Jeppe Quondam runners gear up for 20th Comrades

Come May 29, three runners from the Jeppe Quondam Athletics Club will take on the Comrades Marathon for their 20th time.

Jenny Blake, Peter McCann and Joe Mthimunye said the marathon is about more than just endurance.

“It is about what it means to you. It is a personal journey and the goals one sets for themselves,” said Mthimunye.

The trio said preparation for the race started over seven months ago and now they are busy with the last part of the training to keep fit for the day.

Blake, a school teacher, said the fact that the race is not easy is what makes it interesting.

“The biggest part of Comrades is the training. A lot of work goes into the preparation and at the end of the day, hard is what makes it great,” she said.

McCann said although time is spent training and preparing, on the day of the race certain elements are out of one’s control.

“No matter how hard you have worked there will be an element on the day that will just be beyond your control. It could be the weather or as was the case last year, someone started a veld fire along the route and there was smoke everywhere,” he said.

Ria Botha, who will be running her 10th race this year, said the highlight of the race over the years for her has always been the starting line.

“It is at that moment that one experiences oneness. It is people from different walks coming together for one goal. It always gives me goosebumps and hope for South Africa,” she said.

Mthimunye said his personal ambition this year is to come home with a silver medal.

“Comrades is about the everyday man and woman on the street who sets out to conquer and achieve whatever goals they set out for themselves. The professional runners only make up a small percentage on the day. We make the comrades,” he said.

All four runners agree that there is no sleep on the eve of the race.

“We are usually out of bed by 3am, getting ready to leave for the race, but trust me, there is no sleeping the night before. All the anxiety kicks in and you are literally up the whole night,” said McCann.

He said the spectators are the highlight of the race.

“The last 29 kilometres of this race is very mental and those people on the side lines are amazing. They will call you by your name and tell you, you are almost there, go on, you’ve got this,” he said.

The trio said as the clock ticks to their 20th race the reality is emotional.

“But it’s an emotional moment we would not trade for anything in the world,” said Blake.