Two members of the RandMark club took on the Comrades Marathon as a team and apart from the stiff legs afterwards, they both did really well.
This was the 47-year-old Beulah Botha’s third Comrades and a first for Clement van der Merwe, 31.
“The day was very exciting especially with all the camaraderie among the athletes . Since it was my first Comrades I enjoyed seeing and experiencing all the traditions that form part of the Comrades, such as all athletes singing the national anthem and Shosholoza before the race,” said Clement.
Beulah said they started training for the Comrades in April. They trained five to six days a week doing about 10 to 15km a day, and on weekends they did between 20 to 30km.
This year’s Comrades was a down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The pair finished the 91km of the Comrades just before 17:00 in 11 hours and 22 minutes, after starting at 05:30.
“The route is very difficult and although it’s a down run it still has five big hills in the route. Towards the end the downhills are very steep an you need to brake often; and by that time your legs are tired. The distance is also challenging,” she said.
Clement found the Comrades extremely tough and most often as brutal. The distance itself with all the hills makes it a difficult race to run. “We also had some very hot weather at the start up until 60km when it became overcast, which helped a lot to get to the finish line.”
He described it as one of those events that tests the whole body, including heart and mind. Beulah said it tests her upper legs and feet in particular.
“I’m very glad it’s over. It’s overwhelming when you finish because you find it hard to believe that you just ran 90km and that you could push through, although it’s difficult.”
According to Clement he’s just grateful to have had the opportunity to attempt something like the Comrades and be part of it. “I definitely learned that I’m able to go even further than the impossible when something seems hard or unreachable.”
