Kashiri still running strong – At 64

retiring anytime soon.
On Sunday he scooped the top prize in the grandmasters category at the inaugural Sunshine City 42km marathon in Harare.
Kashiri has competed in several international events, including 21km races in the United States and the London to Brighton 88km road race in United Kingdom in 1992.
During those days Kashiri competed alongside the likes of fellow Zimbabwean athletes Abel Nkoma, Esau Magwaza and Musawope Phiri.
The veteran runner started his athletics career when he was still in primary school at Rusambo Mission in Mount Darwin in the 1960s.
But his big breakthrough came in 1973 when he joined Trojan Nickel Mine after completing his O’ Level studies at St Albert.
Kashiri said it was not an easy path to walk when he joined the club as he was not familiar with the challenges in the sport he had chosen.
“I started running when I was still a pupil in primary school but to really start competing it was in 1973 when I joined Trojan Nickel Mine club in Bindura.
“I was doing cross-country, track events and half marathons.
“But it was not easy because I was not familiar with what was required and I did not have a kit but things started to change with time and I began to compete in national events.
“We also competed in the Chamber of Mines events working with South Africa and Botswana,” said Kashiri.
At Trojan Mine Kashiri was competing in national events such as the Trojan Mine 10km races and 21km races.
He moved to Alaska Mine at the end of 1979 before moving to Shabanie Mine in 1980 and in 1981 he took part in his first international event, a 21km race held in the United States.
“When I moved to Shabanie mine that’s when I started going outside the country competing in international races.
“In 1981 I went to USA for a 21km race and I finished on number 3 in 2hours 21minutes 30seconds.
“After that race, I started competing in 50km to 65km races and in most events I would come second.
“I also competed in the Kyle to Masvingo 50km race from 1980 to 1983 and for the four years I was finishing on number two,” said Kashiri.
The 63-year-old joined the Airforce in 1984 and qualified for the military games held in Zambia where he competed in cross-country and finished on fifth position.
He went on to compete in the Iron Man 65km race in 1986 and 1987 and on both occasions he won silver medals.
In 1987 he competed in the Masvingo Great Zimbabwe race.
The resilient Kashiri won the inaugural Standard Chartered Bank Centennial 100km road race in 1992 and earned a return ticket to the United Kingdom for the then popular London to Brighton 85km road race and won a shield after coming fourth in 2hours 21minutes 30seconds.
“The big race came in 1992 when I took part in the Mvurwi to Harare 100km ultra-marathon.
“I ran 7hours 16minutes 17seconds and qualified to get a return ticket to UK for the London to Brighton race where i finished fourth.
“From there I never looked back and my times started to get better.
“I then began to compete in the Two Oceans, Comrades Marathon and the City to City and these are all ultra marathon ,” Kashiri said.
He posted his best time in the 21km race in 1994 when he ran 1hour 12 minutes in Coca-Cola race in Bulawayo and his personal best record for the 42km marathon 2hours 31minutes16seconds.
Kashiri has won several silver and bronze medals in the Comrades Marathon and he is now competing in grandmaster category.
“I started to participate in the Comrades Marathon in 1981 and I have won several bronze medals.
“This year I won a bronze medal in the Comrades Marathon and I won the first prize in the inaugural Sunshine City Marathon,” said Kashiri.
But for someone to have such achievements there should be a secret behind and the 64-year-old’s resilience.
“This sport changed my life for the better and I managed to raise my family through athletics. My health is in good condition.
” What I can say is that sport needs a lot of discipline. For one to be successful in sport they must be disciplined.
“And sport itself can instill discipline in you, I can say sport protected me from bad things such as promiscuity and drinking and it has seen me getting where I am today, I am still strong health wise and I managed to acquire some property for myself.
“Sport gives you discipline and that discipline is your guideline in life,” said Kashiri.
The veteran long distance runner is grateful to his wife Beauty for supporting him and as he pursued his dream in sport.
“Families play an important role in one’s career. My wife was very supportive doing the basic wifely things and I love her.
“I also have two grandchildren who are interested in my career and I am currently working with them at home when I am doing my training.
“When I go out of the country for competition they always expect something from me,” said Kashiri.
The father of four urged the up-and-coming athletes to stay focused in order to achieve their set goals.
“These youngsters should have the love for the sport and they should concentrate on what they are doing.
Sports has now become a business, it is different from our days when we started running.
“There was no prize money and we were only given certificates, trophies and shields but we were just doing because we had the passion for sport.
“Nowadays one can make a living out of sport.
“Maybe if there was money then we would be rich and resting now but we are still competing because we want to earn something,” said Kashiri.
Kashiri was born on June 21 1947 and he attended Rusambo Primary School from sub A to standard six.
He proceeded to Mavhuradonha for his secondary education before moving St Albert for his ‘O’ Level.