Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 119, June 2019 | Page 33

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running and short sharp runs, high interval running and
short sessions, and I could fit it into the time I had. It is
usually the other way around, but it built my confidence,
and I could add in the kays in my second sessions. That
worked for me.
Coming back after a long break, do you feel ready for
Comrades?
Yes, I am. You always just hope to get to the start line
happy and healthy, but I do have moments in training
when I am so excited that I just can’t wait for it, and that
is a good feeling. Anna, Nick, and my mum and dad are
seconding me so it’s going to be very special to share it
with them.
Do you agree with the belief that women who have
given birth are often stronger runners?
I am still waiting for these mommy hormones to kick in!
To be honest, I don’t know, I think time will tell, although
I did have a great run in the 100km I did. One thing I did
experience when I was running was that I felt that I got
stronger as the race went on, and in the last 10km I just
felt stronger. That has never happened before, so was a
surreal experience for me. Since Anna was born, I have
seen running differently... even sleep-deprived, you push
yourself because you don’t have the option not to, since
running is a luxury, a privilege, and I am always grateful
to run. It was taken away from me, and now that I
have it back, I love it and appreciate it.
FROM THE MURRAY & ROBERTS RUNNING CLUB
Chris Cherry Lutendo Mapoto
• Age: 32
• Medals: 3 silver, 1 Bill Rowan
• Best time: 6:03:27 (23 rd in 2018)
Chris has a Sub-6:00 on his radar and knows
that he is capable of doing it. On top of it all,
he has his famed sister Caroline’s amazing
record at the Comrades Marathon to glean
inspiration from. • Age: 31
• Medals: 3 silver
• Best time: 6:00:02 (19 th in 2017)
Lutendo must be one of the unluckiest men in the
race, as he missed clocking that coveted sub-6:00
by just three seconds on the 2017 Up Run. He’s
aiming to set that record straight this year.
Rufus Photo Anda Lubelwana
• Age: 39
• Medals: 3 gold, 1 Wally Hayward, 1 silver
• Best time: 5:35:30 (5 th in 2014)
One of the more consistent performers in the Comrades,
Rufus is hoping to make it four golds in his Comrades
career and this season he has all the reason to believe
that things are aligning well for that to happen. His
training and racing have gone exactly to plan, and
therefore a top 10 place is not out of the question. • Age: 32
• Medals: 3 silver
• Best time: 6:07:42 (30 th in 2018)
Another athlete who seems to be on the cusp of a
major breakthrough, and what better place to do
so than at the 2019 Comrades Marathon!
Calvin Malatji Renier Grobler
• Age: 31
• Medals: 6 silver, 1 Bronze
• Best time: 6:20:31 (46 th in 2017)
Calvin hopes to make a big leap up to the top
20 this year, and his solid build-up, which has
produced PB’s over various distances in the
last year, shows that he is on the right track
to do so. • Age: 36
• Medals: 1 Wally Hayward, 7 silver
• Best time: 5:49:53 (18 th in 2016)
Renier’s best of 5:49 is a clear indication that
the ever-smiling blonde runner can win a gold.
He is in prime position to realise that dream this
year, with a PB over 50km and his best training
sequence yet.
Timothy Munzhelele Kallie Burger
•
•
Age: 32
Medals: 1 Wally Hayward, 2 silver, 1 Bill
Rowan
• Best time: 5:58:43 (17 th in 2017)
Another of Murray & Roberts’ athletes who could
produce a sub-5:50 on the day, judging by the
times he has returned in training, and Timothy is
determined to produce a good run in 2019.
• Age: 38
• Medals: 9 silver, 2 Bill Rowan
• Best time: 6:32:27
Kallie is aiming to run as close to six hours as
he can, and this top five performer at the World
Vets Athletic Championships earlier this year is
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as ready as he’ll ever be to do that.