'Perfect to test your strength for Comrades' - Kelehe to run the sold-out Drakensberg Marathon

Prominent ultra Marathon veteran Gift Kelehe is set to compete in the sold out Drakersberg Marathon happening on Sunday 23rd of November in Bergville. The race which is hosted by the Bergville Athletics Club as part of a weekend of municipality sponsored celebrations including a music concert, is run on a very tough course which is billed as essential preparation for those runners aiming to tackle the 2025 Comrades Marathon.

"I heard that the race offers a hilly route which I think is perfect to test your strength and how your training is like for Comrades. I can't wait to experience the feeling and be able to to run with the people," said the man who won the 2015 Comrades Marathon to become one half of the only pair of brothers to both win the race.

After 15 years of running The Ultimate Human Race during which time he earned seven gold medals, Kelehe announced his retirement from competitive Comrades racing earlier this year. Nevertheless, he remains close to many of the competitors he faced during his heyday. He says was influenced by three time Comrades winner Bongumusa Mthemba to come and experience the Drakensberg Marathon.

"I heard about the race from a very close friend of mine, Bongumusa Mthembu, who told me that he has run the race before and it has a perfect route If you are preparing for the Comrades Marathon. With Bongumusa, we talk almost every week, so he kept pushing and I took a decision to come and run," explains Kelehe, who is coached by renowned Comrades coach John Hamlett.

Although he has hung up his Comrades racing shoes, he still holds a great interest in the race and is helping some some up and coming athletes to prepare for the 90km odyssey from Pietermaritzburg to Durban next year. The 42-year-old who has a total of 14 Comrades medals to his name believes that hilly races plays a huge role in preparing for the Comrades DownRrun as the final stages of the race requires more strength to make it across the finish line.

"Whenever I'm preparing for the Down run, I run Loskop Marathon in most cases because it offers me a tough route which makes me strong in the final stages. When the race (Comrades) enters Pinetown at 21km to go, it requires strength. If you didn't have good preparations that's where it will show. So its good to test your strength in races like this. I'm going to have fun and run with the people as I'm not aiming to win the race. I'm hoping the race offers me a wonderful experience."

The race carries a R20 000 prize purse for either first male or female to first cross the finish line. Meanwhile the half-marathon distance carries R8 000 reward for the winner and R3 000 is offered over 10km distance.