Kempton Park officer excels at Comrades Marathon

Constable Kelebogile Mapheto (27) of the Kempton Park SAPS has proved that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance.

Mapheto recently completed the 97th Comrades Marathon, and the feat left her beaming with pride.

She came second nationally for the SAPS females and was the first Gauteng SAPS female to cross the finish line in 10:24:00 minutes.

Mapheto said crossing the finish line was an indescribable experience.

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“I felt a great sense of accomplishment like I could conquer anything,” said Mapheto.

“I am so proud of myself. It was a huge surprise because I had no idea until the last few kilometres of the race. My colleagues there to support me mentioned I was the second lady from the club.”

Mapheto’s journey to this moment was paved with a rigorous training plan, balancing work and running commitments.

She said to qualify for the Comrades Marathon, one must meet specific requirements, including being at least 20 years old or older, being part of an Athletics South Africa (ASA) running club and having a permanent running license.

“You also must run a standard marathon (42.2km) in under 04:50:00.”

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Mapheto trains mostly in her neighbourhood and occasionally joins other runners in Midrand for long runs, representing the SAPS Gauteng Athletics Club.

“There were a lot of nerves in the days leading up to race day. I even started having nightmares. The night before race day, the nerves and excitement got the better of me, and I hardly slept.

“When I got to the starting line, I had goosebumps. The singing and cheering of other runners before the gun went off calmed my nerves, and I had an adrenaline rush.

“I felt I was ready to take on the journey of going from Durban City Hall to Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.”

Mapheto’s running journey began at a young age.

“I was a very active child. I used to partake in various sports from primary school into high school. I was always present during athletics season and participated in netball and cross country.

“I took a small break when I got to university but then got back into running by going to parkruns. I then built my way up to running marathons and ultra-marathons because running is an addictive sport,” added Mapheto.

Mapheto said she has an extensive medal collection that she has earned over time, from inter-school athletics to national championships levels for athletics and cross country.

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She said on the Comrades race day, most runners she met encouraged her to keep going.

Mapheto said the most memorable encounter was with a man doing Comrades in a wheelchair and how runners on the route would help push him up the hills without him having to ask.

“You could see the look of appreciation on his face whenever someone helped him up. It was also good to find out that he completed the Comrades Marathon.

“Being a runner on Comrades day feels like you’re a VIP. People come out in numbers on the road to support the runners,” she said.

“My favourite part of the race was experiencing the many Comrades traditions, like the singing of Shosholoza, the national anthem, the playing of Chariots of Fire by Vangelis and the recording of Max Trimborn’s cock crowing right before the gun goes.

“On the route, just before you reach the halfway point, there is a small hollow hole on a mountain on the side of the road called Arthur’s Seat, a resting spot for five-time Comrades winner Arthur Newton.

“Legend has it that runners who greet Arthur or place a flower in his seat will enjoy a successful second half of the race,” added Mapheto.

She said the race was unique in that the distance markers were placed in reverse, so when you saw a board with 63km written on it, it meant you still had 63km to go.

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“What kept me going along the way was that I knew I had sacrificed five months of the year training for this race. It was the race I had looked forward to all year and the cheering along the way.

“Everyone should run at least one Comrades Marathon in their lifetime. It is very possible; you just need to be consistent with your training and listen to your body.

“The only way to improve your running is to give yourself time to commit to a training program and also trust that it will work out.”

Mapheto said she encountered many challenges, particularly the hilly routes.

“The route was very hilly. Once you got to the top of a hill, many more kept coming and coming, and I do not really like running on hills, so you can imagine how that went. However, I kept convincing myself to keep moving,” said Mapheto.

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Mapheto said that, with both directions of the Comrades Marathon now under her belt, her future goal is to complete 10 races and earn a green number.

“My Comrades Marathon journey was a testament to the power of dedication, inspiration, and tradition.

“I will always treasure this experience and look forward to future races, knowing anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.”