From chilly Maritzburg mornings to sport’ s biggest stage
I love the Comrades Marathon. Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, the up run would come right past our house. We lived in the dip ahead of the last hill before runners reached the finish at what was then Jan Smuts Stadium.
My earliest memories involve waking up on those freezing Maritzburg mornings to watch the start on TV. We had heard the trucks dropping off the tables and supplies for a refreshment station right across the road from our driveway a few hours earlier. Glued to the screen, we’ d watch the race unfold before charging outside to see Bruce Fordyce gliding down Jesmond Road – never looking like he had 80-plus km in his legs – then cheering him up that final hill and roaring back inside to watch him crossing the finish line.
Later in the day, we’ d get stuck in helping at the drinks table. I even got to hand some water to the legendary Wally Hayward one year. The companion who was running with the five-time winner when he ran again for the first time in 34 years at the age of 79 took the drinks and handed them to him. That was good enough for me. My day was made.
In later years, I’ d cover the race from the back of the icy cold press truck, making sure not to drink any coffee that morning. No loo stops on the way! So the race has provided many great moments for me. My incredible father-in-law ran 11 of them – the first off very little training after accepting a bet for 10 shillings from an opposing cricket captain one year. It’ s those kinds of stories and all the traditions that you’ ve got to love. So this month’ s edition is packed with plenty of Comrades content for you to enjoy – from a preview with race info, to Dr Kirsten van Heerden’ s look at the psychology behind the event and a chat with several Comrades icons on what inspired them to run the race.
Beyond Comrades, June is a massive month in sport, with our women’ s Proteas looking to go one better and lift the trophy at the ICC T20 World Cup in England and the FIFA World Cup kicking off in Mexico, the USA and Canada. Check out our previews for both of those events.
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I love the fact that Bafana Bafana are playing the tournament opener against Mexico – a full circle moment after facing the same opposition in the opening match of our own World Cup back in 2010. I was at that match and sitting behind the goal where Siphiwe Tshabalala fired in the first goal of the tournament. What a moment! Let’ s hope they can fire up the country like they did all those years ago and venture out of the group stage for the first time.
Adding to all our major event previews, we’ ve got our usual collection of awesome features, columns, fitness and nutrition advice. Catch up with Caitlin Rooskrantz, who’ s finding the balance between elite gymnastics and a full-time job all while dealing with personal grief and preparing for the Commonwealth Games. And read all about SA’ s new sprint champion Kayla la Grange’ s battle to overcome a career-threatening injury and make a triumphant return to the track.
Amputee athlete Erin Lazarus shares a brutally honest account of her back-to-back marathon mission and, in his typically hilarious way, Rory Petzer shares his disappointment at missing out on Comrades qualification for the first time.
There’ s plenty more to keep you entertained as the chilly months set in, so get stuck in and enjoy …
Until next month,
Karien Jonckheere karien @ modernathlete. co. za
Photos of Bruce Fordyce courtesy of Comrades Marathon Association