Family runs a collective 90km in honour of grandfather
RANDPARK RIDGE – Dave Jack is overwhelmed by the gesture of his family deciding to run 90km for him.
It was a special moment for founding chairperson of Randburg Harriers, Dave Jack, when his children and grandchildren banded together to run a collective 90km in his honour.
The Randpark Ridge resident was astounded by the gesture done on the day that should have held the Comrades Marathon. Instead, when the Race the Comrades Legends virtual run was held on 14 June, the family decided this was an opportunity to do something special.
Jack completed the 5km run while other members of his family entered the longer stretches of the virtual event to make up the 90km.
“I have never had the opportunity to run Comrades with any of them and I have never had my green number on the road with any of them until yesterday when I did the 5km, proudly wearing my green number for the first time since 1987 and knowing that my family, some of whom were running overseas were on the road with me in a Comrades event,” Jack said.
“It was a very special day that I never dreamt would happen.”
Attending the Comrades, even if not running it, is a family tradition for this family. In fact, Jack’s granddaughter Hannah Johansson, who is 15 years old, would have attended her 14th Comrades if the event was not postponed.
Jack’s daughter, Merran Johansson, who organised the family event, would have attended her 40th Comrades this year. Merran and Hannah both watched their first Comrades as babies.
“That’s three generations crazy in love with this race that celebrates its centenary next year. Incidentally, 2020 would have been the 62nd Comrades I would have attended but for the cancellation,” Jack added.
