Online ReporterLovemore Dube, Deputy Sport Editor
BULAWAYO ultra-marathon enthusiasts braved the chilly weather conditions on Friday to warm up for the 8 June 2025 Comrades Marathon.
This year it’s a downhill run and will begin at Pietersmaritzburg and end in Durban.
On Good Friday, Fitness First Athletics Club members embarked on a gruelling circuit run at Hope Fountain running four laps of 12.km each in terrain that they believe is good preparation. The club was forced into the race because the traditional PPC Matopos 33-Miler was scrapped off this year’s athletics calendar.
With ultra-marathons few in Zimbabwe the club then set a race to incorporate Independence Celebrations as a team as part of the preparations.
They bemoaned the cancellation of the 33-Miler which denied them a competition that would have seen them get good measure of their preparations. It would have been a qualifying event for some budding runners.
Mudiwa Nyirenda, the Fitness First Club spokesperson described the trial run as a success. She was happy with the spirit of the athletes who braved the chilly drizzling weather conditions to be together and celebrate Independence.
“We had a good race and athletes managed to have a run on terrain which is very difficult. There were ascends and descends which is more less like what they will run through, though Comrades is very difficult and the hilly nature and descend is extended over a much longer distance.
“We had initially prepared ourselves last year that we would make good use of the 33-Miler but in its absence we then set ourselves our own race on a course that tests endurance and resilience of the athlete. We were actually impressed with the uptake and we contemplating having an official race next year to give ultra-marathon events lovers another go at their passion,” said Nyirenda.
Athletes who spoke to Zimpapers Sports Hub on Friday expressed excitement over the forthcoming ultimate race and disappointment of not running the PPC Matopos 33-Miler this year, traditionally on Easter weekend.
Fatima Hassin, 59, who has run five Comrades is excited about the prospect of a sixth.
Her best in the event has been 9 hours 45 minutes clocked in 2022.
At Founders High School in the 1980s, she was a sprinter specializing in the 100 and 200m.
She also was good at long jump and hurdles and recalls running for Zimbabwe at the just opened National Sports Stadium in 1988.
Preparations for the 2025 Comrades Marathon she said were on course.
“This year has been a very good preparation, we started early as a club, we have been doing back to back runs on Saturday and Sunday, we have been training as team it’s been very good.,” said Hassin.
She bemoaned the absence of the 33-Miler.
“Actually we definitely use it for preparation, it’s the only ultra-marathon in Zimbabwe, it’s a hard race,” said Hassin.
Helen Kufahakutizvi (45) will be running her third Comrades Marathon in 48 days.
ν Full story on www.sundaynews.co.zw
In her first attempt she ran the distance in 10 hours one minute 58 seconds and last year she improved that to 9 hours 36 minutes.
“I ran Old Mutual for my qualifier, I clocked 3 hours 56 minutes, I was looking forward to it (PPC Marathon), I was really looking forward to it, we are training at How Mine and we doing Danger (Mzingwane District),” said Kufakakutizvi.
City dentist Munashe Murava is set to run his inaugural Comrades Marathon on 8 June.
He described Friday’s race as hectic and sapping but is happy to take part in the ultimate human race.
‘It’s been hectic,” said Murava after running the four laps for a total of 50km.
“I have done four laps which is 50km, the Comrades, is the ultimate human race, I decided to take part to just experience it,” said Murava.
The Comrades Marathon brings together the mind and body to conquer on the road and over 200 Zimbabweans are expected to take part in three categories.
There are elite athletes who will be out to follow Stephen Muzhingi’s feat of winning there, fitness enthusiasts and wheelchair athletes.
Muzhingi became the first Zimbabwean to win the Comrades and has three titles.
