'Everything is in order' - All systems go as hundreds descend on annual Bongumusa Mthembu Training Marathon
Since it was first run in 2015, the annual Bongmusa Mthembu Training Marathon has grown to become one of the most essential events for KwaZulu-Natal runners who use the quiet time during December to prepare for the next season. This year's event is scheduled for Sunday 15 December and will start in Impendle, at the Inzinga Stadium and finish at the Bambatha Stadium in the town of Bulwer. The 60km run gives athletes the opportunity to run with 3-time Comrades Marathon winner Mthembu in his hometown. One of the event's organizers Thuso Mosiea says it's all about giving back to the largely rural community while promotes the sport of road running at the same time.
"The Training Run started was to promote running as its not a popular sport here. As Bongmusa hails from Bulwer and I come from Impendle, we decided let's have a run that will run between our hometowns. At that time, Bongmusa had just won his first Comrades then the following year, I finished in the 10th place in the same race. So we needed something to inspire the youth in our area. Since then, the event has grown through the assistance of the local municipalities," said Mosiea who in addition to earning a Comrades gold medal, also represented South Africa at the 2016 World 100km Championship in Croatia.
Yet despite both Mosiea and Mthembu's success as ultra distance runners, Mosiea discourages upcoming athletes to start their running careers with a focus on the oldest ultramarathon in the world.
"Comrades must be the last thing on an athlete's mind. Each athlete must go through all the development stages from track, cross country and short distances on the road before going to run Comrades. I know it's a popular race in our country and that most kids dream of running it from a very young age but I advise them to wait a bit," he explained.
One such example is Lindelani Mjwara, who made an impressive 6:03:56 Comrades debut this June almost a decade after he first took part in the Bongmusa Mthembu Training Marathon. Mjwara who hails from Impendle was scouted by Prodigal Khumalo during the 2019 edition of the run, and has grown into sub 2:20 marathon performer now running in the colours of the Hollywood Athletics Club. The 27-year-old says the Bongmusa Mthembu Training Run played a valuable part in his career.
"I did the run in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2019, I met coach Prodigal Khumalo who invited me to join the Orcas Academy in Inanda. At that time, I was running because I just had a burning desire to do so without having any strategy or coaching. Luckily, I got scouted and from there I have realised my dream of being a professional athlete. So this Bongumusa Mthembu Training Run has had big impact on where I am today," he shared.
Mjwara is expected to line up again on Sunday 15 December, alongside scores of other hopefuls hoping to rub shoulders with Mthembu and other top runners. Mosiea says it's all systems go. "Everything is in order as we speak. We are expecting roughly 200 to 300 runners to come and run the event."
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