Wayne’s World: Don’t arrive ‘naked’
Relax, breathe in and step back. You are ready, take it one step at a time and have fun.
EXCITEMENT and nervous anticipation is building rapidly as we near the start of the most amazing race you will ever participate in.
Family and friends are on high alert to protect you from any and all germs while walking on eggshells as you find yourself constantly on edge, second guessing your training, your kit, your to-do list, and don’t forget the nightmares of arriving on the day absolutely naked!
We will be having a pre-Comrades pasta evening at the club on Wednesday, May 25 at 6pm.
All members are welcome, please bring a pasta dish to share and come wish our runners all the best.
We will be awarding our runners for their efforts to get to the starting line and letting them predict their times, while gaining last minute pearls of wisdom from the seasoned runners.
And now it’s time to meet some more of this year’s runners.
First up is Scelo ‘Ralph’ Shusha (37), who ran his first Comrades in 2012. His best time is 7:52:34. Ralph has four Bill Rowan medals to his name.
Fikile Finiza (53) is attempting his second Comrades after running a time of 11:32:58, earning himself a Vic Clapham medal last year.
Jan van Eeden (49) ran his first Comrades in 1991 at the age of 24 and has completed eight in all, receiving seven bronze medals and one Vic Clapham.
Jan will be running Comrades with his novice son Riaan (25) this year.
Fikile Mkutyukelwa (50) is running his very first Comrades.
Xolani Dlangalala (43) ran the first of his three Comrades in 2013 where he had all of us on the edge of our seats as we watched him finish on live TV with a time of 11:59:50 – with only 10 seconds to spare!
He has three Vic Clapham medals to his name.
Cathy Mather-Pike (38) is attempting her second Comrades and is going for back-to-back medals after last year’s Vic Clapham medal in a time of 11:49:55.
Runners who complete their first two Comrades marathons in two consecutive years receive an extra back-to-back medal.
Nkosinathi Shonga (51) ran his first Comrades in 1989 at the age of 24. He has five bronze medals and his fastest time is 8:14:22.
Emmanuel Ngcongo (35) ran his first Comrades in 2008. He has five Bill Rowan medals and three bronze medals. His fastest time is 7:14:13.
Issac Madlala is attempting his third Comrades at the age of 52. His fastest time is 9:08:42 and he has 2 bronze medals.
Morgan Moodley (59) ran his first Comrades in 2010 and has one Bill Rowan medal and four bronze medals. His fastest time is 8:54:43.
Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Yigwana (37) is 37 and has run Comrades since 2008.
He has three Bill Rowans and four bronze medals and his fastest time is 8:18:59.
Believe it or not, Manny and I finished Comrades together hand in hand one year, thrilled to have completed the gruelling race and each earning ourselves our first Bill Rowan medal.
I sit on the sidelines this year due to health problems which have prevented me from running for now. But I can’t see myself ever running at his pace again!
However, you never know because ‘every stride counts’.
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