UNESIFISO sokuqeda ishobolo lokungenzi kahle kwabasubathi besifazane baKwaZulu-Natal, kwiComrades Marathon, uJenet Mbhele ozogijima lo mjaho okokuqala kulo nyaka.
Le ntokazi egijimela iXcel Running Club, itshele Isolezwe ukuthi kulo nyaka wayo wokuqala kayibheke kuzuza lutho kodwa isayofunda umzila nokwenziwa kwezinto.
Lo mjaho ongu-87km, ungeSonto, uzosukela eCity Hall, eMgungundlovu, uyophelela eKingsmead Cricket Stadium, eThekwini.
Sekuyinto esijwayelekile ukuthi abesifazane bakulesi sifundazwe ikakhulukazi abampisholo, bangabonwa nangokhalo kwi-Top 10 yeComrades uma kwehliwa noma kunyukwa.
Kujwayele ukukhonya abangaphandle noma bezinye izinhlanga.
Kwabampisholo kwagcina ngoFikile Mbuthuma, ngo-2016 ephuma kweyesishiyagalolunye kwehliwa.
Intambo yagcina ishaywe iCharne Bosman.
UMbhele ophume indawo yesibili kuma-South African Marathon Championships ekuqaleni konyaka, uthe kuhlale kumphatha kabi ukubona abasubathi abamnyama bakulesi sifundazwe bengenzi kahle kwiComrades.
"Kukhulu okusamele kwenziwe ukuthuthukisa izinga labagijimi besifazane abamnyama. Siphenduka ihlazo kwiComrades. Esinye sezizathu sokugijima umjaho walo nyaka wukufuna ukulekelela ekuqedeni leli shobolo.
“Nakuba kulo nyaka ngizobe ngingabheke lutho kodwa nginike iminyaka emibili ezayo. Ngiyazazi ukuthi ngimandla kuphi, ngizobe sengibalwa nabenza kahle. Kungajabulisa ukubona nabesifazane bakithi benza njengabesilisa oBongumusa Mthembu noNkosikhona Mhlakwana," kubeka uMbhele.
Lo mgijimi uphume endaweni yesibili kwiPrince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Ultra 52km Marathon emasontweni edlule.
Uveze ukuthi phakathi kwabasubathi abamgqugquzelile ukungayisabi iComrades, uMhlakwana.
Ngo-2019, uMhlakwana wamangaza abaningi engena endaweni ka-11 eqala ukugijima lo mjaho obalwa neminye emikhulu emhlabeni.
"Umjaho ofana neComrades ngeke uqagele ukuthi uzophuma indawo yesingaki kuwo. Izinto zizicacela emzileni nokuthi ngalolo suku umzimba wakho ukwesiphi isimo. Ngithandazela ukuthi konke kuwuvune umzimba nomqondo wami ngosuku lomjaho. Kwazi bani, mhlawumbe nami ngingawuqopha umlando owenziwa uNkosikhona," kuqhuba uMbhele.
Ngendlela lo mgijimi enza kahle ngayo emabangeni amade, ungafunga ukuthi usenesikhathi eside ewagijima. Eqala ukugijima u-42km nyakenye, unqobe iBest of the Best Marathon.
Abanye beXcel Running Club abaya kwiComrades ngu-Ayanda Ngcobo naye ozobe eqala. UThokozani Mbambo noMenzi Mtolo bazobe bekhuza ibuya. Nyakenye baphume kwi-Top 30.