Randburg Harriers marvel over 35 years in the Comrades Marathon
PRAEGVILLE – The club had 122 of its members finish the race and also received two silver medals.
Randburg Harriers participated in the Comrades Marathon this year for the 35th time and have two silver medals to prove it.
John Neale, the club’s captain, said they had 189 entrants, out of which 144 started the race and a great 122 finished. The club received two silver medals, eight Bill Rowan medals (finishing under nine hours), 66 bronze medals (under 11 hours) and 46 Vic Clapham medals (finishing before the 12-hour cut off).
Neale recalled how, in 1983, the club only had about 11 members participate in the marathon and only seven completed the course.
“Randburg Harriers has grown to the point where it consistently features amongst the highest number of Comrades Marathon entries from community-based running clubs in South Africa,” Neale said. This year they had the fourth-highest number of entries from community clubs.
“We regard the Comrades Marathon as the greatest ultramarathon in the world, and it is the highlight of our club’s running year.”
Prior to the marathon, the club hosted a motivational pasta party to prepare its members for the run. For the race, the club arranges transport and accommodation for many of its members, as well as roadside assistance at three locations along the route “We also have a welcoming presence at the finish venue.”
Soon club members will enjoy a ‘soup sympathy’ which will be a celebration party where floating trophies are awarded to the best competitors in various categories along with certificates being handed over to all of the club’s Comrades Marathon finishers.
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