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The spirit of Christmas Pass African University Int’l Peace Marathon, Mutare, Zimbabwe. 25 September 2004. By Norrie Williamson The sun rose from behind the Christmas Pass in the mountains skirting the Zimbabwean city of Mutare. In the centre of town runners congregated in Meikle Park. Zimbabwe’s first mass participation international marathon starts from the palmlined boulevard, in a project initiated by Augustine Dzathor of the African University. Now in its third year, the Marathon personifies the culture and mission of this Pan African institution, which was established in 1992 and offers an MBA in Peace leadership and Governance. Peace in Africa and the world is a vision yet to be achieved, but it is one to which everyone can aspire. With distances from 500m for “kids and grandparents’’ through to the challenge of the full marathon, there is something for everyone. Each event is focused around the challenge of the Christmas Pass; a 3.5km climb from the city over the protective mountain range to the University campus, which nestles in the Valley of Dreams. The half marathon spends little time in the city, heading straight for the twisting, spectacular climb. The 10km wheelchair race capitalises on the steep downhill from just below the crest, to plummet down towards the campus. Only the out and back 5km, for the young and novice runners and walkers, fails to feel the impact of the 1350m high pass - but even that reaches the lower slopes. Mutare is the country’s fourth largest city located only 12km from the Mozambique border, and Result MEN: 1 Christopher KALUNDA ZIM 2:26:17 2 Felix MHURWA ZIM 2:26:36 3 Hatiwande NYAMANDE ZIM 2:26:42 4 Moses NJODZI ZIM 2:26:48 5 Nicholas MUGOMERI ZIM 2:30:37 6 Sarimfina MUTOWA ZIM 2:32:11 7 Lazarus MANGWENGWE ZIM 2:33:10 8 Stephen SANGAZA ZIM 2:34:25 9 Alan MAGWERE ZIM 2:34:38 10 Abel CHIMUKOKO ZIM 2:36:12 WOMEN: 1 Chiedza CHOKORE ZIM 2:58:34 2 Tawapo BHIRI ZIM 2:59:38 3 Rabiya FILINA ZIM 3:15:32 4 Simiso MAYELANE ZIM 3:53:03 5 Sarah MAKAZA ZIM 4:08:00 21.1km MEN 1 Kasirai SITA ZIM 1:08:10 2 Collen MAKAZA ZIM 1:08:22 3 Tsungai MWENENGENI ZIM 1:09:22 WOMEN 1 Lizzy CHOKORE ZIM 1:23:53 2 Sikulile SIBANDA ZIM 1:30:42 3 Hazvinei CHIGWAGWA ZIM 1:55:02 a comfortable 3-hour drive from Harare International airport. Media coverage of economically challenged Zimbabwe does nothing to prepare international visitors for the spirited, vibrant welcome that greets them. The easy pace of daily life and the warmth and friendliness of local people stand in stark contrast to the world’s received images. The marathon prize list at first sounds overwhelming. Half a million Zimbabwean dollars for the first male and female to top of the pass. Age category winners carry away 100,000 dollars – but that is sufficient only for a month’s food. The overall winner gets US$2000. With the US Dollar being exchanged for around 6500 Zimbabwean, the rest of the prize list rapidly diminishes. Not so the enthusiasm and performances of the athletes, who hurtled down Herbert Chipeto Street at a pace of under three minutes per kilometre. As the sun rose umbrellas were unfurled along the expansive palm lined boulevard, which stretches out to the city’s suburbs. The first 10km brings a steep, then a gradual downhill. With the early adrenalin surge runners started at a wildly unrealistic pace for the challenge they faced. After 5km the hustle and bustle of early morning city life changed to a more leisurely rural weekend pace. The outlook changed along with the pace. Deep purple flowers of the Jacaranda tree contrasted sharply with lush green spring growth and the multishaded brown pallet of African farmland. A crisp undercurrent of early spring soon melted away under bright sunlight as runners approached the half-way point. Spaza shops mixed with the multicoloured blocks that typify the ethnic individuality of African residences as the field returned to the city centre. Knots of playful children enthused and motivated the runners with chants, whistles and waves. Runners left the main street for the tree-lined shade of the upper residential area, in preparation for the Christmas Pass. This dual carriageway twists and climbs in ever-increasing panoramic views of the city and surroundings. There is little respite in this energy-sapping climb of 350m in 3.5km. Aloes, cycads, bright bougainvilleas and stunning red poker flowers lined the roadside as runners left the floral “welcome to Mutare” sign behind. They ascended towards the crown of Christmas Pass in search of the titles of King and Queen of the pass. Below, the purple jacarandas intermingled with multi-storey buildings of commerce in the basin of landscape stretching between the mountains. The splendour of Mutare was laid out for all to see. The top climbers were dramatically challenged by the 5km of jarring downhill running which followed. Different attributes are required, and a change of leadership in the freefall drop towards the finish was practically assured. Zimbabwe’s Olympic marathoner, Abel Chimukoko, captured the crown before conceding to mine worker Christopher Kalunda, an experienced 10km athlete making his marathon debut. An amazing array of stone carvings and detailed, brightly painted wooden scale replicas of farm vehicles lined the roads as runners descended towards the valley floor. Off the main highway, the road rolled out on a gradual downward slope into the distance, through a natural ‘gate’ made between two smaller hills. The gradual downhill kept the runners moving towards the finish. At the entrance to the campus runners crossed the Bridge of Dreams, which signalled the final 700m of their challenge and the start of a rapturous welcome. In spite of the low altitude conditions (1000m), the heat of the Southern African spring day, and the demanding pull up the pass, times were impressive. Kalunda led the marathon field home in 2:26:17, taking the top four finishers under 2:27. The top four half marathoners broke 70 minutes, led by Kasirai Sita in 68:10. Little of this talent has ever had the opportunity to run outside the local community. Visitors depart with lasting memories, above all the sharp contrast between international news broadcasts and the everyday reality of a warm, welcoming people sharing in the message of peace. There is clearly hope that each runner crossing the campus bridge will bring that dream of peace closer to reality. 54 DISTANCE RUNNING January - March 2005
Peaks of spirit, valleys of soul ASICS Melbourne Marathon, Australia. 10 October 2004 By Don Nicholson* It was one of those cloudless spring mornings that seemed perfect for running fast. The air was cool and the brilliant blue sky reflected in the calm of the bay. Beautiful seaside vistas regularly open up along the famous bayside course, whether or not competitors care to take a peek As the field began to stretch out in those first few minutes you got the feeling that it could be, yes, a perfect day. One of those days where you sense that there’s the potential for “runners high”. A day where you feel so good that you keep going faster and further, never tiring, just feeling better. In those early minutes of the ASICS Melbourne Marathon the spirit of the race was shining. You could smell the spirit of competition, of possibility. We all felt it. It was a day for realising dreams. When we speak here about spirit, we use the word like a crazy old Beat poet. Like Jack Kerourac, we’re On the Road! Eccentric psychologist James Hillman sees spirit not as a thing, but as an emotion or a place. Hillman reckons spirit lives in the peaks, the “highs”, and is ablaze with light. Spirit is fast and quickens what it touches. It Result MEN: 1 Magnus MICHELSSON AUS 2:26:51 2 John MEAGHER AUS 2:29:12 3 Saeki TSUTOMU JPN 2:29:12 4 Rowan WALKER AUS 2:29:26 5 Justin WILSON AUS 2:32:19 6 Michael MCINTYRE AUS 2:37:18 7 Grant MORGAN AUS 2:39:09 8 David GALEA AUS 2:40:33 9 Blair MORRIS AUS 2:43:42 10 Geoff MOULDAY AUS 2:43:56 WOMEN: 1 Billinda SCHIPP AUS 2:54:01 2 Lee-Ann TURNER AUS 2:54:29 3 Hifumi FUKUYASU JPN 2:54:37 4 Karyn BOLLEN AUS 2:58:11 5 Heather CARSON AUS 3:01:31 6 Alison BOWMAKER AUS 3:05:10 7 Sandra PROSENICA AUS 3:06:39 8 Dianne AITKEN AUS 3:10:13 9 Kristen WYATT AUS 3:12:34 10 Sandy ALLAN AUS 3:12:38 WHEELCHAIR: BRETT MCARTHUR AUS 2:04:35 Half Marathon MEN: 1 Martin FEDMOWSKI AUS 1:08:16 2 Masashi WADA JPN 1:08:25 3 Tod INGRAM AUS 1:09:40 WOMEN: 1 Yuka AIKAWA JPN 1:16:57 2 Nadelle LEGG AUS 1:18:47 3 Loretta MCGRATH AUS 1:22:03 10.9km MARAFUN MEN: 1 Marcus TIERNEY 34:37 WOMEN: 1 Karen THORP 39:27 excites us! It makes our pulses race! It inspires prose with exclamation marks! It is an arrow – straight and knife-sharp. It urges us to climb the mountain, to feel the coolness of altitude, to leave behind our fellow travellers and journey upward, to commit heroic deeds, or die trying. Rod De Highden (twice Australian Olympic Marathon representative) and Magnus Michelsson (who had run the World Half Marathon in New Delhi only a week before) took the lead in the first few kilometres. There was spirit, competitive spirit certainly, and the urge to leave the rest of the field far behind. Those of us not in the lead group also inhaled the spirit, wanting to feel light and airy so that the kilometres would just float by. Wanting to be sharp, unflinching and honed for action. We wanted to feel refreshed, cool and comfortable, ready to climb the mountain. All distance runners secretly wonder whether the heavens will smile on us and grant a day where we run and feel no pain. Like a punter with his wager on a highodds bet, we nervously yearn for just one of those special days. Where you feel so good that you keep going faster and further, never tiring, just feeling better. An hour or so into the marathon spirit had waned. Rod De Highden, having made the pace, then pulled out. His job was done, but he looked uncomfortably warm. Michelson then took up the running with Saeki Tsutomu of Japan, and the real work began. They turned off the highway at Mordialloc and begin the tough part of the course all the way through to Brighton. Now we entered soul’s territory. Soul lives in warm, languid places. In soul territory we have descended from the mountain into the valley; we’re no longer on a high. Like Icarus, ascending and coming to grief from the warmth of sun’s rays, so the October sun began to melt the wings of those that had flown too high, that had gone out too fast. Soul floods us with warmth of all varieties. For instance, we may feel a new regard for the many volunteers. We realise, as the going gets tougher, that their encouragement and support is crucial for us to continue. Soul territory emphasises connectedness. Although we still want to do our best, we start to appreciate the shelter and support of the pack. We may even encourage others around us – it’s a long way to go and a hard task to do it alone. We look out for family members, hoping for a cheer. Little by little soul envelops us in the urge to slow, to move like lazy, tropical lizards. Maybe even to lie down. In soul territory we encounter the ordinary. At around 32km we understand our limitations. Dream goals are revised or abandoned. Many now just hope to finish. The long, straight, ordinary flatness of Brighton’s Golden Mile is perhaps the toughest section of the course. Michelson was feeling the heat and slowed. Saeki Tsutomu looked comfortable up to this point but now dropped away, his dreams of victory gone. It is here we sometimes mourn and curse. Sometimes we don’t want to acknowledge our limitations. We question and complain. “Why have the race in October? Why did I have to wait for drinks? Why don’t they make it an easier course? Why? Because it’s the soul of Melbourne and its marathon. The fluky weather, the wind off the Bay, the October humidity, and the journey from Frankston all give the Melbourne Marathon its character and forms its soul spaces. Like a welcome cool change for those that make it through to Elwood, there is a hint of relief. The sniff of spirit can again just be distinguished from the lattés and the sweetness of electrolyte replacement products. We speak about teams getting a sniff of victory, of winning glory; this is the essence that pervades the air as competitors pass the St Kilda Marina and head towards the Esplanade. Michelson had the aura of a winner, even though he was now clocking each kilometre a minute slower than at the start. Spirit grows stronger the closer one gets to the finish. There is a sense that a mighty achievement is possible - no matter the disappointment after the humbling brush with soul. The competitive spirit rises back up. In the final few metres of the race Saeki Tsutomu and John Meagher (Half Marathon winner at the World Masters Games in 2002) stage a fight to the death for second place, like the last two samurai left in the battle. To finish the marathon is a spiritual experience. Many of us surprise ourselves with tenacity and willpower we never thought possible. There is also a feeling of how easily we could have relinquished ourselves to soul - to defeat or disappointment. The marathon helps us lose our dogmatic certainties, our jaunty selfconfidence. Paradoxically it leaves us knowing ourselves better for having experienced the peaks of spirit and the valleys of soul. *Five-time ASICS Melbourne Marathon competitor who this year pleaded middle age menopause and saw it all from the sanctity of the lead car. 56 DISTANCE RUNNING January - March 2005
Page 1 and 2: JANUARY - MARCH 2005 IAAF World Hal
Page 3 and 4: President Hiroaki Chosa, Japanese A
Page 5 and 6: To show the race better, the women
Page 7 and 8: way. Now 73, the form book dictated
Page 9 and 10: Loch Ness MEN: 1 Adam DOBRZYNSKI PO
Page 11 and 12: WOMEN: 1 Constantina TOMESCU ROM 2:
Page 13 and 14: Olympic course. At halfway there wa
Page 15 and 16: New York 31 OCTOBER 2004: CLASSIQUE
Page 17 and 18: WOMEN: 1 Maria Zeferina BALDAIA BRA
Page 19 and 20: if there was to be such. There was
Page 21 and 22: President’s Message - LAMINE DIAC
Page 23 and 24: Headline 14pt pointsize Cheromei’
Page 25 and 26: www.aims-association.org www.iaaf.o
Page 27: Result MEN: 1 John GWAKO KEN 1:02:1
Page 31 and 32: Result MEN: 1 Judson CAKE USA 2:33:
Page 33 and 34: unners go out, and it takes them a
Page 35 and 36: Result MEN: 1 Abebe DINKESSA ETH 29
Page 37 and 38: of the marathon running market. OPI
Page 39 and 40: WOMEN: 1 Birgit SCHONHERR-HOLSCHER
Page 41 and 42: These lists provide a glimpse into
Page 43 and 44: Race contact details www.aims-assoc
Page 45 and 46: Race contact details www.aims-assoc

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