Eleven members of the Springs Striders Athletics Club are set to represent Springs at the gruelling Comrades Marathon on June 14.

The local runners are ready to tackle the annual running event, starting in Durban and finishing in Pietermaritzburg.

“Qualifiers are in the bag, injuries are at bay, and all is healthy. I believe our runners are going to do great this year on the Comrades Marathon ‘Up Run’,” said Charmaine Botha.

The club has been training since January, beginning with base training.

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“We had three training blocks and then added speed, strength and lastly tapering, which means lowering kilometres gradually,” she explained.

With the training process being complete, Botha added that the main focus is to reflect, stay positive and motivated by visualising successfully completing the Comrades.

She offered some words of advice to fellow runners.

“Create lists for race day so as not to forget anything, and only realise it in Durban. Remember that nutrition and rest are key, and as the Comrades slogan for 2026 says, ‘ska fela moya’, never give up,” she said.

Striders members who will run the Comrades:

• Robin Williams (76)
• Ferdi van Tonder (45)
• Mziwakhe Maseko (49)
• Bernard Rudolph (52)
• John Thoma (64)
• Karin Smith (67)
• Charmaine Botha (43)
• Carla Strauss (40)
• Annetjie Nel (59)
• Ruan Maree (45)
• Zacharia Tshabalala (61)