Capturing the Comrades – what makes it the world’s most memorable race

It takes a village to raise a child, and it certainly takes a group effort to run the Comrades. Every competitor will attest that the support and sacrifice of their family, friends or running club is what makes their dreams of crossing that finish line come true. We asked a few fans just what it is about the Comrades Marathon that makes every event so special and memorable. Here’s what they had to say:

Shahieda Thungo is a Comrades pacesetter who selflessly travels alongside others to encourage them to reach the finish. This was her third year driving the sub-12 hour bus.

"June 16^th has been Comrades day in our house for many years, and I’ve watched the race for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been in awe of these hordes of people who run the whole day. I will NEVER put myself through that, I used to tell myself … little did I know! Craziness and FOMO got me to run my first one in 2016. The Comrades is not just a race for me, it’s a journey that encapsulates all things ubuntu – from the unity to the display of true human tenacity, grit and chutzpah. I will go back annually until I can no longer run – hopefully that day will never come!"

"My most precious moment this year was parking that bus and getting all those sweaty hugs at the finish! The “thank you Makhi” messages I get from runners who I didn’t even know were on the bus, as I never look back to see its size. Some runners fell off, yet they still send me thank you notes saying that they were on my bus at one point during the race, and I helped them climb one hill or another, or helped them when they were at their lowest point. They say the motivation and camaraderie on the bus is what kept them going."

Kori Seshoene was our first Team Vitality finisher this year, with all our runners excelling in their joint goal to #PaintComradesOrange. Read his story.

"This year I ran my fifth Comrades, but I feel like every year, the race offers a new challenge. That’s what intrigues me and motivates me to enter time and time again. There is no race like the Comrades – one that has the same ambiance, support on the road and excitement, one that unites runners from different parts of the world, with different fitness levels, sizes, races, gender, backgrounds and social class.

After completing the Comrades Marathon, there is a change in every runner – a great sense of accomplishment, joy and pride, self-confidence and a wonderful realisation that with a positive mindset, fitness and attitude, there is little a human being cannot achieve in life. This is a lesson most of us carry in our daily lives, outside of running."

"My most precious moment was finishing this Comrades with a time of 6:41:15 – my personal best for both an Up Run and a Down Run. My finish time earned me a Silver medal and Top 100 overall. I was also proud to realise that I was the first Team Vitality runner to make it to the finish – a memory I will cherish for years to come."

Amalia Theologides is a 7-month-pregnant Team Vitality member who regularly supports her husband from the sidelines and this year from a BnB in Durban where she and baby were more comfortable.

"I've been a runner for around 20 years and have run ultra-marathons, but never the Comrades as it felt just too far for me. My husband, who’s done seven consecutive Comrades, got me hooked on the sheer will and mental fortitude needed to run it by taking me to talks like a recent one Team Vitality hosted with their ambassador Bruce Fordyce, where he went through the Up Run, section by section, sharing key advice and highly entertaining memories of each part of the race.

It is utterly engaging to watch people of every shape and size, every race and culture, across so many ages, cross the line and either collapse, exhausted, or leap into the air, elated. I watched an athlete push a woman in a wheelchair over the finish line and later found out he ran all the way with her ... unbelievable."

"At every Comrades, there’s this atmosphere of people waiting for loved ones they have thought about all day, announcers welcoming everyone home and runners knowing they’re done with this mammoth event that has directed the course of their lives for months. I also love seeing people wearing their medals in Durbs the next day, just out and about, and also at the larger petrol stations along the major highways, where we all stop to refuel and stretch tired legs en route home from Durban. They wear them as they waddle along, struggling up and down stairs with pride – and they deserve to wear them all year long if you ask me!"

Lisa Ferreira heads up Team Vitality marketing. 2019 was her third year of hustling behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly for members.

"I’ve been following the Comrades for as long as I can remember. Growing up, it was tradition to get up early and watch the start, so it’s an honour to be able to attend it myself. I think the Comrades Marathon unites people in the most beautiful and humbling way. Everyone is a friend. You can just feel the vibe in the days leading up to the race – that spirit and camaraderie among the runners and supporters. It’s something you don’t see very often."

"What touched me most about this year’s event was seeing the selfless runners who sacrificed their times to help support their injured comrades across the finish line. I’m also delighted to report that Team Vitality was the biggest running club represented at the Comrades Marathon this year – as an organiser who’s seen the team grow since it first started in 2015, we’re so proud to see such a strong show at this epic marathon!"