The Comrades Marathon
- This isn't actually a mere marathon, but a race of about 56 miles (89km). It's South Africa's most prestigious
running race, run from Durban to Pietermaritsburg one year and in the reverse direction (the so-called
"downhill" version") the next: it now has several thousand participants each year. Even in its "downhill" form
the race involves plenty of tough climbs; in either direction, the racers will encounter intense heat.
And there's a rigidly-enforced 12-hour time limit: as the time approaches, the chief judge turns his
back on the finish, and at the exact 12-hour limit he fires his gun. The finish then closes, even for
runners inches away from the line.
For runner Sergio Motsoeneng, the 1999 race was a case of "get the details right". After several miles of the
race, he nipped into a roadside toilet, where his brother Fila was waiting. They swapped vests and running
shoes (vital, as electronic chip timing was in use), and Fila carried on with the race. Later in the race,
they swapped over again, and Sergio crossed the line in tenth place. What got them found out, as the pair looked almost
identical? They wore their watches on opposite wrists.
You can find more information about the Comrades Marathon at This Site.
2020 has fallen victim to Covid-19; 2021 will be a (marginally easier) "downhill" year.