BY Durban North resident Amber Vogel’s own admission last year’s Comrades Marathon didn’t go according to plan.

In her debut run, the DHS Old Boys Athletics Club member finished in a time of 11:48:26 earning a Vic Clapham medal.

This was an hour and a half off her goal of running a sub-11 hour race.

This year however, she is hoping to change that at the 50th edition of the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

“My goal is to finish under 11 hours, ideally 10:40 is what I’m aiming for. I didn’t have the best day out last year. I had a really tough time towards the end, I was battling with heartburn. My legs felt fine but I physically couldn’t eat or drink, so I had a really rough day. It never goes the way it’s planned, which is something I’ve learned from the club, so I don’t think the sense of achievement was there for me. I’m proud that I finished but I’m certainly looking forward to doing better this year and achieving my goal,” she said.

Vogel said she’s found a home in the running community which has helped her with social connection and shared camaraderie.

“I started running with a friend when I was living in Mpumalanga in 2022. We did our first half-marathon together. When I moved to Durban I started taking it a bit more seriously. I found a really nice group of friends through the running community. Being a part of a group kind of pushes you to take it more seriously because they hold you accountable.

“Initially I joined a social running group called Run Boss, I still run with them. I then joined Oldies because I figured I needed an established club. That has given me amazing friendships. I’ve met people from all different backgrounds and ages so it’s not the normal people you’d maybe meet on a day to day basis but you’ve all got something in common and you connect on a really different level. You’re seeing people on such highs and lows, that you really do celebrate each other in such a different way. You feel like you’re all in it together. I think that’s what is quite cool, knowing there’s people in your corner,” she said.

While she aims for her back-to-back Comrades Medal, Vogel is also using her run this year to fundraise for the South African Parks Honorary Rangers.

She has already raised a little over R7000 with a target of R10 000.

“After living next to the Kruger for three years, I got to personally see the effects of poaching and human interaction on the state of the park and its animals. The Honorary Rangers do such incredible work to preserve the sanctity of our national parks, ensuring the unique heritage of our beautiful country is protected and preserved. That’s why I’m raising funds this year,” she said.

To donate to her cause visit her Amber’s fundraising page.

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