Top Nelson Mandela Bay female road runner Ntombesintu Mfunzi, who is battling diabetes, will be fighting for a sub-39-minute finish time at this year's Choose to Challenge 10km race on Saturday.
The ninth edition of the popular Gqeberha race, which is organised by EP Athletics and the Legacy Project, starts and finishes at the Baywest Mall.
This comes after a three-year partnership was secured with the complex.
The event was previously held at Kings Beach but later moved to Cillié High’s JJ Engelbrecht Sports Grounds.
Mfunzi, of Nedbank Running Club, settled for second place last year, finishing in 39:42, and she will be looking to improve on her time on Saturday.
Kovsies Athletics Club's Lizandre Mulde crossed the finish line first in the women's race, clocking a time of 36:11, while Refeloe Solomons, also from Nedbank RC, took third place in 39:55.
“Yes, I am doing the Choose to Challenge 10km,” Mfunzi said.
“As you know, I am currently fighting diabetes. I was diagnosed last year in August, and it was terrible.
“I was in and out of the hospital, I even went into diabetic coma in September.
“It is really not an easy illness to deal with, but once again, exercise is playing a bigger role in managing it.
“Unfortunately for me, I couldn't escape it even though I am an active person, as I inherited it from my parents.
“So on Saturday, if sugar levels behave, I will be happy with sub-39 minutes.
“With diabetes, you get your good days and bad days, and there is absolutely nothing you can do. It doesn't matter how well prepared you are for the race.
“Since it's our Women's Month next month, I just want to inspire and give hope to those women who feel overwhelmed because they have been facing a series of challenges, especially if they seem to follow one after another, exactly the same way it has been happening to me.
“I just want to inspire them to not let the situation take control, they must keep on fighting until they overcome whatever they are going through.
“And the copies of my book YOYISA are still available,” she said.
In the men's race, Ikhamva Athletics Club road runner Melikhaya Frans crossed the finish line first in 2024 in a time of 30 minutes and 24 seconds to clinch his fifth NMB Choose to Challenge title.
He was followed by Yanga Malusi of Real Gijimas in second (30:44) and Lithebe Menzeleleli of Ikhamva Athletics Club (30:56).
Frans, 34, will be looking to dominate once more at this year's race.
Race director Michael Mbambani said they were targeting 1,500 entries at this year's event.
“This year, our target is 1,500 entries. We want people to come out in their numbers to take part in the race.
“In 2024, we had up to R25,000 worth of lucky draw giveaways from shops inside the Baywest Mall, and this year we are almost at R30,000 worth of lucky draw giveaways for the race.
“This is a real family run, because we have a 10km race, 5km family walk and 1km kiddies race on the day, and the environment just allows that because it's a very safe area to do so,” Mbambani said.
The Herald
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