A FAIRLY new ‘kid on the block’ when it comes to running, that is, will attempt his second Comrades Marathon in June, something he only started training for in 2023.

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Grant Bowels, who is an educator at Chelsea Preparatory School, said this Comrades is a very special one for him as he is dedicating it to his twin daughters, Ella and Kyra, who were born in February this year. This, he says, has made the tough training all that more worth it.

“In 2023, I finished Comrades in 10.38. I heard from other runners that it takes a few years to train, but I didn’t have a few years. With my wife Monique being pregnant last year, I decided that I will cram all my training into a few months so I completed my first half-marathon, full marathon and ultramarathon, which was Comrades, in 2023,” he said.

Bowels is also running for SANParks Honorary Rangers, an organisation he holds very close to his heart.

“Having Ella and Kyra has furthered my passion for this charity as I would not want a world where my children only experience these majestic animals in our country through forms of media due to the lack of preservation. This year will be a very special year running Comrades for this impactful charity,” he said.

“Coming from a sporty background but never having been a runner, I thought if I don’t challenge myself to something, I am not going to achieve anything. That’s when I decided to tackle Comrades,” said Bowels.

While he is a member of Savages Running Club, Bowels does most of his training alone as he has to find times suitable to his new family dynamic.

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“This year, my wife is unable to be my seconder, so I have to give myself even more of a mental push. My advice to anyone who wants to run Comrades is to enter and achieve that goal first before working towards the goal of finishing the race,” he added.

For Bowels, it’s the camaraderie of the Ultimate Human Race that had him coming back for more.

“This Comrades, I plan on bettering my finish time and raising a lot of cash for SANParks,” he said.

“Lastly, I leave you with this scripture to build strength. Joshua 1:9: ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,'” he added.

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