(Information supplied by parkrun SA)
Jaco Booysen is embarking on his first Comrades Marathon. From his first parkwalk in 2021 to completing an impressive 68 parkruns (that’s 340 km!), Jaco’s journey demonstrates how small beginnings and community-driven training laid the foundation for his grand dream.
“I’ve always wanted to start running, but I never quite caught the bug. Then, one random day, a good friend invited me to parkrun. I told him, ‘I can’t even run 5km’ and he replied, ‘You can walk it’. So, on June 26, 2021, I completed my first ever parkwalk. We started late, finished in a staggering one hour and 28 seconds, but surprisingly, I kind of enjoyed it.
“It wasn’t until October 16 that year that I returned and decided to try running. I was thrilled to finish in 51:49, setting my first official parkrun personal best (PB) time. From that moment on, I challenged myself to beat my own record every time I showed up. It didn’t happen overnight, but regular Saturday runs slowly helped me build fitness and confidence.
“Parkrun became my stepping stone to more. Over time, I gradually increased my distance, with longer races sitting somewhere far in the back of my mind. Early last year, a friend and I made a pact: we’d do the Comrades in 2028. That prompted me to join my local athletics club and step up my training. But then, in May, a fellow club member asked, ‘Why not do it in 2025?’ Without really thinking, I nodded and just like that, I was in.
“In October last year, I hit a PB of 25:50 at parkrun. A month later, when Comrades entries opened, I took the plunge and registered. From there, it was all-in: researching, asking experienced runners for advice, and training through a pesky knee injury caused by an unlucky encounter with a pothole (turns out runners can suffer the same fate as cars!).
“Training with the club became an integral part of my life. I had intervals on Mondays, 15km mountain runs on Wednesdays, 11-15km hilly routes on Fridays, and long slow distance (LSD) runs on Saturdays. Whenever possible, I would still squeeze in a parkrun right after my LSD. Despite completing 68 parkruns to date, I haven’t managed one this year due to the increased training load or simply work or exhaustion.
“On March 1, I put all my preparation to the test at the Newcastle Battlefields Marathon. I qualified for Comrades with just eight minutes to spare! The route was challenging, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Becoming the first in my family to complete a marathon made it even more special.
“As Comrades approaches, I eagerly anticipate lining up in Pietermaritzburg for the start of this iconic race. It’s still hard to believe that it all began with a single parkrun just four years ago.
“While there’s only so much one can do to prepare, being my first Comrades, I must admit that I’m nervous. I often wonder if I could have done more, but I remind myself that every runner has their own journey. Even though parkrun has taken a backseat recently, I haven’t forgotten the beginning. I’ve set 20 personal bests and continue to set small goals, such as running a sub-25-minute parkrun. I’m proud to say that I achieved this goal, setting a new personal best at 24.43 this past Saturday, just before I begin tapering ahead of Comrades.
“I’m hoping to join Durban North parkrun the Saturday before Comrades to meet Bruce Fordyce. Getting a photo with him would be a special moment for me and my family, depending on how the weekend unfolds. It’s a priority for me.
“Looking ahead, I hope to participate in as many parkruns as possible, wherever and whenever I can. One of my dreams is to eventually run a sub-20-minute parkrun. That will require more training, but it’s something I’m working towards. And who knows? If all goes well this year, maybe the uphill Comrades is next.”

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.