Top celebs to participate in Comrades

Friday, May 22, 2009

Durban - Top South African celebrities will be amongst the at least 13 000 runners who will put their stamina to the test on Sunday when they take to the gruelling stretch of road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in the Comrades Marathon.

Kwaito star Kabelo Mabalane, eNews news anchor and Talk Radio 702 presenter Redi Direko will be among the runners who will do the "down run" this year.

According to the Comrades Marathon Association, there are 12 890 entries this year, including 2 404 first-time or novice runners.

Of this number, 460 are international male runners, 130 are international women runners, 2 120 are South African women runners, while 10 180 are South African men.

This will be Ms Direko's third Comrades, while Mr Mabalane will be looking to add another medal to the three he already holds. Last year he made 9:59 hours, but this year he hopes to better it to between 8:50 and 8:59 hours.

Last year's run saw 5FM DJ Koula and DJ Fresh's wife Thabiso Sikwane testing their ability in one of the toughest marathons.

The annual race also known as the "Big Five Hills" will this year start at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 5:30am, finishing in Durban's Sahara Stadium at 5:30pm.