The Willem Boshoff Marathon – Footprints of a long distance legend

EVERY year, since 2014, runners gather for the annual Willem Boshoff Memorial Marathon at Natal Spa.

But who was Willem Boshoff and why is the late Vryheid athlete remembered with such fondness and admiration by those who follow in the footprints he left behind?

Perhaps one of his most memorable achievements was his first Comrades Marathon in 1961 which, according to legend, started out as a side bet. A newspaper clipping at the time states, “Among the many behind-the-scenes stories that emerged from last week’s Comrades Marathon is that of Willem Boshoff, who finished the course in 10hr 53min after deciding on the preceding afternoon to run in the race…”

With only basic off season training and wearing Bata tennis shoes, Boshoff finished his first Comrades in 98th place.

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“His magnificent achievement was somewhat tinged with regret, however,” ends the article, “for in making his decision the afternoon before the event, he was unable to enter officially. Thus his effort must go unrewarded…”

While his very first Comrades effort went unrewarded, the life of Willem Boshoff certainly did not.

An accomplished athlete, even during his school years, he was always active in school sports and was included in Natal schools athletics team and Boshoff achieved many great feats.

He matriculated in 1959 at Estcourt High School, but his unabated love for organised sport followed him throughout his adult life.

He was involved in hospital administration during his career and was hospital secretary in Vryheid.
Following his retirement from the Comrades Marathon, Willem Boshoff qualified, with distinction, as a referee. He refereed for basically all the long distance events that took place in Northern KZN, which did not go unnoticed by the Comrades Association and, subsequently, he was invited to be a referee at this prestigious international event.

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“Members of the club were very proud of our Vryheid referee,” writes Vryheid Athletic Club’s Smuts van der Nest. “On the road he was a big inspiration and motivator for the tired club member…”

During his life, Willem Boshoff was honoured as one of the few honorary life members of the club.
Willem Boshoff passed away in 2013… His race was completed.

“We salute you,”concludes Van der Nest, “and it is an honour to stage this event in memory of the Willem Boshoff legacy. Wherever he went, he left footprints of goodwill…”

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