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BONKHE FASTEST IN 119TH PARKRUN

17/08/2019 23:49:00 BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE

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MBABANE – Bonkhe Mnisi was the fastest in the Mbabane Club Parkrun yesterday.

It took him 17:22 minutes to complete the 5km run that is held at the Mbabane Club every Saturday starting at exactly 8am. Yesterday’s champion outpaced 96 fellow runners and walkers who had come to improve their health and fitness through exercise. The champion, who is a regular parkrunner, said he was preparing for the Swazi Plaza Night Run which is pencilled for September 7, 2019.

“I had a fun and easy run today and the weather was warm. The parkrun has become a culture for most athletes as we use it to train for competitions. My next race is the 7km Swazi Plaza Night Run and I will do my best to come out on tops,” said Mnisi.

Zethu Bhembe was the first lady to cross the finish line at position 28. She clocked 30:12 minutes. She has so far completed 19 parkruns. Her personal best is 29:24minutes. Bhembe said she used the parkrun for fitness and health benefits and as a form of relaxation after a long week of work. “I used to jog after work but when I heard of the Mbabane Parkrun, I was excited about the idea of running with a group of people and sharing different life experiences. This is more than just a wellness initiative but we have become a family. I would like to invite more people to join the parkrun and be part of this exciting experience,” said Bhembe.

Yesterday’s event hosted a group of about six visitors from Finland. After the race, the visitors expressed their excitement about the welcoming environment, warm weather and fun of running in a natural atmosphere outdoors.

“We will be in the country for the next three months. In our country, it is winter now and the warm weather here has made it even more fun. We will definitely join the parkrun for the duration of our stay,” said Sofia Kepsu, who is one of the visitors.

Parkrunners are expected to register online before they can take to the trails. They can do so by logging onto www.mbabaneclubparkrun.co.za or visit International Tool Hire at Mbabane Industrial site or Advanced Sports near Mbabane Supply Centre. The run is open to all members of the public at no cost.