BAC runners make history at virtual marathon
A total of 35 runners did the 21km, 11 did the 45km and eight completing the full 90km.
BLUFF Athletic Club (BAC) members and fellow athletes hit the tarmac early on chilly Sunday morning, 14 June, to participate in the inaugural Comrades Marathon virtual run. A first for the country following the regrettable cancellation of the 2020 Comrades Marathon.
Wesley Hawkey, Romondo Thompson, Robert Lagane and Johnathan Heslop endured a grueling 90km race on the road from 6am sharp, running at the same pace together from start to finish.
“It was an amazing experience. None of us have ever done anything like it before. The first three laps of the route were fine as we were still feeling fresh. It was thereafter as we took on the fourth lap, that we started to feel the pressure. After the first half of the race at 45km, we decided to lower the pace in order to make sure we had enough energy to keep going and finish our goal. And we did just that, completing the marathon for charity,” he said.
The race was run to raise funds to help the less fortunate within the Bluff community who have especially fallen on hard times due to Covid-19. Making the historic initiative all the more special. A total of 35 runners did the 21km, 11 did the 45km and eight completing the full 90km. Members and community supported along the route, whilst adhering to strict social distancing rules.
The physical start and finish of the race was at Fynnland Sports Club. The route, which was circulated five times to make up the distance, passed Engen Refinery on Tara Road, Duranta Road, the Mondi Paper Mill, Merewent, Cuttings, Marine Drive, Foreshore, Ansteys, and the army base. The team was well supported and cheered by community members and local businesses throughout the day and finished with a time of 10:58min.
“I was blessed to have a strong team around me to keep each other entertained. As for all the community support, with the water tables and vehicles constantly checking if we were okay and fueling us, we would like to say thank you so much. To my family members, we appreciated the good support,” said Hawkey.
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