When he was still a boy, Antony Nkabini would eagerly listen to the family’s battery-powered radio to catch up on the commentary on the Comrades Marathon, which, back in the day, was run on May 31.
“My hero was Bruce Fordyce. I said to myself: One day I am going to run the Comrades with that man.”
Years later, the veteran police detective with almost 40 years of service will lace up his running shoes on Sunday to take on the world-famous ultra-marathon for the 30th time.

Nkabini has numerous bronze medals, which he one day hopes to put in a large frame.
This year, the race is from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, and Nkabini is one of seven Biggarsberg Athletic Club runners to take up the challenge.
The others are Lucas Buthelezi, who is doing his first Comrades; Dr Shane Hilliar; Smakhale Khumalo; Joel Khumalo (his 13th); Khethokuhle Mchunu (15th); Clifford Makhonza (3rd); and Letho Ndlovu (a novice who runs for the Hollywood Club but trains with BBAC athletes).
On Saturday, club members and the available Comrades runners went for a 5km early-morning jog before enjoying a carbo-loading breakfast at Wimpy.

There, club chairperson Siya Ngobese congratulated Nkabini for taking on his 30th Comrades.
Gift bags were presented to all the Comrades entrants.
“Running is not like team sports. In football and rugby, when you lose the game, you can blame the goalkeeper for messing up or (in rugby) the fly-half for missing his kicks. But in running, there is no one to blame but yourself – that’s what makes it special.”
The Courier wishes all those taking on the gruelling Comrades Marathon a safe run and may you all reach the finish line!

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