The Comrades Marathon is happening this month on Sunday, 8 June and athletes trained in running are preparing. Some like Aaron Biggar will be performing for their first race. Biggar has been preparing from six weeks prior. The 30-year-old qualified for the ‘ultimate human race’, as the marathon is officially referred to, at last year’s Cape Town’s Marathon. The Durban North resident says his objective for his Comrades is officially referred to, at last year’s Cape Town Marathon. The Resident from Durban North says his objective for his Comrades debut is to ‘just finish and have fun’.
“They say your first one is always your PB (personal best) and my objective is definitely to finish. I don’t want to go in there and thrash it out. I want to dance at almost every water station. I want to have a good time. If you’ve seen me run I’m not someone who keeps quiet, I expel a lot of energy and I plan to do that with the crowd. You won’t need to find me on the course, you’ll hear me before you see me,” he said. Biggar, who comes from a sporting background, explained how his journey started.
“I first started off with Park Run. That’s where my passion for running came about. That transitioned to being named the captain of Adidas Runners and then me entering the Comrades Marathon. I think the Comrades is the ultimate representation of Durban. I turned 30 this year and some of my family members have run the marathon, that has all led me to enter this year,” he said.
Biggar is certainly taking advantage of this year’s Comrades to showcase his energy and athleticism. He is supported by his family to show that even ordinary people can achieve great things if they set their hearts and minds to it. The purpose of Biggar being in the Comrades is to promote his brand of energy and charisma. He is a bright spark of attraction for being a runner and is spot on for practicing his training. Biggar is planning to use the energy generated by the crowd to build a fan base. However, Running can be as strenuous as any other type of athletic sport.
Competing athletes all have their place in running in this marathon. They have their passion in running. Some do it for a cause, others do it for love of the sport. Biggar has been preparing for this moment – to compete in the comrades for most of his life – he has achieved better stamina through his training. He has also derived inspiration from his family and is setting an example.
There are still others like Gords Reid, a philanthropist who hopes to complete his first Marathon this year and is raising funds for the South African National Parks (SANParks) Honorary Rangers.
This year he plans to run his first Comrades Marathon for charity. The 52-year-old is raising funds for the South African National Parks (SANParks) Honorary Rangers and has already raised R18 700 (the target was originally R6000).
Representing the DHS Oldies Athletics Club, Reid made a promise to himself at last year’s Run for Rangers event, a fundraising event which sees competitors run 100km over two days to raise funds for game rangers in the country. “The promise to myself was that if my knees lasted over the 100km then I would do Comrades. It did and I joined the DHS Oldies and now I will be running with my mate Luc Quevauvilliers. I also wanted to give back so I will be raising funds for SANParks and the amazing work they do. They are a phenomenal charity. I’m also planning on doing this year’s Run for Rangers, Project Rhino, so the common theme this year is wildlife,” he said.
Raising Funds for a charitable cause through running in the Comrades is a great way to highlight the positive message of the run/race. Running in the Comrades to raise Funds for the country’s conservation efforts and wildlife protection will be a good way to raise concerns about conserving the environment. The efforts of Honorary Rangers to conserve and protect South Africa’s endangered indigenous wild life should definitely be taken note of. The efforts of poachers to harm the country’s wild life should be dealt with accordingly. It is also a ringing endorsement to see the elderly participate in the comrades. It shows that any one who is capable of running in the Comrades should do so. It is a healthy sport to keep the blood pumping.
Whether its about running for a charity or athletics workout everyone involved will do their best to complete their part in the run.
It all depends on who will make it to the end.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
