Sports / Schools
Comrades Marathon legend to run the New York Marathon for his Mother
01 Nov 2011 at 07:34hrs | Views
2011 saw Stephen having to forego the 100 km World Championships in Switzerland in September as a result of his mother's serious illness. Sadly she passed away a few weeks ago, leaving behind a devastated Stephen. Stephen was invited to run the New York Marathon on 06 November 2011, a lifelong dream of his - and intends to do so in honor and memory of his mother.
Says Stephen "My family sacrificed a lot for me to get to where I am now, so it is sad that she won't be able to see me run my first race outside of Africa. But I will give my best for her."
It will be Stephen's first visit outside of the continent of Africa. He received the news of the invitation on 21 June 2011, after his manager, Craig Fry, had been negotiating with NYRR (New York Road Runners) since January.
Stephen says that he has never had the speed to qualify for the coveted elite athlete invitation (to New York marathon) but after winning his 3rd consecutive Comrades Marathon this year confirms that he has a "...sub-2.20 marathon time but have never really raced a marathon properly, so this will be a true test for me. My aim is to run a 2.10 or faster, which I know I can do and all I can say is thank you to NYRR for the invitation and to Craig for making this happen for me."
Thousands upon thousands of applications are turned away each year for a coveted invitation to run the New York Marathon. Will Stephen complete the marathon in the time he predicts? I'm thinking the whole of Africa will be rooting for him.
Says Stephen "My family sacrificed a lot for me to get to where I am now, so it is sad that she won't be able to see me run my first race outside of Africa. But I will give my best for her."
It will be Stephen's first visit outside of the continent of Africa. He received the news of the invitation on 21 June 2011, after his manager, Craig Fry, had been negotiating with NYRR (New York Road Runners) since January.
Stephen says that he has never had the speed to qualify for the coveted elite athlete invitation (to New York marathon) but after winning his 3rd consecutive Comrades Marathon this year confirms that he has a "...sub-2.20 marathon time but have never really raced a marathon properly, so this will be a true test for me. My aim is to run a 2.10 or faster, which I know I can do and all I can say is thank you to NYRR for the invitation and to Craig for making this happen for me."
Thousands upon thousands of applications are turned away each year for a coveted invitation to run the New York Marathon. Will Stephen complete the marathon in the time he predicts? I'm thinking the whole of Africa will be rooting for him.
Source - squidoo.com/stephen-muzhingi
