Members of Rocky Road Runners (Rockies) had a blast during the Race the Comrades Legends run.
The virtual run was held by the Comrades Marathon Association on 14 June, following the postponement of the country’s most popular ultramarathon. 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, Samuel Tshabalala, and even earn a real Comrades medal.
Rockies, a Zoo Lake-based running club, saw 80 of its members take part in the virtual run, 10 of whom ran the full 90km.”We couldn’t organise club water points for members because of Covid-19 regulations,” explained Rockies chairperson, Matodzi Tshidzumba. “Each member organised their own water points. Others ran with water backpacks.”
He said runners were still in good spirits during the run and some met each other along their improvised routes. This motivated runners to push on, as while they ran alone, they were not alone in spirit. One runner, Simon Mdhlalose, ran the full 90km. However, after eight hours into his run, his phone and watch batteries went flat and he had to run the rest with a charger connected to them.”These are unusual times and we have to adapt as we go,” Tshidzumba added.”We have some nice plans for members in the new year or before, but we still have to finalise them.”
He added no club activities will be held until permission is received from Central Gauteng Athletics. However, the club plans to hold its first virtual AGM on 21 June.
Details: Rocky Road Runners 072 472 2042.
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