Prodigal Kumalo thanks sponsors and reveals plans to make Inanda Dam Training Run an official race
Comrades Marathon gold medalist Prodigal Kumalo believes it's only a matter of time before his annual Inanda Dam Training Run becomes an official race. The 50km, 40km and 30km run on the undulating gravel roads around the Inanda Dam took place last week (16 December) and drew an enthusiastic field of both social and top runners. 3-time Comrades Marathon champion Bong'musa Mthembu and running legend Blanche Moila were but a few of the participants. Kumalo was encourage by the entry field saying they are planning for bigger and better in 2023.
"It is a training run that's being held every year in December," he told #TheTopRunner after the 10th annual edition of the event. "When we started we were about 3-5 runners and we made it a culture that we run that route every year. And we started inviting other runners from different clubs. This year's run went very, very well. We had runners from different provinces including Joburg and Cape Town and we had legends in sports from KZN and there are a couple of sponsors that supported us and now believe in this run," he explained.
In addition to the hydration partner aQuelle, one of the main sponsors in 2021 was Hollywoodbets. After 15 years with Mr. Price Sport, Kumalo joined the Hollywoodbets Athletic Club this year and they immediately supported his fundraising initiative wherein he ran 100km to collect R100 000 towards building a house for his Orcas Running Academy. That spirit of giving is what attracted him to the club in the first place and he is confident that they will support the Inanda Dam Training Run as it moves towards being an official race in the near future.
"I was part of the furniture and Mr. Price Sport. I even knew the directors. But it was time for change and new ideas. We shared the same values with Hollywoodbets, especially because they support so many community initiatives. They played a vital role in this year's training run. We had about five water tables and everything that you saw on those tables were sponsored by Hollywoodbets. So I really appreciate their support," he said.
Those who ran the out and back course on The Day of Reconciliation, can look forward to the same challenging course in future with the only likely change being that it may be an official race by then.
"I'm hoping to introduce an official race which will go under the same name. That would be nice for people to get to run around the iconic Inanda Dam. Plus we want to stop the trend that most successful races have to be hosted around the Durban City Centre. If we host the race, it has to be in January since there are no marathons that month in the province. Those are plans for 2023," he concluded.
Tune into SuperSport this week to catch the Prodigal Kumalo story.