The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
AT the age of 49, it certainly qualifies as one of life’s great mysteries as to why, and more importantly how, Zimbabwe’s ultra-distance runner Marko Mambo is still running.
After all, most men his age spend most of their days gazing at the sun while enjoying retirement, and Mambo has certainly done enough to earn a place, or at the very least deserve a footnote, on Zimbabwe’s shrine of great athletics heroes.
Funny enough, both are questions the man himself is bombarded with on a weekly basis in his home town of Bindura.
“I get asked that question a lot,” said the former Comrades Marathon winner.
“People automatically assume I have retired already because they hardly see me train at all.
“But the thing is, I have a strict training schedule. My day starts as early as 2am, and I am back at home by six.
“This is usually the time most people are either waking up or headed to work, and so not many get to actually see me train at all.
“To answer your question, I have not yet retired.
“I have about two or more years left in me,” he said.
Inasfar as how and why Mambo still finds the strength and willpower to compete, the answer is less complex than the question itself.
Mambo takes care of both his body and mind.
“Marko Mambo is a simple man, and the trick to my longevity is adequate training and a free mind.
“I train roughly six days a week and, like I said earlier, start as early as 2am and finish between five and six in the morning.
“It is important to train the mind, as it is important to train the body.
“I also fish a lot.
“Fishing helps me relax and get my mind right, something I have been doing for many years.
“It started off as a hobby and I would rent most of my equipment, but (I) have since started taking it seriously, having bought a canoe and a slightly bigger boat.
“Fishing is my alone time, where I do a lot of self-reflection, mental training, as it’s usually just me, the water, fish and the birds.
“I also train early in the morning as there are less distractions, less people and traffic,” he said.
Despite a storied career that includes two Oceans Marathon titles and an impressive finish at the Dublin and Mumbai Marathon races, Mambo still has one more item to tick off his bucket list.
“I want to break the Two Oceans Marathon Masters record (50 years and above race), and that is why I have given myself at least two years of running.
“I am 49 years old now, and will be eligible for the race soon, and that is the race I want to leave my mark on.
“Everything I do between now and then is mere preparations for when I race and go after that record,” he said.
The record currently stands at three hours, 19 minutes and 48 seconds and belongs to Belarus-born South African long-distance runner Vladimir Kotov.
A brief history on the man himself.
Marko Mambo was born on June 19 1971, starting off his walk to national stardom as a long-distance runner.
He specialised in the 5 000m and 10 000m races, before graduating to the marathon back in 1991.
“Many do not really know but athletics was not my first love, as I was a footballer during my school days,” said Mambo.
“Athletics just so happened to be something I was good at, starting off as a long-distance runner, specialising in the 5 000 and 10 000m races.
“I actually proceeded with long-distance races after school, where I abandoned football and joined Mhangura Mine.
“I won a couple of races and even represented the country in Swaziland and Zambia (not sure of the exact years), but graduated to marathon just before the year 2000.
“There were a lot of young athletes coming up who were better sprinters than me, but lacked my endurance.
“It only made sense that I take up marathon races,” he said.
Despite over two decades of high-level competition, Mambo views 2005 as his best year and most successful season.
“The year 2005 was the year I won my first Two Oceans race and finished in respectable positions in the Dublin Marathon (fifth) and Mumbai Marathon (seventh).
“I also clocked my best time at the Two Oceans Marathon, finishing with a time of three hours, five minutes and 39 seconds,” he said.
Much of his acclaim revolves around the Two Oceans Marathon and it only makes sense that he wants to go out with a bang at the race.
“I have started intensive training and have two races coming soon, after which I hope to be able to gauge my preparedness.
“While the record is the endgame, I hope to win as many titles as possible while I bide my time,” he said.
Mambo has already put his name in the hat for this year’s Comrades and Two Oceans Marathon races.
The 49-year-old came fifth at the Om Die Dam Ultra Marathon in South Africa yesterday.
