John targets Gaborone City Marathon milestone

| Friday March 26, 2010 00:00

He has conquered in several local races including setting the record in the 42.2km Bosele Marathon. He told Mmegi Sport this week that he has now set his sights on winning the inaugural Gaborone City Marathon, scheduled for next month

Mmegi: How did you become an elite runner?

John: I started running as a child. In 1995, I joined the Gaborone Runners Club (GRC) and with luck and determination, I received a sponsorship from the managing director of Time Projects in Gaborone to take part in the Pyong Yang Marathon (North Korea). That is when my running career took off.

Mmegi: What prompted you to take part in the training run for the Gaborone City Marathon on March 14 2010?John: You must know the course to do well in the race. After this training run, my goal is to finish the race in 2 hours 10 or 15 minutes.

Mmegi: What is your opinion about the track?

John: Compared to other marathons in the region, this is a good, flat, fast track. The toughest parts were the Western By-Pass and the Nelson Mandela routes. But it is well thought out. It is the greatest race!

Mmegi: What has been your best marathon?

John: My best marathon was in Singapore in 2003. I didn't do a good time, but I was young, in my early 30s and I was very fit. That marathon was a turning point. I wasn't sure before then whether to continue running marathons. Now I know everything about marathons. It is my life, which is why I can break a record.

Mmegi: Do you expect to break a record on the 18th of April at the Gaborone Marathon?

John: You can never be sure. You can train for months and on race day, you don't perform. Then you will do another race and be much better.

Mmegi: What will be your next marathon after the Gaborone City Marathon?

John: The Soweto Marathon in November 2010.

Mmegi: What is your view about the first Gaborone City Marathon?

John: The way I see the Gaborone City Marathon is that it has a good organising committee. The marathon has a presence around town, you see it in the newspapers, you hear about it on radio, and there are good prizes. These are good things - it is well organised. I hope next year it will be even bigger!

John is a Botswana athlete and holds the Bosele Marathon record. His best 42.2 km marathon time is 2 hours 17 minutes