By Fanuel Chinowaita
Veteran long-distance runner Innocent Gonese delivered an impressive performance at a challenging marathon in the Great Zimbabwe area, clocking a personal best of four hours, one minute and three seconds despite difficult terrain and scorching October heat.
Gonese, who finished second in the Grandmaster category, improved his previous best marathon time of four hours and 10 minutes by nearly nine minutes, expressing satisfaction with his performance on a demanding course.
Speaking after the race, Gonese said the combination of high temperatures and challenging terrain made the event particularly difficult, but he was pleased to have achieved a personal best under such conditions.
“It is a tough marathon due to the terrain and also the heat in October,” said Gonese.
“I set a personal best time under very challenging conditions and improved my qualification time for next year’s Comrades Marathon on June 13, 2027, and the Two Oceans Marathon in April next year.”
The race started at Redan Clipsham along the Beitbridge Road before heading towards Lake Mutirikwe, looping back and turning towards the Great Zimbabwe Monuments.
Gonese identified the high-elevation section between Mutirikwe Lodges and the Great Zimbabwe Monuments as one of the most demanding parts of the course.
Despite the challenges, the experienced runner maintained a competitive pace to finish the 42.2km race in 4:01:03, according to the official results he shared. His recorded time was just over one minute outside the four-hour barrier he is targeting.
Gonese said finishing second in his Grandmaster category, although no prizes were awarded, was another positive aspect of his performance.
He added that improving his marathon time by approximately nine minutes on a tougher route made the achievement particularly satisfying.
“My best marathon this year was four hours and 10 minutes, and shaving off 10 minutes on a tougher route gave me a lot of satisfaction,” he said.
The performance provides a timely boost for Gonese as he prepares for two major endurance events on his 2027 calendar: South Africa’s Comrades Marathon in June and the Two Oceans Marathon in April.
With his latest performance bringing him within striking distance of the four-hour mark, Gonese is now focused on breaking that barrier and setting another personal best.
For Gonese, the Great Zimbabwe Marathon was more than a test of endurance; it was a significant step towards his next targets on the international road-running circuit.