THE 2024 Comrades Marathon was Sarah van Heerden’s highlight as she ran it with her daughter, Alex.

This year the duo will be running again, and this time to raise funds for the Kloof and Highway SPCA and all the ‘invisible animals’.

“We run for Kearsney Striders Running Club and our tag line / slogan is ‘Running for Just another Brown dog’.”

In the last financial year Van Heerden, who is the Kloof and Highway SPCA’s operations manager, said more than 3000 unwanted animals were handed in to the SPCA.

“This is devastating! Far too often we see the brown dogs, the Africanus and the mongrel, overlooked and left to fall through the cracks.

“We would like to give as many of these animals a second chance – by sterilising and treating they have a better chance of adoption. To all the brown dogs we see at outreach clinics, we want to be able to provide sterilisations so that we do not end up with thousands of unwanted litters of brown dogs,” said Van Heerden, adding that every life matters.

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Having worked at SPCA for 12 years, Van Heerden notes that every year seems to get more difficult.

“Every year more animals, every year more cruelty. One thing remains unchanged – and that is the invisible brown dog. Alex and I will be running for these overlooked and amazing animals.

“If we can combine our Comrades with making a difference to so many lives then we are the fortunate ones. Our target is R31 000 as at the age of 62 every year will stand for one sterilisation which costs R500.

She pleaded with the public to make a donation to ‘Running for just another brown dog’.

Running is a privilege

Van Heerden, who will be running her 14th race, said her daughter Alex ran her first one last year.

“We loved it. I loved seeing the event through her eyes as you become complacent and take many things for granted, yet she was in awe of the day.”

Asked what attracts her to the Ultimate Human Race, Van Heerden said she runs because she loves it.

“I enjoy the outdoors and I love a challenge that pushes me. I run because the sport gets you to places you would never have seen – whether on a holiday or a work visit, going for a run allows you to explore.

“One of the things I love about running is I love early mornings, so when you run at 04:30 or 05:00 you have run at one of the best times of day and had more of a day than the person who wakes up at 06:30.”

The nature lover and animal advocate said it does no good doing events that are a given.

“You need to always have that apprehension and nervousness prior to the event.”

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For Van Heerden, running is one of the hardest forms of exercise and that is why she feels the winners and front-runners of Comrades are not always given the respect and adulation they deserve.

“The times they do are phenomenal for 90kms.”

The Upper Highway resident runs throughout the year, but puts in some longer mileage closer to Comrades.

“Comrades is difficult to say no to. It is on our doorstep and is a day that really celebrates running. You do not have to be a good runner to do it, you just have to be fit, injury-free and have a good mindset.

“Standing at the start is an incredible feeling, and no matter how many times you do it you are grateful. I saw a saying the other day that was so simple and yet rang true. ‘Running is a privilege’ and I think we must never forget that,” she said.

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