ROAD RUNNING
“ Say to your neighbour , how are you doing ?” he said . And that connection style would set the tone for the team , and became the order of the day throughout the course . “ It takes all of you to make it ,” he added .
*****
“ A little restraint now will be rewarded in the second half ,” the bus driver advised as we descended another hill . “ Keep to the bus , guys and smile your journey to the finish line !” Some of us were feeling on top of the world now and our overexcitement might cost us dearly if we were not restrained . At times I felt the bus was too slow , especially when we did occasional walks , and I was tempted to pull away . Each time the urge to pull away nagged me , I kept reminding myself ,
“ If you want to run fast , go alone . If you want to run far , join the team .”
I had noticed the bus driver cared about people . It is not enough just to have a vision but ignore the people responsible for seeing it through . People are as important as the vision .
Runners showed gratitude by smiling back for the recognition they received from the bus driver . It kept the team alive and loyal . There was direct interaction between the bus driver and his team .
At the fourth water point , I noticed it had become a habit for passengers to continue sharing water
One of the Modern Athlete Comrades Pacetter buses at the bottom of Polly Shortts and juice sachets . This became the order of the day for the next 40-plus refreshment stations . Trust and cooperation were essential in a bus , I ’ d noticed . That kept the bus intact and everyone got the supply or the required resources . Wow ! Total strangers joined together by a common vision began to behave like blood sisters and brothers . I was thrilled .
We all wanted to conquer the long haul and the hills , and as we did , we conquered something within ourselves : Our limitations and selfishness .
The terrain had hills and valleys , and it increasingly became an effort to smile . “ Don ’ t think about the uphill – you ’ re glorifying your fear . Rather , focus on the next step . One foot in front of the other ,” he said as we ascended another unmentioned hill . One foot in front of the other . “ Remember each step forward is as important as the last step that will help you cross the finish line ,” he said .
The silence became overbearing as we negotiated another incline . It seemed we were running from hill to hill . The bus driver warned us those hills were just the “ starters ” before the main course . “ The main course lies ahead in the form of the Big Five ,” he said . I wanted to ask if there would be dessert at the end ! I like tin roof ice-cream as my dessert . I wondered what it would be like when we get to it .
At another refreshment station around Westville , spectators blasted music along the course to celebrate the day , and others showered us with ululations . This made the day remarkable . We felt like conquerors in a war against our will , a war that we were yet to win . “ I need each and every one of you . Those in the flanks pass the refreshments and solids to the centre of the bus .
We are in this together . No one of us here is more important than the rest of us ,” the bus driver said . “ And smile !”
The goal was mutual . No individual glories , I guessed , but teamwork was the order of the day . And I smiled as volunteers cheered us . The bus driver was somehow reminding himself that he was leading us at our pleasure . He wanted the teammates to know he needed us more than we needed him . He was touching a special nerve in the human soul : appreciation .
Chapter 6 : No Turning Back
“ What goes up , must come down ! What goes up , must come down !” The bus driver ‘ honked ’ as he led the chant . We were face to face with a 2.5km long climb , Botha ’ s Hill , the last monster before halfway . “ Botha ’ s Hill was named after Carolina Botha who in 1849 , opened the first inn to cater for wagoners ,” he narrated . And the chant continued . I wondered what was the significance of the stories he told us . It would work better for tourists , not ideal for tired road runners , I thought . On second thought I realised , leaders share their wisdom and stories to keep a sense of family and unity alive .
What goes up , must come down ! What goes up , must come down !
This would become the order of the day as we approached each uphill . Whenever the team faced a challenge , we burst into a song or mantra to diffuse its enormity .
The questions that kept on haunting me were : Why would any sensible person run 90km to learn leadership skills ? Would it not have been easier for me to enrol for a leadership course at a tertiary institution than to risk my life in Comrades ? It was the worst torture you could subject your body to , I thought , as pain began to register all over my body . But what baffled me was that the winners of yesteryears received only ten pounds , or even simple cutlery , as a token of appreciation for winning the 90km race . Was that even inspirational ? There ’ s got to be something more about this race , I consoled myself , hoping to find out by the end of the course .
The slogans or themes I read about Comrades before the race were now beginning to make sense . They told it like it was : “ It will humble you ,” “ Hard is what makes it great ,” “ It takes all of you ,” etc .
“ Say to your neighbour , how are you doing ?” The bus driver commanded . And we observed the protocols , as we would do throughout the day . The bus driver set up splits when to walk and when to run . The
People want to be appreciated to feel important .
*****
The darkness had now dissipated . As we trudged along , the bus driver commended runners for keeping pace . And we celebrated the spirit of teamwork with a cry of victory . “ Well done , Sbu ! You are doing well , my brother from another mother . Bridget , you too , my darling ! Mike , at the back I hope those iron calves are still strong enough for the long haul ! Gladys , keep breathing , girl , your hubby is waiting for you at the finish !”
WIN one of five copies of The Bus Driver
If you have enjoyed these extracts from the book , and you would like to win a copy of the book , send an e-mail to letters @ modernathlete . co . za , with the subject line , I want to run with The Bus Driver . Five winners will be randomly picked from amongst the entries , and will be sent a copy of the book . Entries close 25 July , and winners will be notified by return mail .
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