Randburg Harriers did not just participate in the Race the Comrades Legends run but they also encouraged the greater community through a Wall of Honour.
The Praegville-based running club saw its members compete in the virtual run on 14 June, which was hosted by the Comrades Marathon Association following the postponement of the country’s most well-known ultra-marathon.
Runners could run 5km, 10km, 21km, 45km or 90km anywhere they liked, compare their times with the likes of Bruce Fordyce, Frith van der Merwe and Samuel Tshabalala, and earn a real Comrades medal.
“A number of our members decided to run their Race the Comrades Legends in the Cradle of Humankind on Sunday,” said Randburg Harriers club captain, John Neale.
“At the start, the Chariots of Fire theme song was played before the runners set off. There was also a finish line set up for each person who completed the virtual race over their chosen distance.”
The club’s Cristina Karadimitriades, Jan Alwyn and Dylan Webster all ran 90km.
Neale added that he and his wife, Beth Libby-Neale both ran half marathon distances, and it was special for them.
“Beth had entered the race this year, and would have been trying for her 12th finish. For me, a two-time Comrades finisher, it was a chance to experience a little bit of the Comrades magic for the first time in seven years.”
The event also inspired Lizzi Gough of Harriers to put messages on the outside of her home wall in Randpark Ext 2.
It would have been her 10th Comrades Marathon and she decided to spread the cheer.
“The initial disappointment of the cancellation of Comrades made way to a fun day out with the virtual Comrades race,” Gough told Randburg Sun.
“Our whole family was able to participate as our son Jez did 10km and Dylan did 5km and Leonard and I did 21km. We did 5km loops in our area and dropped the children off after each loop. The Gough family made history.”
She said all runners who passed by could complete a sign and stick it up on the wall.
Some of these messages read, ‘Go Comrades legends!’, ‘Comrades is an event where everyone is equal and ordinary at the start line. But a legend is born at the finish line. Anything is possible.’ and ‘You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome. But you can control your attitude and how you deal with it. Run 4 fun.’
