Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORTUNATE Chidzivo is back in Cape Town this weekend, chasing the race that once defined her.
The seasoned long-distance runner returns for the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon this weekend, chasing a repeat of her 2022 triumph after missing the last three editions. The race, one of the biggest on the calendar, features a 56km ultra marathon on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. Chidzivo will be in the half marathon field, up against a strong line-up.
She is not hiding her intentions.
“I am going back with my head high.
“I am also going to try and rewrite the 2022 history.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t find sponsorship, so I have to leave early as I am travelling by road,” said Chidzivo.
The 39-year-old leaves for South Africa this morning, confident her build-up has been solid. She has stayed busy on the local circuit, focusing on the 21km and 10km distances as she sharpened for this race.
That work is showing. Chidzivo won the CBZ Half Marathon in March and had already taken top spot over the same distance at the Old Mutual Harare Marathon earlier this year.
“I have had a best block ever in my running career. This was my best block of training ever.
“Of course, I have picked some few niggles here and there, but I was never injured in this block. I thank God for the mercy,” she said.
Her most recent outing came at the Nyaradzo Marathon where she ran the 10km, though that effort was more about what lies ahead in May.
“I recently ran the Nyaradzo 10km. It wasn’t actually towards the Two Oceans preparations. “It was towards the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon preparations. We did a long-run and then we went out to Nyaradzo to test drive if I could run 10 kilometres, 15 seconds slower than the goal pace, and all went well,” she said.
Zimbabwe will have a decent presence across both races. Jonathan Chinyoka leads the charge in the 56km ultra marathon, returning for his third appearance at the event. The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services runner made his debut in 2018 and last competed in 2022 when he finished eighth.
He is coming in fresh, having skipped local races this year to focus on his build-up.
“My last race was last year on November 30, the Kamandama Marathon. After that I started my preparations for Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon.
“Of course, we are starting with Two Oceans before we go for the Comrades Marathon in June. “Preparations have gone well, although it was not easy when I started early December last year. I didn’t have any assistance but it motivated me to push harder in my training.
“I didn’t go for any races, including local races such as CBZ and Old Mutual because this year we want more Zimbabweans to make the top 10. “And my personal target is to win,” said Chinyoka.
He is expected to travel today alongside Lyno Muchena, Prosper Mutwira, Farai Mjeguli, Neviah Maganzo, Phillipa Dube and team manager Mike Fokorani under the Nedbank Running Club.
