adminLiberty Dube
BATTLE hardened, but ageing Mutare long distance runner, Tendai Chamwandoita who last year won silverware at the prestigious Comrades Marathon has four high profile marathon races in South Africa starting on Sunday.
Chamwandoita (43) is set to participate in the 21km Vaal Marathon on Sunday before partaking in the 21km Race Silencer Marathon the next weekend, while the 56km Two Oceans Marathon (from Atlantic to Indian) awaits him on March 26.
He will take part in the internationally acclaimed 90km Comrades Marathon on May 29.
The lanky runner won an accolade last year after completing the 90km Comrades Marathon race (from Durban to Pietermaritzburg) in seven hours, 53 minutes, 11 seconds.
The tightly contested race saw over 26 000 runners from across the world participating.
The Comrades Marathon is an ultra marathon of approximately 89km (approx. 56 miles) which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and it is the world’s largest and oldest ultra marathon race.
The direction of the race alternates each year between the “up” run (87 km) starting from Durban and the “down” run (89 km) starting from Pietermaritzburg.
The field is capped at 23,000 runners, and entrants hail from more than 60 countries.
In all but three runnings since 1988, over 10,000 runners have reached the finish within the allowed 11 or 12 hours.
The Dangamvura-born runner raised the country’s flag high last year in a number of races such as the 42km Soweto Marathon and the Tough One Race where he scooped bronze and silver medals respectively.
In an interview, Chamwandoita said he was in great shape and was ready to break personal records.
“I am prepared to set new records for myself. I know it won’t be easy, but I am ready to surpass my previous records.
I am training hard and I can safely say I am 100 percent fit. I hardly have time to rest.
I need to make Manicaland Province and the country at large proud of me again,” said the buoyant lanky runner.
Lack of financial support hampered Chamwandoita’s expedition in South Africa last year, a situation that led the runner to operate on a shoe-string budget.
“Corporate and individual support is all I need. It is not easy to travel to Johannesburg or Capetown by bus then participate in a 92km race two days after arriving there.
In most cases, I have been using my resources. I hope people will come aboard with some assistance as I embark on another quest for glory,” added Chamwandoita.
Online Reporter