IF you’ve ever stood on the sidelines of the Comrades Marathon, you’ll know that it’s not just a race. It’s a pulse. A promise. A story that starts with laced-up shoes and ends in tears, triumph, and maybe a massage tent.

For uMhlanga’s Tiffany Gore, this year’s race is more than just her first run. It’s a full-circle, heart-soaked moment as she will be running in her dad’s number, thanks to a heartfelt letter she penned to the Comrades Marathon Association. To add to that, her granddad also ran in the same number.

Also read: Mount Edgecombe resident to raise funds on the run at Comrades

“It’s something I always knew I’d do. Since I was 10, seconding my dad with my grandpa, being in the middle of all that magic, I just knew that one day, I’d be in it too.”

Fast forward, and here she is: medical aid broker, mom to little Ezra, wife to Luke, and starting her journey as an ultra-marathoner.

“My granddad ran 12 Comrades. He was chairman of his running club, always helping others. The stories he told, some terrifying, some hilarious, definitely nudged me into this madness,” she laughed.

Commenting on running in his number, Gore said it’s incredibly special.

“I like to think he’d be proud. He had this quiet sass, always teasing. I can feel him during the race, especially when things get tough,” she added.

She’s been training since January, not just pounding pavements but working with a strength coach, a dietician, and a rock-solid game plan.

“It’s been a juggle. Weekends away from my husband and two-year-old. Lots of solo long runs as well.”

Still, she’s had some joyful miles with her running buddy Claudia who, excitingly, is also doing her first Comrades.
“It’s a full-circle moment for her too,” said Gore.

“I’m actually really looking forward to the start of the run. The emotion, the buzz. Watching runners over the years, being on the sidelines … now I’m in it. That feeling is everything.”

Of her many Comrades memories, one sparkles especially bright: “Seeing Gerda Steyn fly past us, still smiling at the 45th Cutting. It was epic. And that was pure power as it was a down run so that means she had been running for several hours but still had the energy to smile.”

This year, she’s also raising funds for a cause close to her heart – CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa. Look for Tiffany Gore under the fundraising tab on the Comrades website or check out her Facebook for the link.

Her advice for first-timers? “Enjoy the training. Don’t take it too seriously and find a good running buddy. Trust me, it makes a world of difference.”

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