THE city of Pietermaritzburg was a hive of activity last Sunday morning when more than 5 000 athletes descended on the sleepy hollow for the start of the annual Maritzburg City Marathon.
The national anthem rang out five minutes before the start of the event on a fairly narrow road.
The race began with the sound of a very loud boom from a cannon.
Because of the narrow road at the start, there was a lot of pushing and shoving, but it soon became relaxed as the field stretched out.
Before the race I had committed myself to run with Kerry Farren to aid her in her quest to qualify for this year’s Comrades.
She ran like an absolute star the whole way and cantered in for an emotional finish in a fantastic time of just 4:54:16.
On our 42km trek it was very obvious the South Coast Striders’ team was present because, wherever you looked, there was a Strider sporting the outstanding colours of the green and orange.
Members of other clubs made mention of this and it really made me proud to be a member of such a fantastic club.
Once we had completed our race I was informed that our top runners had come to the fore in the way of having the first and fourth juniors home in the 10km race, Sinovuyo Nkasa in a time of 00:32:44 and Londile Jonose in 00:36:47.
Sinovuyo is already a shining star and tells me that belonging to the Striders’ team is an absolute privilege and honour.
Michael Mzobe, who is now also loving it back at Striders, finished a very fast 21km race in a blistering time of just 1:09:00, to secure ninth overall.
Sarah Morrison-Young was the third junior to complete the 21km race in a time of 2:23:29. Mthokozisi Cele completed the 42km in 18th position with a sizzling time of 2:44:24 and will be crowned alongside Mignon Klusener, who ran a time of 04:00:53 as the 2016 club champions for the standard marathon for South Coast Striders.
Moria King (2:38:23) was first in her age category and Hannes Streuderst (2:46:07) was second in his age category. They made us incredibly proud in the walking event by strutting their stuff in fantastic times for the 21km walking event. All the event’s results will be in next week’s article.
This Sunday we are hosting a 6km/12km fun run/walk in Gamalakhe. It starts and finishes at the TB Molefe Stadium, starting at 7am. R20 entry fee. For queries phone Muzi Mzobe 083 4255848.
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