David runs special 40th marathon

IN 1973, at the age of 21, Durban North resident David Williams embarked on a 89 kilometre journey that change the course of his life forever. Four decades later, Williams completed his 40th Comrades Marathon.

For anyone who has ever run a single Comrades, this is almost unimaginable, yet Williams has no intention of slowing down. Northglen News recently caught up with the 62-year-old who now joins an elite band of runners with four wreaths around their permanent number. Incredibly Williams, who missed out in 1974 (he can’t remember why) has run every one of the Comrades marathons since then.

Williams said he was relieved as he crossed the finish line at Kingsmead.

“I’m not a very emotional individual but I’m privileged to be in a special group of runners. I do prefer the down run but I must say all the planets were aligned and my bio-rhythms were up on the day because I had one of my better races.

“My mental approach was not to be pressured by the weight of expectation. I was mindful of that, but I was determined to finish,” he said.

In truth this would have been the Savages Running Club member’s 41st Comrades. Last year though, Williams completed his run but was about 20 minutes past the cut-off time.

“I knew it was going to be tough when I was officially the last athlete through the top of Polly Shortts. It was one of the hardest races for me and conditions on the day were tough. It was humid, with a strong berg wind. You are aware of losing time, but it was important for me to finish the race,” he said.

The Durban North resident had no hesitation when asked if he would run next year’s Comrades.

“My diesel engine is not turbo charged any more and my speed has diminished over the last few years but I have no doubt I will run next year’s race,” he said.

‘The curious case of the ringing bell’

WITH this year’s Comrades Marathon being an down-run, most athletes had to get up before the crack of dawn to make it to the start line in Pietermaritzburg. However Williams’ day started even earlier than that because of a malfunctioning bell.

“One of my friends kindly offered to drive me up this year and I obliged. But we were all given a rude awakening at 25 minutes to 3am. I have a gate buzzer which corresponds to a bell like device in our passage.

“On this morning however, we’re not sure why, it just wouldn’t stop. I jumped out of bed in a panic and ran to the window to see if anyone was at the front gate. Eventually we had to dismantle the contraption to stop it ringing,” he chuckled.

‘A helium balloon and photo cut-out of my son’

WILLIAMS who normally has his family seconding him, was missing a key component in this year’s race, his son, Justin.

“This was the first race he couldn’t make because he was writing an exam on the Friday and Monday and he studies in Stellenbosch. So my daughter decided to blow up a photo of him and tape the picture to the back of a stick.

“They also had a colourful helium balloon with the number 40 on it. It was super because it was on a long string I was able to pinpoint exactly where they were because of the balloon,” he explained.