STILL GOING STRONG AT 65

 MBABANE – Veteran Resolution Run 10km participant Thomas Dlamini is urging senior citizens to embrace marathon running. His call to action stems from the uplifting experience he had completing the 10km during the 2025 edition of the Resolution Run, held at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, this past Saturday. “I urge them to join us and push; there is great work being done by such an event, and we should take advantage of these opportunities to keep fit,” stated Dlamini. The 65-year-old, who has nurtured a passion for running since childhood, impressively crossed the finish line within the top 100 participants, clocking a time of 01:17:41 and securing the 75th position. Reflecting on some of his favourite races, Dlamini expressed his disappointment over the absence of certain events.

Participated

“I started running a very long time ago and have always participated in such events. Even as old age creeps in, I still take part. I loved the City to City run and the Waterford to Oshoek Border Gate,” he reminisced. The 2025 Resolution Run witnessed a remarkable increase in participation, with 713 entries, a significant rise from the previous year. Ann Reilly, General Manager of Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, expressed her gratitude to all participants, highlighting the impressive turnout.

She noted that some were apprehensive about joining due to the weather, as the routes were muddy from rain on Friday. “I think about 450 started; many people were nervous about the weather, but we had a very good start line and fabulous conditions,” she said. Reilly emphasised the importance of events like the Resolution Run, stating they foster connections with nature. “Natural spaces are really important for people. What we are seeing worldwide is that there is a nature deficit; people are stuck indoors, and those who lack exposure to nature can develop mental health issues,” she added.

She urged that in the country, we must collectively care for our natural spaces, emphasising that this is a shared responsibility. Reilly thanked Lactalis Eswatini, alongside all other sponsors and stakeholders who contributed to its triumph. Additionally, it is noteworthy that the 2025 edition featured exciting prizes for outstanding athletes. In the 21km category alone, top participants received rewards such as a night for two at Reilly’s Rock Hilltop, a Bakers Corner E350 voucher, Dixies International coasters, a Ngwenya Glass gift pack and a ticket to the Makoti Festival.

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