Close on the heels of victory…

It is every runner’s dream to own the title of winner of the Comrades Marathon. The win, however, can only be achieved through hard work, dedication and sacrifice. For those who have won the title, it is obvious that they have made sacrifices in their lives so that training can be the priority.
Dundee has its very own runner – Lindani Sangweni of Sibongile – a dream-chaser who is hoping that one day he will uplift the name of his home town by winning the Comrades Marathon, the biggest marathon in the country. In June he will be marking his fifth run in the competition, and will be striving to bring home a silver medal.
On April 19 he brought home a bronze medal, which he won during the Two Oceans Marathon. This is his highest achievement so far, aside from being the second to finish the Emphathe Mountain Challenge, as well as competing in the Ladysmith Night Race.
Although he has never won the Comrades Marathon, he always manages to be placed on the A point, where he is lined up with the top runners at the front of the starting line.
Every Wednesday he meets with other runners from the Biggersberg Athletics Club, and trains every morning and afternoon. However, he indicated that it is not enough to put him where he wishes to be. “As a runner you need a person who is going to push you further in training, and have a programme to work up from,” he stated.
Mr Sangweni works as pharmacist’s assistant at the Dundee Provincial Hospital. It is this job that pays all his expenses when competing outside Dundee, aside from donations he receives from local businesses and his colleagues. All outstanding expenses involved are covered personally. He said he has no plans to leave his job any time soon, ‘but I believe I will be the top runner in Endumeni one day’.
He forwards his sincere gratitude to his colleagues at the hospital, as well as local businesses, for supporting him and donating funds for him to go to Cape Town for the Two Oceans Marathon. “If it was not for you guys, I would not have made it to Cape Town. Thank you very much!” he concluded.