'I felt I had let so many people down' -Tshuma eyes City 2 City comeback after Comrades disappointment

At the 2024 Comrades Marathon, Nobuhle Tshuma delivered a resounding debut as she ran an impressive 6:12:19 to end up finishing in fifth position overall. In the process she made history, becoming the first Zimbabwean woman and first black woman to finish inside the top five in the Comrades Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. 

Tshuma in action during the 2024 City 2 City Marathon. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

Trying to replicate that performance again this year at the 90km race, the 32-year-old prepared well, taking fifth position in the Kazungula Marathon in February, which was followed up with sixth position in the Two Oceans Marathon on 5 April. She then went on to clock a 2:40:00 marathon personal best time at the London Marathon on 27 April. Six days later, the Entsika Athletic Club top runner finished as the runner-up at the N12 Ultra in a spirited 3:16:05, just five weeks before Comrades. But things took a turn for the worst as she started to experience injuries, which she was positive she could overcome before lining up at The Ultimate Human Race.

"The preparations leading to the Comrades Marathon were going very well, as I was placing in all races I was participating in. But two weeks before the race, I experienced a glute injury. I thought I'd overcome it and even took some rest in order to ensure that I could be at my best on race day," explains Tshuma, who trains under the watchful eye of coach Hendrick Ramaala. 

Tshuma and Mudzinganyama the ultra marathon running couple pose together. Photo Credit: Supplied.

With the big day on June 8, Tshuma lined up as one of the contenders to challenge for the podium. But she struggled to make an impact in the early part of the race and ended up dropping out due to the severe pains brought on by the glute injury. Her husband Givemore Mudzinganyama who claimed tenth position on debut in 2024, also failed to finish. Tshuma feels that phase in life taught her a hard lesson, as she felt alone without friends to comfort her. 

"To be unable to finish the race was a huge disappointment, as I have so many people following my running career. Plus I had spent months preparing for Comrades," said Tshuma. "It was a big race on my calendar. I felt I had let so many people down. Plus I did well in my debut Comrades, so many people expected me to shine again. After Comrades, I was affected mentally because people moved away from us, as Givemore never performed well either. We felt lonely, but as a family, we managed to stick together through those hard times and told ourselves that it was not the end of the world."

Tshuma, coach Hendrick Ramaala and Mudzinganyama pose for a photo after success at Comrades 2024. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Now Tshuma has returned to training as she prepares to make a comeback. She plans to participate in the City to City 50km race scheduled for 28 September, where she took second place (03:30:37) behind her Entsika AC teammate Shelmith Muriuki last year.

"Now, I have healed and started to train well. I'm now preparing to do the City to City Marathon—which I think is one of the tough races. Last year, I managed to do well. I'm hoping to run a good time and improve on what I did last year. It's one of the well-organized races and the prize money is life-changing and a huge boost for athletes to survive," she concluded.