Comrades camaraderie inspired Gloria
NEWLANDS Athletic Club celebrated its silver jubilee and awards evening last month, marking its 25-year anniversary of inspiring numerous people in sport.
Over the past two decades, the club has contributed to athletics development and social cohesion in KwaZuluNatal, which has impacted countless lives.
One such person is the club’s secretary, Gloria Chiluvane, who joined the Newlands AC in 2010. Two years later, as her involvement with the club grew, she was elected to the executive committee as an ad hoc member, becoming their secretary in 2013, until now.
For the past four years Chiluvane has been chosen as the Female Runner of the Club, based on her performances.
“I started running in 2008 to keep fit. Joining NAC added an element of fun rather than pressure. When I enter races, my main aim is to enjoy the race and bask in the camaraderie that is common among runners during and after the race,” said Chiluvane.
Her personal bests this year include 10km in 52 minutes for the Waterfall SuperSpar Forest Run, and a 4h03 at the 42km Maritzburg City Marathon.
“Another factor in me winning the best female runner spot is that I entered my first Comrades Marathon this year. I am the only club female runner who completed it (11:30),” said Chiluvane.
She said the race was a humbling experience, considering that she ran the first 75km without her energy supplements. She panicked when her family drove ahead of her, assuming she had reached the mark, then moved on.
“My sister and my kids, who were seconding me, missed the first spot in Pinetown as I went past before they arrived. At Drummond I nearly died when I heard they had left, as they thought I had gone past, after seeing quite a number of much older people than me going through,” she laughed.
Chiluvane ran weeping all the way, but giving up was not an option, as she did not want the training to go to waste.
In tribute to the club’s outstanding achievements, NAC chairman Ben Jayarajh said: “The club has produced outstanding athletes who attained Comrades silvers and some who have attained their personal goals and dreams of competing in the Comrades, getting green numbers (10 medals) and green doubles (20 medals)”.
He celebrated the fact that many of their members had also “competed and completed” many races, when they did not believe they could even walk 5km, but who have since finished races such as the Comrades and the Ultra 50km.
“The NAC does not only belong to the people of Newlands, but also the people of Durban who share the spirit of running, walking and social camaraderie,” said Jayarajh.
Follow me on Twitter: @SheetalCross