Amanzimtoti athletes share Comrades Marathon experience
A group of athletes from Amanzimtoti Athletic Club gave it their all at this year's Comrades Marathon. Ewoud Grobler, running the Ultimate Human Race for the seventh time, had a stand-out performance, earning him a silver medal.
THIRTY-TWO members of Amanzimtoti Athletic Club (AAC) recently took on the Comrades Marathon, with three of them sharing their experiences.
This year’s event marked the 97th edition and the 49th Up Run, covering a distance of 85.91km. Among the club’s participants, eight were novice runners, and one took on his 28th race. Despite valiant efforts, four members did not finish.
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In a statement, the club congratulated every member who tackled the Ultimate Human Race. “You all made us so proud. The months of long hours and early mornings on the road have been paid off by the awesome memories you will have forever.”
Ewoud Grobler completed his seventh in a time of 07:21:17, earning himself a silver medal.
He initially aimed for a sub-7-hour finish but adjusted his pace due to how his legs felt during the race. “My watch also died with 47km to go, so I had to run on feel which wasn’t actually a bad thing seeing that it probably forced me to run more in line with how I was feeling on the day. As expected, the support along the route was fabulous,” he said, adding that this race was especially meaningful after making up for his previous two performances following back surgery.
Warren Gibson completed his ninth in a time of 10:11:46, earning himself a bronze.
He said he struggled early on but regained momentum after support from his family and a quick pit stop. “I was looking at a sub-10 hours, but it’s my best time on the Up Run thus far, so I’m happy. I look forward to getting my green number next year,” he said.
Jay Ramdeo completed his fourth in a time of 10:35:40, also earning himself a bronze.
Despite a hamstring issue at about 20km into the race, he pushed through with strong community support and finished feeling strong, albeit slightly off his target time. “I never had issues with my hamstrings in training, but we should expect the unexpected from the Comrades. I had a strong second half, feeling good at the end. I will definitely be on the starting line in 2025, chasing my goals,” he said.
The club thanked every member who was there along the road supporting friends and teammates. “I know the runners appreciate all your love and care and the extra mile you put in to assist them to complete their journey.”
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