Marathon gaining traction
Phahlame faces stiff competition
IT is generally accepted in road running circles that the Mandela Day Marathon is one of the toughest 42.2km races in the land.
Road runners though are a driven lot who thrive on a challenge and the tougher a race is said to be, the more attracted they are to it. No wonder then that the Umgungundlovu race continues to attract a lot of runners with this year’s eighth edition taking place tomorrow, set to be contested by close on 20 000 runners.
Popular talk among runners is that if you can conquer Struggle Hill – the steepest part of the race that runs from Pietermaritzburg to the Capture Site in Howick – then you will be able to deal with the Comrades Marathon hills.
It is for that reason that this qualifier for the world famous KwaZulu-Natal 90km ultra is a favourite of many, the fact that it comes early in the season making it very popular in that runners get rid of the qualification stress as soon as possible to then focus on training. That though is the story of the social runners, those for whom the big prize is merely completing the race in a targeted time in living with their abilities. These masses are the ones without whom the race will not have the fun element that the organisers like to highlight.
Races, however, are ultimately about the elite runners who compete for honours and Sunday’s event promises to yet again see a thrilling competition up front.
As with most marathons, the question is always about whether the east Africans will be stopped. Last year’s race was won by Ethiopian Sintayeju Legese Yinesu in a fast time of 2hr 29min 11sec, but it was not clear as to whether he will be back to try and defend his crown.
But there will be numerous Kenyans participating in the marathon on Sunday and their pedigree in road running is legendary.
South Africans will be keen to keep the title at home and among those who will be trying to shine brightest is Othaniel Phahlane – a former runner-up in the race.
The man from Mpumalanga has a great marathon pedigree, having finished second in the race in 2014 and also a former winner of the tough Monster Race in Pretoria. The holder of the 50km Om Die Dam Marathon record (2:49:39), he has a 2:14:55 marathon personal best and while he is unlikely to run such a time on Sunday, anything close to that should see him challenge for a podium position.
To do that though he will need to stave off competition from some of SA’s most renowned runners such as Siyabonga Nkonde – fifth last year – and hometown boy Skhumbuzo Bhengu.
There will also be a host of Zimbabwean stars including Winfred Mutiro, Lynos Muchena, Edein Chimombo and Carnisious Myanitsita – all of whom are capable of getting to the Capture Site first. With no less than 63 foreign athletes in the marathon alone and many others in the half marathon plus the train events, there can be no denying that the Mandela Day Marathon – tough a race as it is – is “gaining traction globally”.