Comrade Peter Chiwaya ready
South Africa-based Malawian athlete, Peter Chiwaya, is ready to rub shoulders with the world’s top long distance runners during Sunday’s 89-kilometre Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
Contestants in the marathon will run between the coastal cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Chiwaya, who belongs to Oxford Striders, said he expects to compete in the marathon alongside another South Africa-based little-known Malawian athlete Fly Phiri.
Henry Moyo is usually a regular participant in South Africa’s marathons but it is unclear if he will take part in the race which has registered 21,213 athletes, according to www. comrades.com.
“It is my first time to compete in this race. My aim is to win a silver medal. I am aiming at finishing the race in between six to seven hours and 30 minutes.
“I am in seeding/batch A which is for those who make it in the qualifiers by clocking three hours. I qualified through my participation in the Masters Marathon here in East London after clocking 2:52 hours,” Chiwaya said.
In the Comrades Marathon, athletes are split into groups depending on their qualifying time. The first group comprises elite athletes, followed by A seeding athletes.
South Africa’s Sowetan newspaper has reported that The Comrades Marathon Association, which will host the race, has been holding road shows around the country to share information on training, diet and tips on the race.
Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry, has advised novice runners to “set a realistic finishing target. Plan your race around that target and stick to it. Do lots of walking but never stop moving. Every second of the day you must be taking a step forward to Durban.”
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