An estimated 6 million people will tune in to watch the ultimate human race, the Old Mutual Comrades’ Marathon, on television this year.
The race takes place on 4 June and the Roodepoort Athletics Club will be sending a number of novices to compete. Dewald Pieterse, Patricia Engelbrecht, Mark Steenberg and Melanie de Beer are keen to hear the starting gun go off and have been training hard to experience the legendary race. They want to be part of the ultra-marathon’s history, which spans more than 90 years.
Dewald recently qualified to participate in the Comrades by completing his very first 42km race earlier this month. What makes this race special for the 21-year-old man is his desire to run with his mother as part of her 50th birthday celebrations.
“It is a gift to my mother and I know she will be happy when we’re on the road together. I have been training with the experienced Conrad de Buys and it’s been very difficult. However, the only motivation I need is my mother, so I look forward to reaching the finish line. My mother inspired me last year when I saw her running on television – it was so exciting,” he said.
Patricia, who is a fun-loving member of the club, will also be joining the mother and son duo on the road. She had never thought of running the Comrades until recently. The 48-year-old joined the running club two years ago and recently completed her first 42km marathon, qualifying to compete in the Comrades as a result.
“My friends are participating in the Comrades and I did not want to be left behind. The training has been really tough because I have to cover at least 800 to 1000km to be fit. But when I look at how relaxed everyone is, it makes me think the actual event might not be as difficult as the training,” she said.
Many organisations participate in the Comrades and use it as a platform to highlight certain things that are ailing South Africans, such as HIV/AIDS, crime, and women and child abuse.
Mark will be doing just that as he is dedicating his first Comrades run to his brother, Tyrone Human, who died of cancer. Mark, who is 32, only took up running in January this year and is determined to make it to the finish line of the Comrades.
“I have no expectations or anything, all I want is to finish before the 12-hour mark. But it has been hard to get the much-needed training because my work hours are not flexible enough. But this is something I have set my heart on and my family is supportive of my initiative,” he said.
Melanie’s love for running started in 2013 when she was invited to participate in a 5km run. Although she walked more than she ran, she still enjoyed herself immensely.
“That was when the bug bit and I competed in two races a month for most of that year. When I joined Roodies, running the Comrades was never in my mind, but it’s the one thing everyone talks about. It’s called the ultimate challenge and now I want to try it. I have done plenty of races, which puts me in good stead to get through the Comrades and that’s what I want to do,” she said.
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