On Sunday (14/06), with a morning temperature of -3 °C, hundreds of athletes from Kimberley were ready for the virtual Race the Comrades Legends event.
Roland Greenland, a member of Run Walk For Life (RWFL), completed the 90 km in four rounds in the streets of Kimberley. He started at 06:00 and completed it in 11:35.
In planning the route, Greenland looked for uphills that were not too challenging, and a downhill every 5 km to recuperate. He said the street circuits were more interesting and helped to keep the kilometres clicking over, and were also warmer to run. His wife helped with arranging the water points and other support by organising two cyclists who rode the entire 90 km with them for water and food, plus a support vehicle.
“I could not have done it without Santie and her team’s support,” Greenland said. At 57, this was his first Comrades, and he is looking forward to the next.
“This event in Kimberley, amongst people I know as a pastor, was very special and most probably a once in a lifetime event.” Several members of the RWFL participated in the different races run as part of the virtual event, with some of them completing their first half-marathon.
Karin van der Walt of the Kimberley Pirates Marathon Club said at -3 °C it was not one of the easiest things that she had done in her life.
“But I do feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to do this,” Van der Walt said. “Under normal circumstances I would have been in the bailer bus at around 50 km. Sunday I could dig in and understand that things go wrong, but it does not mean one has to stop. So, finishing just before 22:00 on Sunday was really special.”
A total of 14 Pirates participated.
Lorato Banda of the Teemaneng Running Club said 39 of this club’s members participated and completed their respective races, with Sipho Arthur Nziweni completing the 90 km. This club also celebrated its first birthday on Sunday.
The approximately 36 athletes of the Kimberley Harriers who took part, agreed that it was a new experience to run the Comrades while competing only against yourself.
Some of the best achieving members of this club are: Daniel Anderson (5 km, 30:44); Marylyn van Vuuren (10 km, 58:16); Wikus Gouws (21,1 km, 2:13:39) and Keaobaka Barokwang (45 km, 3:36:06). The oldest club member, Johan Windhorst (83), was third in the 10 km race in 01:31:00.
A total of 75 athletes of Vodacom Kimberley Road Runners participated, with six doing the 90 km. The club’s youngest athlete, Tristan Schoeman (9), completed the 5 km event in 33:39.
