AS an emotional Taariq Stokes crossed the line with his 10 teammates, it signalled a triumphant end to a long and difficult journey to raise awareness around men’s mental health and raise R50 000. The relay team ran 704 km in all kinds of weather and finished on a high not to the cheers and support of the crowd as they reached Kings Park Pool in Durban on November 23.

Also read: Wentworth runner completes his first Comrades Marathon

Challenges:

 Stokes recalled the tough journey and the erratic weather and extreme conditions that characterised their epic relay.

“The weather was so unpredictable. The first day, we started off in Eldorado Park (Johannesburg) at midday. It was boiling hot. We ran through the afternoon into the night heading to the Free State, where it was windy and cold. Day two brought slight wind and overcast weather; though the sun came out briefly, the night was brutal, with severe thunderstorms forcing us to suspend running for a few hours since it was unsafe. By day three, running into Durban, it was humid,” he said.

The relay format added to the physical toll, with minimal rest for the team. “Every 10km, we swapped with two teams, running one after another with little to no downtime. It was extremely brutal. At times, it felt like death,” he admitted.

Stokes said despite being a daunting challenge, he thrived in long distance running. “I am naturally a long-distance runner. This challemge felt like a long run that never ended,” he said.

Journey:

The journey was an emotional one, with both highs and lows. Stokes fondly remembered the crowds and cheers at Eldorado Park when they began their journey but acknowledges the strain that set in after 30 hours of running.

“Fatigue and frustration started to set in and by the final day, we were disoriented and very quiet because we just wanted to get to Durban. We were in so much pain,” he recalled.

But as the team approached the finish line, spirits were high. “When we approached near the pool, we got crazy energy from the excitement of achieving our goals. We all cried at the finish line. We were so emotional seeing all the love and support from everyone, it was out of this world. We felt like true heroes,” he said.

Adding to the pride of the day was Taariq’s mother, Ruwaida Crawage, who reflected on her son’s determination and accomplishment.

“I feel extremely proud of him today. I’ve always been proud, even before this began. He is always determined to achieve anything he sets his mind to. When he first told me about this run, I just said okay and didn’t think about what he would be doing. We were apart for only three days but when I saw him run down the tunnel, I was just so emotional. I am just happy and emotional for him right now,” she said.

The run was part of an awareness campaign supporting Men of Valor, a men’s mental health organisation. Stokes emphasised what this run was all about saying, “I would like to tell all men out there that there is help, and our lives matter too. We don’t need to suffer alone. We can get help and help other men. We just need to unite and love and support each other. There is hope.”

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.