Several long-distance runners from the Venda Athletics Club are already on their way to Pietermaritzburg, where they will take part in this year's gruelling Comrades Marathon.
This year's race starts early on Sunday morning in Pietermaritzburg, from where around 22,000 runners will tackle the nearly 90km route to Durban. Unlike previous years, when the down run ended at Kingsmead Stadium, it will now finish in the street outside People's Park. The cut-off time is 12 hours.
Limpopo Mirror caught up with three of the athletes during training last week. Mushoni Nyamande, Dr Khathutshelo Ramalata and Fhatuwani Mudau are all seasoned participants who know what to expect from the Comrades. Nyamande has completed the race 18 times and has earned eight silver medals. Mudau is preparing for his 15th run, while Dr Ramalata is gearing up for his ninth appearance.
Mudau said they would be leaving for Durban early next week. He planned to attend a function organised by the Soutpansberg Athletics Club in Louis Trichardt on Saturday, 31 May, before heading south.
Mushoni Nyamande, who lives in Tshirunzini village in the Musina Local Municipality, said he had completed his preparations with light training. "I wrapped up my training with a 70km run recently, and now I'm just doing short distances to stay ready for the marathon," he said.
He added that members of the Venda Athletics Club would be travelling to Durban on 5 June to acclimatise ahead of the event.
Dr Khathutshelo Ramalata, the main sponsor of the Venda Athletics Club and himself one of the region's top long-distance runners, said they had taken 10 athletes to the Comrades Marathon last year – all of whom had completed the race. This year, 12 runners have been selected to represent the club.
When asked whether the team was ready, he said: "We have worked very hard in preparation for the Comrades Marathon this year. We are very optimistic that we will all finish the race."