“The weather at this year's Two Oceans was perfect,” said Eric Mapara, who completed the race for the 24th time on April 19.
The Two Oceans Ultra Marathon is considered as the most beautiful marathon in the world, with the 56km route winding around the Cape Peninsula.
“The weather at this year's Two Oceans was perfect,” said Eric Mapara, who completed the race for the 24th time on April 19.
The Two Oceans Ultra Marathon is considered as the most beautiful marathon in the world, with the 56km route winding around the Cape Peninsula.
Asked about who he ran with during the race, Mapara said that it was something he and a couple of mates did for the “enjoyment of the sport”.
56km of running for the enjoyment of a sport spares no space for doubt about the fact that he really does love the endurance sport.
What many of us consider maybe just a little daunting, Mapara makes sound as if it’s just another part of his daily routine.
He said he had just finished a training run from Port Alfred to Grahamstown in preparation for the upcoming Comrades Marathon.
The man is a machine, and has the medals to prove it: Legend has it that Mapara has more silverware than Jacob Zuma’s entire cutlery set.
If there was ever a group advocating for people to live in better health, Mapara would be perfect for chief-in-command of the exercise department. His motto would be, “Get your shoes on and let’s go running. No arguments.”
Other Eastern Cape achievements include Basie Boneparte, of Albany Road Runners, who was the first Eastern Cape competitor to cross the line in this year’s Two Oceans half-marathon.
Terri-Lynn Penney completed her 10th Two Oceans Ultra and thus earned herself a permanent number. Penney devoted her race to raising funds for the Marco Pietrowski fund. Pietrowski is a Cape Town-based athlete who was involved in a debilitating accident.
Grocott’s Mail’s own sports-editor, Stephen Penney, ran in his 22nd Two Oceans Ultra and comments that it was his “toughest, yet best” run.
