La Lucia resident joins Comrades Green Number club
Jody Taylor ran his 10th Comrades Marathon, and he achieved his best time on a Down Run.
THERE was plenty to celebrate at this year’s Comrades Marathon for La Lucia resident Jody Taylor.
Not only did he complete his 10th Comrades Marathon and thus was inducted into the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club, but he also achieved his best time on a Down Run.
Jody finished in a time of 07:20:29 and earned himself a silver medal, which was his ultimate goal.
“As much as this was about running my tenth Comrades Marathon, the plan was always to get a silver medal. After missing out on silver last year by nine minutes, I was determined to make sure I’d reach my goal. In fact, if it weren’t for the community around me, my coach and my wife, Aimee, I might not have run this year’s marathon. I was so gutted to miss out on last year, and it was a bitter pill to swallow in many respects.
Also read: Milestone Comrades run approaches for La Lucia runner
“I felt really down, and to be honest, I wasn’t going to come back this year. But the people around me helped me understand it is how you bounce back from disappointment that matters. I saw last year’s run as a lesson and as a learning curve. So I got back to pushing myself, working hard and following a carefully planned programme, and I’m happy to say I was able to reach my goal this year,” he said.
Jody’s medal haul now stands at six bronze, three Bill Rowan medals and now a silver.
The Faku Chiefs Athletics Club member said running into the traditional finish line at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium was an emotional one.
“I’ve always loved running into Kingsmead. You get such a lift from the crowds banging on the boundary boards, and they are closer to you so that energy just drives you to the finish line. I must say it was quite emotional the moment I stepped up onto the grass. As I rounded the final corner, I saw my father-in-law, my nephews, my seconding team and then I spotted my wife, Aimee, and our newborn daughter, Maddi. It was so hard to hold the tears back as I crossed the line. When I received my Green Number afterwards, it looked like I had been crying for days as my eyes were just bloodshot,” he said.
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