North West Comrades Runners Tete Dijana and Edward Mothibi, renowned for their exceptional performances in ultra-marathons, are shifting their focus towards speed as they take on the Fortress Running Series in Venda, Limpopo.
After a gruelling ultra-marathon season, these elite athletes from the North West Province have decided to take a break from high mileage and test their abilities in shorter distances.
Dijana, who recently defended his Comrades Marathon title in a record-breaking Down Run time of 5:13:58, in Kwazulu-Natal, will participate in the 21km race of the Fortress Running Series.
Meanwhile, Mothibi, a Comrades Marathon Champion and Dijana's training partner, will also compete in the 10km race. Mothibi acknowledges the need to start with shorter distances to allow his body to recover fully before diving into more intense training sessions.
Following his remarkable performance in the Comrades Marathon in June, Mothibi, a 38-year-old Ultra-Marathon specialist, usually takes a month-long break from running, engaging in light jogs only once a week. It is after this recovery period that he begins his proper training.
Mothibi's return to the Fortress Running Series marks his second participation in the event. In 2022, he won the 21km race in Rustenburg, clocking an impressive time of 1:05:39, as part of his preparation for the 2022 Comrades Marathon, where he secured a second-place finish.
Now, Mothibi eagerly anticipates revisiting the series, enticed by the opportunity to explore Venda, the location of the upcoming race.
The Fortress Running Series, initiated by race organizer Israel Morake in 2018, aims to bring high-quality road running events to rural and peri-urban areas of South Africa.
Motivated by this mission, Mothibi gladly accepted the invitation to participate in the series, citing his curiosity to experience the beauty of Thohoyandou, in Venda, and indulge in its natural surroundings and fresh produce.
Although Mothibi states that he and Dijana are not going to the event to compete, their presence is to support and encourage young athletes. Mothibi plans to run the 10km race, while Dijana will take on the 21km challenge.
Mothibi and Dijana have both previously participated in the Fortress Running Series in 2022, with one of the races held in Rustenburg, where they train under the guidance of coach Dave Adams. Mothibi recognizes the importance of nurturing young talent and promoting athletics in rural areas.
He acknowledges the scarcity of well-managed sponsored athletics and rural development events and sees the Fortress Running Series as a valuable platform to bridge this gap. By taking place in locations beyond the big cities, these races provide exposure and opportunities to athletes from rural areas, he said.
In a country abundant with talent, Mothibi and other former runners aspire to inspire the next generation of runners and ensure the sport continues to thrive.
Their participation in events like the Fortress Running Series demonstrates their commitment to introducing running to new audiences while supporting the development of athletics in rural communities.
