MANN the running mann by STUART MANN
THE RUNNING
MANN the running mann by STUART MANN
The Best of Comrades 2024
In between analysing and dissecting a ton of Comrades Marathon stats in recent weeks ( and also fitting in a marathon or two ), I also came across some terrific Comrades stories that are sure to inspire you .
The Best Comeback
When Channelle Makhele of Fat Cats Athletics Club crossed the finish line in a personal best 9:28:20 at this year ’ s Comrades Marathon , to earn her third Comrades medal , she knocked a massive two hours and 15 minutes off her debut run time in 2019 ( 11:43:20 ), which was also her previous Up Run best . ( She also clocked 9:55:25 in the 2022 Down Run .) Whilst this massive improvement in her Up Run time is an impressive achievement , it was only good enough to earn her 124th position on the most improved list of all 2024 Comrades runners , but it ’ s her response to her DNF in 2023 that earns her the accolade of best comeback at Comrades 2024 .
Chanelle ’ s long road to recovery began on crutches that followed soon after the race . Last year , I left Channelle ’ s story at , “ One major operation later to realign the joint and put in a plate and screws , and Channelle faces six weeks before she even gets to the start line on the long road to recovery and rehabilitation .” Here ’ s what happened next …
Long Road to Recovery
The fibula break was so severe that Channelle had to re-learn how to walk properly , and she admits the length time on crutches took a heavy toll on her mental health . Eventually , she was able to move to a moonboot in August , under the guidance of her orthopaedic surgeon , Dr Frank Peters . Channelle also worked diligently with her biokineticist , Anca Wessels , on targeted exercises focussed on strengthening her right leg , and was soon transitioning from the moonboot to an ankle brace .
With September came the good news that she could start running again , but only on grass . However , despite her excitement to be running again , Channelle was frustrated at how slowly she was going . Her simple solution was to focus on the joy of being able to run again , rather than her pace , and her even simpler solution to achieve this objective was to leave her watch at home !
Channelle ’ s 2023 Comrades experience is now infamous – I wrote a previous piece about it , which you can read here . Her run effectively ended before the 5km mark , in the human crush now known as the ‘ Nightmare on Epworth Street ,’ with a badly fractured fibula . Not realising the seriousness of her injury , and in an incredible feat of sheer bloody-mindedness , Channelle refused to throw in the towel and decided to try and walk to Durban .
She got as far as the Fat Cats seconding crew at Umlaas Road , 24km into the race , before calling it a day , and ended up spending the night in hospital , with surgery
First race back for Channelle at the Sanlam Peace Run
Channelle had already booked flights and accommodation for October ’ s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon before the leg break . Whilst the marathon distance was obviously out of the question , she was given the green light to run the Sanlam Peace 10km . Her right leg was healing , but now it was time to test the psychological scars , she says . “ This race was more about overcoming my fear of
Images : Marathon Photos & courtesy Channelle Makhele , Lindt De La Port , Charl Pienaar
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