a day ago
Khosa Road Runners to run for Comrades glory
With the Comrades Marathon taking place this Sunday, the Khosa Road Runners (KRR) have been training relentlessly to make their mark at this iconic event.
Suellen Prinsloo, vice-chairperson of KRR, shared that 13 club members will be participating this year.
'It's been a year of hard work and dedication to get to the start line. We couldn't have done it without the support of the club and its members.
We have two runners aiming for their back-to-back medals, which means they completed their first Comrades last year and now aim to finish again.
'We also have two novices taking on the challenge for the first time,' she said.
Among the novices is Ntsebeng Letuma, known as Tumi, who is running her first Comrades to confront personal loss.
'My reason might seem unusual, but many runners will relate. I lost my daughter in 2021, and running became a way to cope. I started with short distances – 10km, 21km, 32km – and eventually moved to marathons. The physical pain of running helped me process my emotional pain. In 2024, I lost my mum, and that pushed me to take on the Comrades. Running helps me grieve. That's why I'm doing this,' she said.
Initially, she didn't believe she could finish the race, but training changed that mindset.
'I'm nervous but excited. I'm aiming to finish within 12 hours.
The support of my club has made all the difference. I honestly can't wait for race day – to face my fears and, hopefully, earn that medal.'
At the other end of the spectrum is KRR veteran Pierre Adriaanse, who returns to the Comrades after a 10-year break and with 11 previous finishes to his name.
Pierre's inspiration began in childhood, watching Bruce Fordyce dominate the Comrades. He began running at 23, gradually progressing from 10km to ultramarathons. He completed his first Comrades in 1995 and has been part of KRR for 25 years.
'This race left a lasting impression on me. The lessons you learn while training and running Comrades apply to life: Consistency, showing up, and pushing through hard days. Even when you don't feel like it, running gives you a sense of achievement, and those post-run endorphins are real!'
He adds that one of the biggest rewards of running is the friendships formed during training and races.
You gain support buddies who become lifelong friends – they grow on you like peanut butter and jam. Life knocks us down, but running teaches you to get up and keep moving.'
Pierre is open about the challenges of injuries, age, and balancing family life. He recalls the brutal 2013 Comrades, with scorching heat and high winds, where an injury forced him to stop running altogether.
But in 2023, he returned to training after a decade-long break.
'This year, I'm aiming for an average pace of seven minutes 30 per kilometre and hope to finish within 11 and a half hours.'
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
