Qhina to run Dublin Marathon
South African Marathoner Mthandazo Qhina is set to run the Dublin Marathon in Ireland in October. The Nedbank Running Club top runner confirmed the news moments after winning the Icons Journey Marathon 103km race on Sunday with the incredible time of 08:29:21. The challenging race run on a brutally undulating course which started at Clarkebury Secondary School where the late struggle icon Nelson Mandela spent his high school days and then ended at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Umthatha.
While happy with his victory in the rural Eastern Cape, 44-year-old Qhina was more excited about what's to come. This is going to be the second time that he will run in the emerald streets of the Irish capital. In 2015, he received the invitation to race only to finish in a lowly 15th place in 2:25:06. And he wants to make amends.
"I have unfinished business with the Dublin Marathon as I ran an awful race the time they invited me there. I think this time things will be different as I am much more prepared that the last appearance," he told #TheTopRunner. "I'm thinking of going since they have reached out to be to run there this year. It's wonderful news that there are still thinking about me. Last time I ran there, I had an injury but decided not disappoint them by not honouring the invite. But in the end, I failed to produce the best results on the day."
Qhina who is a former Two Oceans Marathon runner-up believes his R50 000 winnings from the Sunday's Icon's Journey Marathon race is exactly what he needs in his life at this stage and is planning to use the cash injection wisely.
"The money comes as a huge boost to me as you know us runners we don't get much out of the sport. It comes at a time of need as there are lot of things in my head that needs money. At the same time, I must be able to save as much as I can because the future is unpredictable. I have to be careful in the way I spend money since my athletics years are slowly coming to an end," he concluded.
The 35km race was won by the runner-up at this year's Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Nkosikhona Mhlakwana of the Hollywoodbets Athletics Club, who was using the race as part of his preparation to run the Comrades Marathon in August.
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