Comrades Marathon is a family affair
Gillitts grandfather, Herve Rougier-Lagane (66) will tackle his 11 Comrades Marathon this year joined by his son and grandson.
THIS year’s Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday, 10 June and a local family, the Rougier-Lagane family, hope to achieve a personal goal when three generations cross the finish line together.
Family patriarch, grandfather Herve Rougier-Lagane (66), already has his Comrades green number and had no intentions of trying for another medal until son Robert (46) and grandson Jaryd (21) talked him into joining them for their fourth and first Comrades, respectively.
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Gillitts resident, Herve, earned his previous medals while running for PDAC (4) and Queensburgh Harriers (6) and will be running his first Comrades Marathon in the colours of new club, GetFit AC, this year.
Robert and Jaryd are both members of Bluff Athletics Club.
The trio qualified together at the G&B Sapphire Coast Marathon in October 2017, crossing the line together to ensure they start this year’s Comrades in the same batch. They hope to run the entire race as a ‘team’ and cross the line together in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, 90kms later.
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Despite coming from a large Mauritian family, Herve was the only member interested in running which he began in 2004.
Herve has since been joined by his two sons, his daughter, his grandson and one of his nieces.
His wife, Sonya, his biggest fan, ran her first Comrades in 2010 but now focuses on trail races and half marathons.
“I am incredibly proud that these three men plan to ‘bring it home’ for the family on 10 June and the rest of the family will be on the side of the road, cheering and supporting them all the way,” she said.
GetFit Athletic Club Secretary, Alison Moor, said she is also proud of the three guys.
“Herve is a very popular member of our club and has been a wonderful example and mentor to our novice runners. We are so excited and proud that he will be running this iconic race in GetFit colours this year and we wish Herve, Robert and Jaryd all the very best for a great race on 10 June,” said Moor.
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