Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
To have and to hold in races
Eastern Cape marathon organisers accommodate husband and wife
IVY Gongqa will be lining up for the Elliot Madeira Charity Club Half Marathon in the Eastern Cape town of Mthatha tomorrow morning, and the Khayelitsha investigating officer will be chasing a competitive time and a podium finish.
Her husband, Lungile, will be running the 10km to support his wife as she chases a personal best time.
The race, an important event for the local economy and the development of the sport, had been scheduled for the following week, but was changed to accommodate the Gongqas – Ivy, who is known in athletics circles in the region, but primarily Lungile, the 2017 Two Oceans winner and marathon superstar.
Both athletes are 100% focused on the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, when it will then be Lungile’s turn to chase a podium and Ivy’s to play the supporting role.
Hence the decision of the Mthatha race organisers to accommodate the Cape Town- based pair, local celebrities originally from Ngcobo, west of Mthatha.
The couple met in the Eastern Cape before reuniting in Cape Town where they travelled to seek work opportunities.
“We met through athletics,” said Ivy.
“I would also like to run next week. But my primary role will be to do everything I can to support Lungile – to encourage him on the route and ensure he receives the correct drinks and nutrition.
“It’s a big race for him and he would love to repeat his Cape Town Marathon success of 2015,” she said.
Lungile placed second that year to Kenyan Shadrack Kemboi in his personal best time of 2:11:59, to bag a place on the South African team to compete in the Rio Olympics, before going on to become the first Cape Town athlete to win the Two Oceans in April since Don Hartley in 1973.
While his 2015 sub-2:12 effort was superb, his coach, former New York Marathon winner Hendrick Ramaala – still a leading marathoner and contender for the 40-year masters title in Cape Town next week – believes him capable of being considerably faster.
“I think he could go 2:09-2:10 if things went well,” he said.
“He is a top athlete who is 100% focused on his career.
“He is incredibly hard working – nothing is too much for him. He has been doing high mileage in training – about 220 to 250km a week – but has had plenty of time to rest and has been injury-free. He is in good shape for the Cape Town Marathon. He is now sharpening up with some fast 10km races and I expect him to be competitive next Saturday.”
Ramaala believes Lungile’s training regime will allow him to race to his full potential.
“The athletes have the advantage of training like the Kenyans and Ethiopians do. They stay in a Joburg apartment and travel to Zoo Lake Park to train each day.
“We support them in every way – all they have to do is focus on their running preparation. They run, eat and sleep and there are no other distractions – it’s a simple formula. In this way, they are completely focused on their running and better able to achieve their goals.
“We have several top marathoners in our camp, including Desmond Mokgubu (2:10:51 at Rotterdam this year and first South African at last year’s Cape Town Marathon), Xolisa Tjale (a sub-62 minute half marathoner) and Michael Mazibuko (third in the 2015 Cape Town Marathon), as well as some younger athletes, who run cross-country and shorter distances.
“The venture has been successful. We would love to be able to expand the programme, but we just don’t have the funding right now. Hopefully, athletic organisations will see the benefits and assist us.”
While they have achieved success, the Gongqa family have had to make sacrifices to build a platform for the future. Ivy’s first-born son is being cared for by her mother in the Eastern Cape, while Lungile’s training regime keeps him in Joburg for several months in the year.
“Even though we are apart for long periods, we have a close family structure and communicate every day,” said Ivy. “Lungile shares his training sessions with me – his times and distances – and we give each other advice.
“I was pleased that he had a good race last weekend, finishing second in 31:20 in a 10km race in the Eastern Cape. Although the time wasn’t that fast, it was a very tough course and he was racing against 10km specialists.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend, when we can be together with our families in Ngcobo and Mthatha.
“It will be Lungile’s last chance for some competitive speed work before the Cape Town Marathon and then we return to home for the big weekend!” Ivy said.