Rand Road Warriors celebrate massive achievement at Comrades Marathon
In a massive show of determination and club spirit, 36 members of Rand Road Warriors completed the iconic Comrades Marathon. The team’s months of training and camaraderie paid off as they crossed the finish line in Durban.
Thirty-six members of the Rand Road Warriors running club took on the challenge of the Comrades Marathon last weekend.
Held on June 8, runners started in Pietermaritzburg and finished in Durban in the 98th edition of this iconic ultramarathon.
As a club, Rand Road Warriors celebrate every achievement reached by its members. From newcomers to veterans, any goal accomplished is incredible—and having 36 members compete in the Comrades Marathon makes the club especially proud.
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The runners were: Brendan van Wyk, The Thomas, Rudi Spangenberg, Grant Harrison, Byron Benson, Andrew Peel, Gavin Letcher, Steven Parsley, Greg Parsley, Frikkie Myburgh, Tracey-Lee Letcher, Claire Lord, Karyn Bell, Cive Dawkins, Gary Engelbrecht, Mark Gavin, Kedibone Owen Masipa, Rui De Matos, Quanita Fardell, Maqhawe Ntsele, Richard Lay, Natacha Adkins, Matsobane David Morema, Chris Lay, Sam Bowen, Sboniso Mncwabe, Shand Spencer, Bianca King, Kaylin van Westendorp, Inthie Ebrahim, Tayla Evans, Tomas Gerken, Christian Helleputte, Vibhav Naicker, and Muriel Ratshitanga.
The grueling training, early-morning starts, and sheer dedication required to reach the start line are commendable, and RRW was privileged to have its runners proudly wearing club colours during the marathon.
In the lead-up to the race, RRW’s runners experienced a mix of nerves and excitement. Taking on the Ultimate Human Race is no small feat. While the race’s difficulty is well known and commands deep respect, the determination to achieve such a massive goal kept the runners motivated.
Discussing preparations, RRW explained that training can be challenging and time-consuming but ultimately rewarding. Most runners began training in January, gradually increasing their weekly mileage before tapering off to ensure their bodies and minds were ready for race day.
Although mileage varied per runner, the average distance covered from January through May ranged from 800 to 1 200 km.
Training involved more than just running long distances; it combined proper nutrition, rest, speed work, and strength training.
Runners also had to qualify for the Comrades Marathon by completing specified distances (42.2 km and above) within certain time frames.
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Leading up to the marathon, Rand Road Warriors hosted several events to assist and support their Comrades runners on their journey to the start line.
On May 1, the club held its annual Club Long Run—a 50 km route with support tables every 6 km stocked with water, Powerade, and nutrition. The event drew a phenomenal turnout and showcased the strength of the club’s Warriors.
On May 31, RRW hosted the annual Chairman’s Run and Comrades Breakfast. The day was filled with praise, appreciation, support, war stories, and well wishes—a perfect send-off for the runners.
The guest speaker at the event was Richard Laskey from “The Choc Cows,” an organisation that raises awareness and funds for Childhood Cancer Foundation SA.
Laskey delivered a thought-provoking talk, reminding the runners of their “WHY” and encouraging them to hold onto this motivation when challenges arise during the race.
Rand Road Warriors commend all their runners who took on the challenge of the Comrades Marathon and are proud of every single one of them.
