ABOUT 40 BRAVE COLD FOR PARKRUN

MBABANE – The wet and cold weather did little to deter their adventurous spirit. That is the story of 44 parkrunners who took to the rain-soaked trails for the 122nd edition of the Mbabane Parkrun.]

Winning the 5km run/walk at the Mbabane Club yesterday was Mduduzi Dlamini, but his finishing time could not be ascertained, as it was not recorded. As a result, he appeared as an unknown when the final results were posted after the race. 

Dlamini has attended a total of 97 parkruns. At least 81 are recorded in parkrun’s statics and he has occupied the top spot seven times. His first appearance in the 5km weekly run was on August 12, 2017, where he finished at sixth place. Winning at that time was Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) athlete Nkululeko Gama. Dlamini, who is a twin, has turned the parkrun into his happy hunting ground after Gama’s absence due to work commitments.

platform to train

In his comment after the race, the champion hailed parkrun organiser, Leon Drinkwater, for the fitness and wellness initiative which he said played a crucial role in promoting health and fitness, while providing athletes with the platform to train for upcoming races. He was interviewed before learning his finishing time.

“I am very happy to be part of this event and the parkrun is more like a family for runners. This concept is quite commendable both for health and training. The competition is motivation on its own. Although this is not a race against each other but time, it is quite inspirational as it challenges one to do better than before,” he said.

Japan-born Yuta Kobayashi was yesterday’s second-placed finisher, scanning his barcode in 19:23 minutes. This was his 50th parkrun and hoped to attend for the next four months before returning to his home country. Kobayashi is on a two-year contract at Masibekela High school, where he teaches Computer Studies.

“The 50-parkrun milestone is a huge achievement for me. I will be leaving the Kingdom of Eswatini in December and I am very happy to have been part of this life-changing initiative. We do not have a parkrun in my country and I am hoping to implement it in my home town,” said Kobayashi.

The first lady to complete the race was followed by 15th placed Ashar Ward, who clocked 27:47 minutes. She shook off Zethu Bhembe in the race for the top spot. The duo was inseparable throughout the race and scanned their barcodes 32 seconds apart. The lady champion invited more people to join parkrun, which she described as the best and healthiest way to start the weekend.

“I love the parkrun. It is the best way to start the weekend and apart from it being a healthy practice, it is also a nice outdoor experience. I would like to invite people of all ages to join and you can bring along your pet for a walk or run,” she said.

This event is held every Saturday at Mbabane Club, starting at exactly 8am and is open to the public free of charge. Participants are encouraged to register for membership at International Tool Hire and Momentum or visit parkrun’s website page at www.mbabaneparkrun.co.sz.

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