Crawford teachers get off the mark for Comrades

Three local teachers can boast covering a lot of ground in more than just their syllabus.

Sandra Watzlawick, Deanan Naidoo and Leigh Mastenbroek of Crawford Preparatory School, Fourways, passed with flying colours at the recent Comrades Marathon.

Besides a few personal reasons, these teachers aimed to show their classes that anything is possible if you work hard.

READ: Jukskei Park runner competes in her 12th Comrades Marathon

Straight off the mark, Watzlawick, a physical education and sports development teacher, said she was more prepared for her second Comrades Marathon. She thoroughly enjoyed the ‘gees’ attitudes of the runners to endure such as tough run, despite the difficult hills.

“If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded. Hard work and dedication pays off,” she said.

Mastenbroek, a geography teacher also in her second Comrades, said she felt nauseous 35km from the finish but pushed on to finish in dedication of Lesedi Sekgololo, a woman she knew who was diagnosed with cancer.

“Despite all her ups and downs Lesedi only focuses on the positive and always manages to find the light, the hope and joy in every situation. Every time I wanted to give up I thought of her,” she said.

Lastly, and the most experienced of the three, natural sciences teacher Naidoo, ran his 13th Comrades in excellent time (7:20:12), a personal best time on the up-run and worthy of a silver medal.

“The Comrades certainly compares with the dedication needed to succeed at academic level. The greater discipline, dedication and commitment you have towards your academics the better results you will achieve,” he explained, adding that he hoped children would understand that in life you should persevere regardless of the obstacles, know that something can be achieved if you work hard towards it and, most importantly, to have fun at what you set out to do.

Also read: Jukskei Park runner competes in her 12th Comrades Marathon