Comrades: the long run

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, followed by Shosholoza, Chariots of fire, Max Trimborn’s cock crow and a starter’s gun.

Few sporting events evoke the drama and emotion that plays off annually between Durban and Pietermaritzburg when thousands of runners set out to conquer their personal goals in the world’s oldest ultra-marathon.

This year 58 runners from the Dolphin Coast Striders in Ballito and 20 representing the Tongaat Panthers athletic club completed the gruelling 89km Comrades marathon within the 12-hour cut-off time.

“No matter how many times you stand at the starting line at Comrades, you cannot help but be moved – the goose bumps seem to appear automatically,” said Sarah Swainson who finished her ‘seventh’ on Sunday.

Overall the Dolphins had an impressive haul of four silver (for finishing between six and seven and a half hours) and 10 Bill Rowan medals (crossing the line between seven and a half and nine hours). The first male Dolphin runner home was Petros Zweni in a time of 6:59:38, while Candice Kater was the fastest local lady in 8:32:49, finishing as the 108th female runner overall. The Panthers also had four silver medallists from their midst.

In the end the Comrades, described as a “triumph of the human spirit”, is about much more than race times. “The camaraderie and team spirit by runners and spectators is what makes this race so special and ultimately gets you over that that finish line,” said Swainson.

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