13 September 2022
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Story Lunga Luthuli
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Photo Supplied
Molemo Mohapi, Chief Officer at ICT services with his 2022 Comrades Marathon participatory medal.
Believing that he may never play sport again, Molemo thanks Arina Engelbrecht, UFS Employee Well-being Specialist for asking, ‘who said you cannot participate in sport anymore?’ Molemo said: “Arina advised me to treat my leg, get help from a physiotherapist, and then it took me nine years to participate in the Comrades Marathon.”
Even though Molemo had never been involved in athletics before the injury, adopting and adjusting to running was not a challenge, as he started walking up and down Naval Hill to ‘gain confidence and passion.’
Molemo, who has never been ‘worried about age’, also thanks his brother who was into athletics for watching races with him; after watching a race, he wanted to emulate the international runners. His favourite athlete is the American 1992 Olympic two-time gold medallist, Quincy Watts.
Scared but pushed by desire and willingness
Molemo said: “I was scared to do the marathons, but gradually I started participating in 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km races. To condition and get myself ready for the 2020 Comrades Marathon, I participated in the KFC PE City Marathon, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, and the Soweto Marathon. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Comrades was cancelled.”
Faced with disappointment following the cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon, Molemo and his two friends – Ben Kokela and Disema Ntsasa – focused on the 2022 Kloppers Marathon, helping them to qualify for the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon.
Molemo said: “We had to adjust and told ourselves that as soon as it was open again, we would start training. During COVID-19, I did not rest as I was running in the backyard, doing 30-40 minutes every Monday to Wednesday. Family support is key, one also needs to do justice to your body, prepare mentally for the race, and not compete with athletes who are doing it for money.”
“Never doubt yourself; after running the 56 km Two Oceans Marathon, I told myself – I am now left with 34 km to complete the Comrades. I just worked on that, and the confidence was high. I was more relaxed than scared.”
Completing the marathon in less than 11 hours and 24 minutes, Molemo thanks Durban people for their support, as they ‘make you feel part of the family.’
Molemo said: “What I learnt from the race is consistency in women – if they plan to run seven minutes per km, that is exactly what they do.”
He thanks his wife, Neo Rantsane, for encouraging and supporting him to run the marathon.