After a scintillating 69.01km in driving wind and rain, Japan’s Jo Fukuda became the 2023 Global Wings for Life World run champion with the catch car catching him after 4:09:51 on the road. Fukuda did join the Nedbank Green Dream Team already 5 weeks prior the Wings race and will now focus to a debut Comrades Marathon where he will don the green sponsored Nedbank / Nike running kit on 11 June.
Fukuda is a world class marathon runner with a pb of 2:09:52 and on last year’s Gold Coast Marathon in 2:10:55. More recently, Fukuda ran 2:12:23 in this year’s Tokyo Marathon but his focus has been on Comrades since the beginning of this year. “The Wings for Life run was part of my very tough training for Comrades, so I am happy where I am at, and the training is going well for Comrades.”
Earlier this year, Fukuda set an unofficial Japanese 50km record, running 2:47 around a 400m track which saw him run 125 laps on the track. “After that run I thought to myself I think I can do well in ultras and after I received a message from my friend Cuan talking about Comrades, I decided to attempt it this year!”
When asked what he knows about Comrades, Fukuda is quick to point out he knows some of the history. “I know it’s the world’s oldest and traditional ultra-marathon in the world and if you win it, you can consider yourself a real champion.” It will be Fukuda’s second time to Africa but first time to South Africa. “I have been in Kenya before where I trained with Eliud Kipchoge in the NN team so I’m really looking forward to come to South Africa.”
When asked what his goal for this year’s Comrades Marathon was, Fukuda was serious. “I only think about winning so that is what I am coming out for and want to achieve.”
The Wings for Life run has shown that champions in the event can have success at the Comrades Marathon. Joining Fukuda in Durban will be Nedbank running club teammate Dominika Stelmach from Poland. Stelmach is a 3-x winner of the Wings for Life event which included a global title and course record back in 2017. Last year Stelmach finished 2nd at the Comrades Marathon after losing the lead in the final 20km.
Earlier this year the Pole ran in the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km but was forced to pull out due to a sprained ankle she picked up in training. This year Stelmach finished in 7th place for the Wings for Life run but has made progression from her injury for this year’s Comrades. “This was for sure the toughest Wings for Life run I have done but I chose this tough route on purpose in order to get a good long run in for Comrades,” said Stelmach.