Midrand Striders prepare for Wings for Life race
The Midrand Striders are lacing up for a race that has no finish line, training hard ahead of the Wings for Life World Run on May 10.
Members of the Midrand Striders running club are training hard ahead of the Wings for Life World Run, a global race held annually to raise funds for spinal cord injury research.
The club, which welcomes runners of all abilities, was out in force at a recent training session, putting in the kilometres as they build towards the event.
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The men’s captain for the Midrand Striders, Njebo Mnyanda, commented about their progress and preparations for the Wings for Life race as a team.
“So, as Midrand Riders, we’re actually a club that likes to engage in social and corporate events. That’s mainly something that we like to get involved in. So yes, we’ll definitely be supporting that and getting all hands on deck for that race,” said Mnyanda.
Among those pounding the tar was Zama Maibane, a self-described social runner who joined the Striders last year. After a slow start, she has committed to consistent training since December and is already seeing results.
“When I started my 5km, I was finishing in about 50 minutes. Now I’m at 40 minutes,” she said.
Maibane has her sights set on a 5km time of 37 minutes before pushing on to bigger challenges. A half-marathon mid-year and a full marathon before the year is out are both firmly in her plans.
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“Those are my main goals, and then I want to lose weight and just keep healthy, make friends,” she said.
Her progress has not always been straightforward. Maibane admitted that her times and race performances have been inconsistent, with some weeks feeling stronger than others.
“One week I’m beating my time, the next week it’s tougher than it was. At this point, I don’t know, but I’m just showing up.”
That attitude appears to be paying off. Training with the Striders has been a positive experience, and she described the group as friendly, even if the sessions were demanding.
The Wings for Life World Run takes place simultaneously across the globe on May 10, with participants racing until they are caught by a so-called Catcher Car that starts 30 minutes after runners and gradually picks up speed. All entry fees go directly towards spinal cord research.
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