Mom-to-be Mfunzi will take it easy in Women’s Challenge 10km race
Star Nelson Mandela Bay road runner and mother-to-be Ntombesintu Mfunzi has not let pregnancy prohibit her from doing what she loves most.
Though six months pregnant, excited first-time motherto-be Mfunzi says she will still compete in local 10km and 5km races.
The 41-year-old is gearing up to compete in the SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km race at Pollok Beach on Saturday.
The Gqeberha race is the second of the six-part series taking place in six cities across SA. The challenge kicked off in Cape Town on April 23, and after Gqeberha, Durban will host the third race on June 27.
Mbombela will stage the fourth leg on July 15, Tshwane the fifth on August 5 and Johannesburg will wrap up the series on October 1.
Mfunzi, whose personal best in 10km races is 34min 35sec, said she planned to take things easy on Saturday.
“I will actually be 27 weeks pregnant on Saturday,” the Nedbank Running Club athlete said.
“At the moment, I am just running for fun and to keep healthy — I do not want to put a lot of pressure on myself.
“I have been running 10km races at a comfortable pace of 41:45, so I will be looking for a sub 42min again on Saturday.
“The most important thing for me at the moment is to not be out of breath while running, that is the pace I am comfortable with.
“The reason I decided to compete in the SPAR Challenge is that I wanted to show other ladies you can still do the race even when pregnant, but just make sure you don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
“You run at your own pace and you must be able to breathe freely as well.”
In the recent Volkswagen 5km race, Mfunzi managed a podium finish, taking the third spot.
Ethiopian Hiyane Lama, of Nedbank Running Club, stormed to victory in her maiden 10km road race, winning the Cape Town 10km Challenge in Greenpoint in 33:42.
She pipped fellow Ethiopian Selam Gebre by two seconds in a dramatic sprint for the finish.
SA’s Glenrose Xaba, of Boxer Running Club, was third, in 34:05.
Defending SPAR Grand Prix champion Tadu Nare, of Ethiopia, missed the Cape Town race as she competed in the London Marathon, where she finished eighth.
Nare confirmed she would be participating in the second SPAR Grand Prix 10km race in Gqeberha on Saturday.
At the moment I am just running for fun and to keep healthy — I do not want to put a lot of pressure on myself Ntombesintu Mfunzi BAY ROAD RUNNER