Thousands of Comrades Marathon novices say they have shaken off their anxiety and nerves as they’re to mount the looming 90-km route. Of the registered 14 005 entrants, four 4000 are debutants. It’s the 47th edition of the down-run from the KwaZulu-Natal capital – Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The 95th Comrades Marathon mood has reached fever pitch. With the atmosphere outside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC- palpable. The ultramarathon has been delayed by the COVID-19 bouts twice in 2020 and 2021. Apart from the elite and experienced runners almost guaranteed a good finish. Road running enthusiasts and novices say they will make most of it come Sunday morning.
Nervous Athletes
“The nerves are killing me as you can see. The crowd around us, but we are hoping that we will be at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on the right time and still alive” says athlete Nompumelelo Magwaza.
Another athlete, Themba Bila is confident he is fit enough for the ultra-marathon.
“I have prepared enough. I have done 45 and 50km with my team as well as 60km with my team and head coach Ricardo has helped us with a program. I am definitely fit for Sunday”, says Bila.
“I prepared myself. I have done the ultras and also trails so that I will get strength and I am hoping I will finish it. It’s the first time I am doing the Comrades Marathon, my aim is to finish it”, says Punyezwa Ndevu.
Sussie Mjwara of KwaMashu Athletic Club is running the gruelling ultramarathon for the first time. Mjwara says she’s both excited and nervous.
“The first time I got to see Comrades Marathon live in close view it was in 2017. I saw that others were excited, others were almost dying along the way and I saw that what we see on TV and what is happening in reality are two different things,” Mjwara says.”However, it was there when my dream of wanting once in my life time to run Comrades Marathon and 2022 that opportunity has arrived. I will be running my first Comrades Marathon and my excitement is overflowing but truth be told over and above the excitement I’m also very nervous somewhere.”
Meanwhile, four popular viewing spots for the spectators are off-limits this year. This is due to the upgrades currently taking place on the comrades route.
“Just in terms of the supporters, as a result of the road works, the first three off ramps coming out of Pietermaritzburg will not be available for spectator spots this year. That would be Lynnfield Park, Lion Park, Umlaas Road and Camperdown, which is very popular spectator spot. Due to the road works there is effectively nowhere people can park due to all the rubble that around”, says race director Rowyn James.
Russian athlete to compete
Russian athlete Alexandra Morozova has successfully challenged her ban from participating in the Comrades. She filed an urgent court application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court wanting to participate and also successfully challenged a directive from the World Athletics barring 32 other Russians from receiving prize money.
This after Russia’s teams and athletes were banned from some major sports and competitions across the world, due to the the doping ban and the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
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