Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 107, June 2018 | Page 28

TRAIL RUNNING
A love for picturesque nature and breathtaking
mountains is what propelled Bernard Rukadza
into running back in 1999. Fast forward to 2018
and he is a three-time AfricanX Trailrun Champion
and one of the top trail runners on the South
African running scene. – BY REGINALD HUFKIE
Bernie’s
Winning Ways
“The AfricanX is the biggest stage race in South Africa
and is attracting a lot of top people. The scenery of
the race is wonderful, the vibe and the organization
are great, and it keeps you going back,” says Bernie.
“Winning this year was a great pleasure, and it shows
that AJ and I are still a great team. We didn’t plan to
win the first stage, as stage two was always our main
focus, but we were happy to win both stages, and
then we just protected our lead on day three.”
The 38-year-old Cape Town-based Zimbabwean pro
runner met AJ through his then running partner, Eddie
Lambert, at the 2013 AfricanX. “From there we met
up, chatted, and then teamed up for our first AfricanX.
We won it and have never looked back.” When asked
what makes their team so strong, Bernie humbly
answers, “It’s nothing much, but if you are determined
and focused, that’s the thing that makes us a very
good, strong team. Teaming up with AJ is awesome,
because he’s a really supportive guy who is very
humble and likes running very much.”
Winners 2014
28
TAKING UP RUNNING
Born in Nyanga in the mountainous Manicaland
province of Zimbabwe, Bernard didn’t take running
seriously until after school. He saw that his older
brother Axson and others were making a living from
running, so he decided to give it a try himself, and
then moved to SA in 2008 to run professionally. “My
brother is the one who introduced me to running. He
participated in many races and got his job through
running, but he never won because of limited time due
to work. He always said he believed I will definitely
win a big race one day.”
Bernie’s initial focus was on the road, and he notched
his first win at the West Coast Half Marathon in
Langebaan in 2009, in a 1:06 course record that still
stands. However, his focus changed later in 2009
when Eddie introduced him to trail running. “I was not
even running with the right equipment – I was using
road shoes – but then I started winning races, and I
won the Spur Cape Winter Trail Series for the first time
in 2010, so I started taking it more seriously,” says
Bernard.
Over the years, Bernie has amassed an impressive list
of race wins, not only dominating the Trail Series for
many years, but stepping it up to win multiple titles
at all three of the Mountain Challenge Series races
(Jonkershoek, Helderberg and Marloth), and also
claiming wins in both the Old Mutual Two Oceans Trail
Winners 2015
ISSUE 107 JUNE 2018 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Run long and short races, the once-off Old Mutual
Two Oceans Beast 47km Ultra Trail, the Richtersveld
Transfrontier race and the three-day SOX stage race
(again partnered with AJ).
LOVING THE MOUNTAINS
Trail running comes naturally to Bernard, but what
really makes him so good is his strength on the climbs
to go with his natural speed on the flats. “Trail running
is tough, but when it comes to more climbing, it
becomes easier and more enjoyable, because I love
mountains and nature,” he says, but he is quick to
add that his running success stems from the support
he received from his wife Sharon and two young kids.
“My family is my number one supporter. Whatever I
do, they always believe I will come through, and they
give me much support, so I always make sure that I
never disappoint them.”
While Bernie’s immediate goal is the 2018
Mountain Challenge series, he says he would love
to win a major marathon on the road. He has also
steadily been improving in the Old Mutual Two
Oceans Ultra, finishing 14th this year in 3:19:35 to
improve on his previous best 23rd in 3:29:41. “I’m
looking forward to the Mountain Series, but my big
goal is to win a major marathon so that I will get
a nice sponsorship and can go compete abroad.
I feel that I can still conquer a lot of mountains if
I can get a great partnership. Then the sky is the
limit.”
Winners 2018
O
ver the long weekend at the end of April,
Bernard ‘Bernie’ Rukadza and K-Way
Wintergreen teammate AJ Calitz once again
dominated the AfricanX Trailrun presented by Asics,
winning the first two of three stages and running away
with the overall title for the third time as a pairing.
Having also won in 2014 and 2015, they are the only
men’s team to score a hat-trick of AfricanX wins in the
10-year history of this prestigious event.