April’s back in starting block
Marathon ace kicks off comeback with PE race
PREMIER Eastern Cape longdistance runner, Lusapho April, is back in action after a break from his Olympic endeavours earlier this year.
April takes on the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay City to Town halfmarathon in Port Elizabeth today, and will be aiming to be among the top finishers.
“Every race I take part in I stand on that line wanting to win, so tomorrow [today] I will be going all out to get the win,” April said.
Rest and then injury had kept April out of the running since the Rio Olympics.
The decorated marathon runner is excited to get back down to business.
“Since the Olympics I haven’t done many races. I first had a rest and then I was out for eight weeks with an injury, so I was supposed to go do the Frankfurt marathon but I still had a slight problem with my achilles and didn’t want to risk it,” April said.
“My first serious race back was two weeks ago when I did a 10km in PE and came second. My time was 30.43 and the winning time was 30.36, so I was pretty happy with my first run out.”
Following today’s race, April will be training in Uitenhage over the holiday period and will be getting ready for another big season next year.
He will unfortunately not be participating in the Daily Dispatch Jumbo Fun Run which will be taking place at Orient Beach next weekend, as he will be involved in a serious training regime.
“I unfortunately won’t make the Dispatch run as I will be training in Uitenhage, I will be here for the holidays and then I want to take my daughter to her first day of school in January before I come back to East London to train with my coach,” April said.
“I think after this weekend’s race my next major race will be a 30km race in Cape Town in January next year and then it is all about building up for either the Boston or Hanover marathon in April.”
April was speaking at the opening of the new Jumbo store in Bowls Road, Arcadia where, as their brand ambassador, he was in attendance, mixing with the shoppers and taking pictures with them and signing autographs.
Also in attendance at the opening was Klevas brand ambassador and South African actor Maurice Paige, best-known for his portrayal of Calvin on SABC 3 soap, Isidingo.
Paige was also enjoying the atmosphere, taking photos with fans and signing autographs.
“It has been a really interesting morning, getting up at 4am to be here on time, but it has been a really lovely experience and I am enjoying myself,” Paige said.
“This is the third time I have been to East London, each time for work, but every time I just love the energy and the vibe here and the people just make you want to come back again and again.”
Paige, who after speaking with April, admitted that he too, just like the Jumbo ambassador, enjoyed running.
“I do like running and keeping fit, but more on the sprinting side, but I can’t run like he does, he runs long distances and that’s not my thing,” admitted Paige.