2018 comrade marathon has been concluded. This is the world ultimate race where athletes run from Pietermaritzburg down to Durban trying to challenge the biggest obstacle of 90 km. 21 thousands and above have participated to this ‘ultimate human race’ that include international runners such as Marco Mambo from Zimbabbwe and Alexendra Morozan from Russia. This is the one race that proves human endurance and perhaps their fitness also.
From men top ten, almost all those who made it are blacks more specifically from South Africa. Whites had only one representation of the British Teven Way who took position three. Zimbabwe also had been represented by Marko Mambo and Teboho Sello from Lesotho. The above reflects that the men’s top ten was dominated by black South African.
However it did not seem to the case in the women top ten. White women flooded the women side having no single black representative in it. From my experience based on the live coverage of the event on television black women were mostly seen on the road side cheering those challenging the biggest obstacle of 90 km for big cash and some medals.
The above say much about South Africa black women in terms of their willingness to participate in sports. Many questions would be asked about their level of fitness that seems to be detriment towards black community. It is very much rare to find blacks (women) down the road doing exercise and 2018 comrade marathon came with a true verdict about the issue of black women not evolving themselves upon something that would keep them fit.
Failure to have blacks in the women top ten also reflect or might lead us to the fact that black women in South Africa have a major problem when it comes to maintaining their balance diet which is one of the fundamentals for such races. The superstation that sports is for man has died long time ago and we need to have black representation all side.
This however requires much dedication and a lot of motivation. Black women, is time to motivate one another to be part of this world by living a healthy life through sports. An active life style would prevent the issue of obesity, diabetic that takes advantage of people like those. Come 2019 we should see at least 4 blacks in the women top ten. Tomorrow starts today.
