As Comrades Marathon men’s race drew to a successful close, the first to make it to the finishing line was George Kusche who emerged victorious in a record runtime from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The runner athlete crossed the line in a record up run time of 5:15:56 after a perfectly placed performance in which he only took the lead with less than an hour to go of the race. With a 2:13 marathon personal best (PB), Kusche has made the perfect progression to emerge triumphant in the Ultimate Humane Race.
Piet Wiersma was second in 5:19:36, with Mbuti Mollo taking third in 5:21:31. With his win, Kusche earned a first place prize of R925,000, another R242,000 as the first South African and a whopping R605,000 for the new race record. In addition Steyn was awarded a further R550,000 for the fastest average pace record. That all adds up to an incredible R2.3m in total.
The talent on display at this year’s Comrades was mesmerising. The race has always attracted talent and spectators from across the country and the world, and this year saw thousands line the circuit from Durban Metro to Pietermaritzburg. The effort the athletes put into the race is a mark in perseverance and determination. They certainly earned the prize money for breaking the speed record.
The competing runners had to navigate along a new route to avoid construction work and other hurdles.
Race director Sue Forge said ongoing roadworks necessitated adjustments to the route. “However, thanks to the outstanding collaboration and support of the municipalities [and law enforcement], we have been able to finalise a route that not only provides a slightly shorter distance for runners, but also improves the management of road closures, traffic flow, infrastructure removal and post-race clean-up,” she said. Multiple Comrades champion Bongmusa Mthembu believes he still has what it takes to challenge the younger generation after completing a seven-week training camp in Lesotho. “The Comrades Marathon is everything to me, and every year I only train for this race. The race changed a lot of us; our lives are no longer the same, and that’s why I always try my best to run the best race on the big day.”
Training for a race like the Comrades Marathon can take months and exhaustive effort. The runners such as Mthembu, Kusche and Wiersma are focused on delivering their best performance during this race. The Comrades Marathon is about showcasing athletics, rather than seeing who is the best runner among thousands. However, the route of the Marathon has to avoid inconveniences such as road construction works. This is to ensure injury – and even death – are kept to a minimum. The Comrades is a race that has always been run smoothly. The end result is that there is no shortage of competitors, whose lives will be changed by the race. Running long distance is the ultimate form of athleticism in sport. Long distance running is set apart from swimming. Those who participate in the race every year do so with renewed determination.
Participating runners have a responsibility to set the tone for the race, regardless of who wins. It depends on how they train.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
