User:Muzhingi5H23/Ultramarathon runners

Stephen Muzhingi Stephen Muzhingi is arguably the greatest Ultra Distance runner of his generation, with three consecutive Comrades Marathon wins, 2009, 2010, 2011

Stephen is a Professional Athlete, and specialise in Ultra Marathon and Marathon running.

Stephen is the current Comrades Marathon Champion, and won consecutive races in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and recorded the second fastest time in 2009, 5H23, over 89.17KM. in Addition he has 5 Top 10 places at Comrades. The Ultimate Human race and is only 1 of 3 people to have won 3 consecutive Comrades Marathons still alive today. In total 5 people have achieved this feat.

He also has 4 Gold Medals for 2Oceans Ultra and has won many races at 42.2km and 50km.

Stephen is married to Erina and has a 2 year old son, Methane.

Stephen resides in Zimbabwe and spends 6 months of the year in Durban, South Africa, where he completes training for Comrades Marathon each year. ...

"Growing up in Zimbabwe was tough, I ran because my Uncle, Magwaza, was a Champion Marathon Runner in his day, so I suppose running was in the genes, as well as transport to and from school was not possible, so we ran,  which was +-20km a day. As time went on, running 20km a day became easy, as it was the norm to do this trip. I didn’t think of it then but I suppose this laid the foundation for me to be a Marathon Runner

I ran my first Marathon when I was 16 years old and finished the race but can’t remember the exact finishing time but it wasn’t fast, I was still very young. It was then that I thought I have a talent for this running thing, but didn’t really take it too seriously but the seed had been planted.

I went to South Africa in May 2004 where I met up with my current Coach, Cliff Chinnasamy, and asked him if he would train me, to which he agreed. I was not particularly fast, with PB marathon time of 2H48. I was a little overweight at the time, and my nickname with the Zimbabwean athletes was, (translated from Shona), “Fat Rat.” But that didn’t bother me, as I had a goal in mind, and that was to win the Comrades Marathon one day." Stephen Muzhingi

When I started running it was because I loved it, and I wanted to be the best. Yes I would be lying if I said that I didn’t want to make a living from it. For me running is my job, but first and foremost I run because I love it. As a fellow runner, one can identify with the fact that the sense of joy, and feeling so proud and fulfilled when you run a Personal Best time, or even a finish position cannot be taken away from you. Running is a complete leveller, as it is you against a clock.

I have worked hard to get where I am right now in my career, and it is not without the help of others, but ultimately my desire and passion to keep improving each and every time i lace up the shoes. Your job should never feel like a job. My manager said to me once, that if I ever feel like running is a burden and I feel like this is just a job, then I should quit and do something else. This i find so true, as if you don’t enjoy what you do and it is a burden, then why do it at all. You have to love what you do to do it well.

After my 2009 Comrades win, my coach introduced me to my now Manager Craig Fry, as for Cliff he is first and foremost my coach and has other athletes too, so could not sacrifice all his time to do everything for me. So I signed a contract with Craig to look after and manage my business affairs. The things like, sponsors, media, marketing and my finances. At the time I thought well, what do I need this for, I can just keep doing what I do. I have to say that now I can and have seen the importance of a professional athlete being taken care of with all the other things that go on. One statement he said to me I will never forget, “We will never chase money, unless its is for the benefit of your career, and does not negatively impact on your running. “

I have a great relationship with my manager and i don’t see him as someone that works for me, but someone that cares for me, and has my best interests at heart. I have complete trust in him." Stephen Muzhingi 2011