Since the first Comrades Marathon in 1921 and in particular since the first full television broadcast of this epic long-distance race in 1986, spectators have been treated to spectacular scenes, during the race but especially at the end of this race.
Spectators in the pavilions at the finish line as well as those who follow it on TV are entertained in a dramatic and nerve-wracking way every year by participants in this annual ultramarathon of an average of 88km (55 miles) between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
For most athletes the Comrades is more than just another race – it is a pilgrimage, an odyssey that surpasses the measured kilometres. It’s a “one of a kind” road race and a journey about a crossing of borders. It defies the everyday, it defies athletes to perform beyond their abilities. It embodies a living testament to the power of determination and sacrifice.
This year’s Comrades had a special meaning for a 33-year-old former Pretorian and Tuks student, who lives in Australia nowadays.
Michael Sheahan was motivated from a young age to participate in road running. As a young student he often accompanied his grandfather, emeritus professor of psychology, Herman Verhage, to races and later also participated. He started with 10km races and later went on to tackle half marathons.
Photo: Supplied
The young Sheahan accompanied his grandfather to many Comrades marathons. In 2008, as a sixteen-year-old boy, Sheahan ran from the Jan Smuts stadium to the last leg of the race, the infamous Polly Shortts, to wait for his grandfather.
That day the second half of the race took its toll on Prof Verhage. When Sheahan met him at Polly Shortts he was battered, but after the grandson pointed out that there was little time left to finish the race, grandpa trotted down the last ten kilometres as if with fresh legs.
Ultimately, the professor was the very last athlete to finish the race on time that day. His official time was 12 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
Overwhelmed with joy and satisfaction, the last place was like a first place for the then 64-year-old Magnolia athlete from Pretoria. To top it all off, it was his 10th Comrades and the handing over of his permanent green number (20482) to him by Piet Vorster, a previous winner, was the final feather in his cap.
In an interview with a reporter from a newspaper in Durban, prof. Verhage expressed his gratitude to his grandson Michael for his motivation to reach the finish line.
After completing his studies at the Universities of Pretoria, Sheahan left South Africa in 2018 and immigrated to Australia with his family.
Prof Verhage and his wife left South Africa in 2022 to settle in Queensland.
After receiving his Australian citizenship, Sheahan returned to South Africa last year with the aim of taking on the Two Ocean Race and the Comrades Marathon in 2024. To assist him, Prof Verhage flew to South Africa and supported him in the Two Ocean Race.
Photo: Supplied
Afterwards they went back to Pretoria to do track work at the University of Pretoria, while later they went to train for seven days in the Afriski Mountain Resort in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, which is 3222 meters above sea level, Sheahan took on his first Comrades Marathon last month – also an “up” race.
With the support of his grandfather, Sheahan finished in a time of 9 hours and 41 minutes and received a Robert Mtshali medal.
Now for the special twist in this story.
Sheahan was in possession of a photograph taken when Prov. Verhage dramatically became the last athlete to successfully complete the 2008 Comrades. He had this photo printed on a fabric canvas without his grandfather’s knowledge.
He carried this cloth with him in his backpack during the race and when he ran across the finish line, he took out the cloth and ceremonially displayed it.
Thus, mutual gratitude and inspiration also became the strong motivation for the success of a grandparent in his 10th Comrades and a grandson in his first Comrades.
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