Nearly 140 Dolphin Coast Striders ready for Comrades challenge this weekend
The club is expecting to hit some major milestones, including a 44th race for Colin Goosen.
Dolphin Coast Striders runners fine-tuned their Comrades Marathon preparations at the club’s popular annual Captain’s Run last Saturday.
Led by chairman Mike Morgan – who set the pace on a scooter – the run saw about 200 athletes complete the 10km Hugh Dent loop between Ballito and Salt Rock.
The Captain’s Run has become a much-loved event in recent years, serving as the club’s final training run ahead of the Ultimate Human Race which returns on Sunday, June 14.
“This is arguably our club’s biggest tradition,” said Dolphin Coast Striders marketing manager Nicola Muir.
“It’s not just about the Comrades, though, it’s a community-focused event, which is what our club is about.”
This year’s 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon will cover 85.77km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, making it the shortest ‘up run’ in the race’s history – about 133 metres shorter than the previous record.
The Striders will be one of the country’s best represented clubs at the race, with 138 runners registered. This includes 94 men and a record 44 women, alongside further local participants from neighbouring clubs Tongaat Panthers and Mandeni Harriers.
Among the standout runners from the Striders is former Comrades gold medallist Colin Goosen, who is taking on his 44th edition of the race.
Several members also hope to reach major milestones, with Tyrone Pullen, Jean Mackinnon and Brad Gillis each running their 10th Comrades. Other notable entrants include Leon van Moerkerken (35th race), Petros Zweni (27th), Johnson Dayal (22nd) and Themba Qhanqiso (19th).
Following the Captain’s Run, runners attended a pre-race information session led by Ballito resident and Comrades legend Barry Holland, who has completed the ultramarathon 49 times.
Widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the event, Holland shared invaluable insight with club members. The session proved particularly useful for the 34 Striders preparing to tackle their first Comrades.
“To get a pre-race talk from Barry Holland, who has done so many, is pretty special,” said Muir, who will be running her second Comrades and first up run.
“He’s very involved with the Comrades Marathon Association too, so we get extra tips on the race and insight into what to expect on the day.”
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