy Gagiano
Thomsinga Gininda
Louis Human
Jhandre Jansen van Vuuren
Nadia Lindsay
Katlego Mabele
Sydney Macu
Tombi Maomba
Johan Oosthuizen
Innocent Phiri
Soul Siwele

Going for first medal
Rudolph Malme
Celeste Oosthuizen
Going for back to back
Alexis Badenhorst
Henk Botha
Robert Brand
Jonathan Gininda
Kate Hullett
Dries Jansen van Vuuren
Charles Katzke
Livhuweni Madzona
Isaac Mofokeng
Jason Polsel

Going for second
Dalene Botha
Marige Cooper
Doreen Mndluli
Two going for three
Eric Gwamba

Three going for four
Nelly Khoza
Giyani Mathebula
Makalang Phaphano
Sibongile Shongwe
Lindiwe Shube
Lucky Sibande

Four going for five
Percy Maduna
Goodman Maleni
Deane Mortlock
Given Mothipe
Paul Odendaal

Five going for six
Elleck Mgiba

Six going for seven
Delina Shatz
Elmar Schoombe

Seven going for eight
Armando Cossa
Yolanda Steenkamp
Johan Wolmerans
Eight going for nine
Sipho Chauke

Going for green
Marius Botha
December Mashaba
Madelein Whitehair

First time wearing green
Lawrence Ngobeni

12th Comrades
Given Mashego
Moses Sibiya

14th
Carl Phala

Going for 15th
Mariet Erasmus

Going for 16th
Bennie Burger.