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Liberty Dube Mutare Correspondent
SEASONED Dangamvura-based long distance runner, Tendai Chamwandoita, has upped his preparations for the Two Countries marathon next month.

The 45 year-old runner will join more than 300 athletes from Zimbabwe and South Africa expected to take part in the race.

The 42,2 km race will start at Nottingham turn-off, about 10 km outside Beitbridge town along the Bulawayo Road, and end at Eric Louw High School in Musina in South Africa.

It will also include the 21,1km race, the 10km race and the 5km fun run.

Chamwandoita vowed to do the nation proud despite operating with limited resources.

He said he was in great shape and was ready to break personal records.

“I am working hard to surpass my past achievements. I am happy with the preparations. I have been running to as far as Riverside (along Mutare-Harare Highway) under the scorching heat because the temperatures down there will be high.

“I am acclimatising with the heat in rural areas where I usually run 50km to and from Dora. My age will not deter me from achieving even better results,” he said.

He, however, extended begging bowl to well-wishers who are willing to assist him in cash or kind for food, accommodation and transport.

“I have been using personal funds to cater for all expenses. I have been struggling to raise enough money and sometimes it can be discouraging.

“Sometimes I travel to South Africa two days before the event because money for accommodation will not be available. I am appealing to anyone with any kind of assistance to come aboard,” he said.

Chamwandoita won a gold medal in the Pick ‘n’ Pay Marathon in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2014.

He also won an accolade in 2015 after completing the 90km Comrades Marathon race (from Durban to Pietermaritzburg) in seven hours, 53 minutes, 11 seconds.

That same year, the lanky runner scooped bronze and silver medals at the 42km Soweto Marathon and the Tough One Race.

The Two Countries marathon has for years been dominated by Zimbabwean athletes.

Long distance runner, Nkosiyazi Sibanda, won the Two Countries Marathon for the sixth time in a row two years ago.

In the women’s category, Mutare siblings Lizzy and Chiedza Chokore dominated the race in 2015 when they came out first and second.

The Two Countries marathon is jointly organised by the Musina Municipality, Beitbridge Rural District Council and the Beitbridge Town Council as part of the twinning agreement signed in 1996.