Amanzimtoti’s resilient athletes tackle gruelling 89km Comrades Marathon

ATHLETES from all over the globe amassed to tackle the iconic Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 9 June and the many local athletes who took on the challenge did their town proud.

This year’s up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg infamously boasted the big five hills, namely Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Bothas Hill, Inchanga and Polly Shortts.

The first three hills are all run in the first 40km of the 87km marathon. Inchanga takes runners to the 50km mark and Polly Shortts with a little over 10km to go.

Other smaller climbs included Little Polly’s, Umlaas Road and other unnamed hills. The up run is deemed an enormous challenge. Runners had to prepare to not only physically run the distance and make it within the cut off time, but to also psychologically conquer the challenge.

Umkomaas Athletics Club boasted 15 runners who competed in the marathon. The club extended congratulations to all of them, of which it is very proud.

Amanzimtoti Athletics Club boasted a whopping 53 athletes who completed the 2019 marathon. While this seems a large count, Toti AC’s Julie-Ann Waters, explained that last year the club had over 70 competitors.

Speaking with Pieter de Bruin, who completed his 22nd Comrades this year, he explained that he hadn’t notched up as much training before the event as he would’ve liked to, due to a severe foot injury.

“I’ve suffered with Planters Faciitis since I was hit by a taxi 10 years ago, when cycling,” he began.

“I spent a lot of time in a wheelchair and the shortening of my calves resulted in this ongoing injury. I had three cortisone shots, shockwave therapy and only managed six months of training this year. Some 30km from the start, I began to feel severe pain in my heel, but pushed on anyway.”

Despite all odds, the athlete boasted a time of 9:03, which is not his fastest nor his goal, but has been the best time since his accident. Pieter reiterates it to both himself and others, to never give up.

He explained that conditions were awful on the day.

“The roads were wet and the wind was pumping. You’d be running with the wind behind you and after taking a corner it would be coming at you head on,” he said.

When asked if he’ll be competing in 2020’s marathon, he beamed “of course, yes”.

“My goal is to keep running until I am 80-years-old,” he said. “Being only 53 now, I still have a lot of Comrades to complete.”

“People say that they want to, but they never do. When the time for them to do it passes, they then say that they should’ve. Just do it now, and never say never,” he said.

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