AS Tony (71) Evered-Hall anxiously waited to see if his brother Mike (72) would make the Comrades Marathon cut-off time, with four minutes to go, he became agitated and was willing his brother on with each drawn out breath.
As Mike entered the hallowed grass on the finishing line at the Kingsmead stadium, he looked up at his brother in the stands and mouthed ‘I only came in this late to make you sweat’ with a glint in his eyes.
His jest though hid his emotions which were one of pride and joy to have shared a special moment with his brother. Mike completed his 21st Comrades in a time of 11:57 while Tony completed his 24th in a time of 11:35.
“I’m incredibly proud of Mike, it’s a fantastic achievement. I kept motivating him the whole time and the best part about this was, we both believed in each other. It’s a wonderful feeling to be running with someone as determined as you are. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than my brother.”
“We don’t consider ourselves old and though the wife says no, I wouldn’t mind running another race with him,” Tony said with a conspiratorial wink.
The Durban North resident lauded the seconds and the spectators in the 89 kilometre race.
“My sons, Mark and Guy and my wife Helen, were wonderful. There isn’t enough recognition that goes to the seconds who give you such a lift and help encourage you in your lowest ebbs on the race,” he said.
His brother Mike, who was running his first Comrades since 2006, made it with three minutes to spare said he felt like a celebrity approaching the finish line. “The announcer on the PA system said ‘give this man a round of applause, he is 70 plus and is completing his 21st Comrades’. Well that just made me feel like a celebrity, the only thing missing was the prize money,” he joked.
Northglen News article recognition and reunions
THE duo said they were extremely touched by the number of people who recognised them on the down run. “I had so many people congratulate me and wish me well as they passed me on the course. One Comrades runner who was passing me, stopped and doffed his cap and said I salute you, and that was just a wonderful feeling,” Tony said.
Mike, who runs for the Bluff Athletics Club said he was also thrilled by the recognition but a phone call from a friend he hadn’t heard from since 1961, was the proverbial icing on the cake.
“After reading the article he managed to track me down and said he lived in Sunningdale. It was just super reuniting with old friends so thank you Northglen News,” Mike smiled.
Comrades camaraderie alive and well
AS we chatted both Mike and Tony kept referring to the vibe and camaraderie of the Comrades being unrivalled. Mike shared his experience which he says proves the spirit of the marathon is alive and well. During the race, Mike unknowingly dropped his cellphone and thought it lost forever.
“Thankfully two female runners from Johannesburg picked up the phone and managed to get hold of my family. They aid they would wait for me at the end of the race and hand it back to me.
“When I crossed the finishing line they urged me to hurry up because their bus was leaving. Thankfully I made it in time and my eternal gratitude goes out to the two women,” he said.
