Wording Tim Johnson – Principal, Local Real EstateIf you were born in KwaZulu-Natal or have lived here for any period of time, you will likely have a connection to the Comrades Marathon, the oldest and largest ultramarathon race in the world, and as South African as Mrs. Balls, Shisa Nyama and Lucky Star. My early memories include being dragged out of bed in my He-Man pyjamas in the early hours of the morning, falling into the family Ford station wagon, and venturing off to the distant and mythological town of Camperdown to give my dad some salted potatoes, bananas, Deep Heat, and the all-important Vaseline re-application. In later years, I was schooled in Hillcrest and Botha’s Hill, spending many closed weekends cheering on the route, promising myself that I’d take on the challenge when I was older. It would seem however that I am still not ‘old enough’, but perhaps one day I’ll follow in so many others' footsteps and set off between our two iconic cities.
The late 80’s and early 90’s in KZN was a very challenging time as factional violence and political unrest permeated throughout the Province. Having grown up on a sugarcane farm on the North Coast, our lives were fairly sheltered, and I wasn’t exposed to many of the realities of Apartheid South Africa. The Comrades was however my first real glimpse into a multi-cultural society where runners of all colours and walks of life could test and prove themselves without the prejudices inherent in our society at that time. I found it fascinating and remember shouting for legendary runners such as Willie Mtolo as well as Sam Tshabalala, the first Black runner to win the race in 1989.
The Comrades is not simply a running event; it transcends sport - something that was so evident during the recent 97th edition. As my family and I cheered from our vantage point at Kearsney College on the crest of the brutal Botha’s Hill, the full spectrum, diversity and beauty of the South African people was on display. Their grit and perseverance, sense of humour, camaraderie and spirit of ubuntu shone through every painful step forward. It was impossible not to be moved.
The number of foreign runners was also mind-blowing. Well over 2000 runners representing more than 80 countries. What a showcase for our country. It would be remiss of me not to mention the four runners from our office who successfully navigated the race this year, as well as my impressive youngest sister, who secured herself a silver medal in her first attempt. Maybe my excuses will run out.
With our political and economic climate feeling not unlike the gruelling ups and downs of the Comrades route, it is important however to celebrate our successes as a nation. It seems that our sportsmen, women, and iconic events have become the tools to bring people together. As Nelson Mandela so aptly said about sport, “It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does”. We are incredibly lucky to have the Comrades Marathon in our province and I certainly look forward to watching the ‘ultimate human race’ as it has been so beautifully dubbed, for many more years to come.