Latest news with #Comrades
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Roosevelt Park firefighters conquer Comrades
Two firefighters from the Franklin Roosevelt Park Fire Station have once again proven their mettle, completing the gruelling 2025 Comrades Marathon for the second time. Read more: Watch: Comrades Marathon hero helps collapsed runner finish race This year's down run, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, proved to be a different beast altogether, testing their limits in unexpected ways. Mphekgo Leshalabe crossed the finish line in 10:30:00, earning himself a bronze medal, however, despite the medal, he admitted this year's experience was tougher than his previous uphill run. 'I did not expect a down run to be that difficult,' he confessed. 'Normally, they would say a down run is more difficult than an up run, and I experienced it myself in the marathon. The down run is difficult because I has a lot of injuries. I had blisters and the pain was unbearable on my left foot.' He paid respects to the marathon, adding that it is a different race on its own. 'It is not called the ultimate human race for nothing, finishing the race alone is something else, let alone getting the medal.' Also read: Dabulamanzi Canoe Club paddlers fish out the medals at the ICF World Marathon Championships in Metkovic, Croatia While the reward of finishing was sweet, Leshalabe fell short of his goal of achieving a Bill Rowan medal, coming in under nine hours, setting his sights higher for next year. His teammate, Tendani Nemalamangwa, shared the same experience, finishing in 10:07:00, also securing a bronze, stating that it was a challenge running in this years marathon. 'It was my second down run, so I thought I was going to do better than my first one, but it was just harder. I just think that I have to train more on down runs, but, if I was to choose, I would choose up run, which is much easier.' He emphasised the need for a holistic approach to the race, highlighting nutrition, endurance, and mental resilience as key factors. For him, the Comrades is about overcoming his limits and achieving personal milestones. He plans to focus on increased mileage to improve his performance in future races. Platoon Commander Otsile Kobue applauded the two firefighters for their incredible achievement. 'We are proud of their dedication, commitment, perseverance, and strength. They are an inspiration to all of us.' Their experiences show how even the most seasoned of runners can be challenged by the unpredictable nature of the ultimate human race. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: Soweto Marathon back from the brink of collapse At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Runner tackles Comrades for charity
Among the thousands of athletes who competed at this year's Comrades Marathon was Richard le Roux, participating for his seventh time, all for a good cause. • Also read: Khosa Road Runners cross the finish line at the Comrades Dominique Tibbles, founder of Belly2Brain NPO, said that this year, Richard donned his running shoes and gave his heart and soul for a purpose – running to raise funds for the Belly2Brain annual Cage2Unchange Sandwich Day initiative, held from July 15 to 18 at Cradlestone Mall. During this time, I will be locked in a cage for 67 hours to raise funds for Belly2Brain, to feed 17 000 mouths on July 18,' she revealed. 'Richard became a Belly2Brain volunteer in August last year when we undertook a 5km silent walk against human trafficking. Richard and his son volunteered for the silent walk; since then, Richard and his wife have attended every Belly2Brain outreach, dedicating their time to support the cause – he even offered his 2025 Comrades achievement as a pay-per-km sponsorship for his run in aid of raising funds for the R104 000 budget to purchase the 2 500 loaves of bread, 500kg of peanut butter, and 1 000kg of jam,' she added. She confirmed that Richard successfully completed the race in 11 hours and 31 minutes, raising R11,400 towards the Cage2Unchange budget, which will cover half the bread required, marking a great start to the initiative. 'Belly2Brain is calling on all corporates who are required to fulfil their annual Corporate Social Investment (CSI) spend, as well as individuals, to partner with Belly2Brain and join in the noble effort of feeding 17 000 people this July. Belly2Brain is a registered S18A NPO. The beneficiaries who will collect sandwiches at the end of the spread on July 18 include Cradle of Hope, Hoërskool Nic Diedericks Feeding Programme, Wings of Inspiration, God's Love to Our World for Zandspruit, and Bethany House,' she said. Dominique concluded by urging volunteers to visit the cage between July 15 and 17 at Cradlestone Mall and to keep an eye on their social media pages to stay updated on events taking place around the cage, and to help spread the love on July 18 from 08:00 to 15:00. If you would like to learn more about this cause or wish to donate, call Dominique on 074 183 5929. 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
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
‘I never gave up': Springs SAPS officer earns coveted Green Number at Comrades Marathon
The Springs SAPS and the local CPF congratulated four of their officers who participated in the 2025 Comrades Marathon in Durban. Captain Sagathavan Pather, Constable Halalisani Dlomo, Sergeant Jabulani Nkwinka, and Sergeant Mmeselane Ramoshu represented the station on Sunday. Pather was running his 15th Comrades Marathon and had already completed 10 races. This year, he was awarded the prestigious Green Number, given to runners who complete 10 Comrades Marathons. Pather told the publication that he was happy with his achievement and that his team was there to share in the moment. He said his running journey began in 1993, but he gave up and only returned in 2000. That year, he ran the Comrades but did not finish, which demotivated him. He made another attempt in 2010, but again failed to complete the race. 'My dad is the one who got my brothers and me into running. But because there were so many of us, he couldn't afford running shoes for all of us, so we ran barefoot. I always told myself that I would finish one day, and I never gave up on that dream of getting a medal,' he said. Pather returned in 2011, determined to earn a medal — and that year, he completed his first Comrades Marathon, finishing in 11 hours and 43 minutes. He said that getting the Green Number had been his goal since the day he returned in 2011. Despite the challenges and doubts he faced along the way, Pather said: 'Getting the Green Number is like reaching a new milestone. My aim was just to get one and be done. But the next day, I woke up saying, 'I need to get another Green Number,' because I've seen people older than me achieving them.' Pather was the first officer in Springs to participate in the marathon in 2011, which led him to recruit other officers to follow suit. He said that officers would often ask what he did to stay fit, and he would encourage them to run. Pather added that balancing work, training, and a social life is difficult, but discipline is key. ALSO CHECK: VLU-lede hoor van die verskil tussen mans en vroue by maandelikse vergadering 'We were fortunate to have a management team that understood our love for running. When I asked for time to train, there was some hesitation, but in the end, we were lucky to get Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays off,' he said. One of the officers recruited by Pather was Sergeant Ramoshu. Ramoshu joined the Comrades in 2022 and earned his first bronze medal. He said he became part of the team after he hung up his boots following many years of playing soccer. 'Soccer was my main sport, but at the age of 45, I realised the younger players were too fast for me. I stopped playing but noticed I was gaining weight. I started using our fitness facility, and that's when I was told there was a running club. I joined soon after,' said Ramoshu. Ramoshu earned his first Bill Rowan medal (silver) on Sunday after finishing in his personal best time of eight hours, 56 minutes. He said that when he saw his time, he couldn't believe it because he hadn't expected to achieve that goal. He added that Dlomo was beside him most of the way, but he had to pick up the pace to secure the medal. 'When I got the medal, I was so happy. It made me realise that my new goal is to earn only silver medals from now on,' said Ramoshu. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Panorama runners conquer the ultimate race
Several runners from the Panorama Running Club took part in this year's Comrades Marathon which took place on Sunday, June 8, and whether it was their first or fifth time on the course, each participant had a unique reason for running and a story to tell. For Ofentse Lebethe, this was not a new challenge. 'I wanted to see if I could do it again,' he said. Having completed multiple Comrades before, Lebethe used his experience and training to push through difficult moments, particularly when his feet began to ache around the 70 km mark. First-time runner Sibusiso Ngcobo said he was drawn by the prestige of the event. 'The stature of the race is what inspired me,' he said. Though he found this year's down run particularly tough, he was motivated by the strong support along the route and from fellow runners. Portia Alexander said watching the race on TV as a child sparked her interest. 'I always knew I would do it,' she said. After struggling with fitness in the lead-up, she relied on long weekend runs with her club to build the endurance needed for race day. Also read: Comrades countdown begins for Panorama runners Training with the local club helped all five runners prepare both physically and mentally. Gangatha Mkele, chairman of the club, highlighted the importance of structured sessions, including track training at Ruimsig Stadium. 'It helped me stay focused and build the speed I needed,' he says. For Gangatha, the moments that stood out were from encouraging cheers from the crowd to spotting loved ones along the route. 'Seeing my wife and hearing her say, 'Do something special,' really lifted my spirits,' he says. 'My club took away all the anxiety,' said Alexander highlighting that club support played a big role. Others mentioned the value of sharing the journey with teammates and knowing there were others behind them, both literally and figuratively. When asked if they would return, responses varied. Some are already planning for next year, while others are taking a break or looking for new goals. Still, most agree that the race is worth the effort. Their advice to newcomers is to start early, train consistently, and don't do it alone. 'Join a club and train with others,' said Alexander. 'It helps more than you think.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Durban schoolgirl's viral support for Comrades runners earns her heartfelt reward
A Durban schoolgirl's efforts in supporting Comrades runners on the 45th cutting near Sherwood have been rewarded, thanks to a businessman, Fred McKenzie, who made an unannounced visit to Northlands Primary School on Friday. Grade seven pupil Maddyson Shepard,12, became an instant hero when videos of her lending support to runners by cheering them on went viral on social media last Sunday. McKenzie said he had also seen the video of the teenager when he got home while browsing on social media. 'I realised her efforts were lovely and amazing and made arrangements to meet her after getting information from one of the Facebook users,' he said. McKenzie, through the help of the school's marketing department, managed to arrange a visit to the school on Friday morning. Maddyson, together with her classmates were showered with Wimpy vouchers. 'She is exactly the kind of person you see on the video. Free spirited, kind and slightly shy,' said McKenzie. Shepard said she was proud of her efforts. 'We had been on the road since the morning and we had seen the first male and female runners,' she said. She said during the day, she had rallied behind the runners. 'I told some of the runners, 'come on, I know how hard you have worked to get to this point.' Some were tired but others were determined to go on.' Shepard said when she arrived home, her mother told her someone had taken a video of her. McKenzie finished his Comrades in 11:34 minutes, bagging the Vic Clapham medal. 'This really meant a lot and will encourage me to do good,' said Shepard. McKenzie, who runs under the colours of Westville athletics club, described this year's down run as being the most difficult race he has ever run since he begun his Comrades journey. His Comrades also came after he faced health complications, which made it even more difficult. 'It was getting late and getting dark. Even though I was facing my fair share of challenges on the road you notice things around you and I also noticed the young girl who was supporting other runners, and was pacing up and down. I thought it was very special,' said McKenzie. He said he knew too well how panic starts to set in when you are on the stretch of the road with just nine kilometres to go to the finish. 'Maddyson was, however, helping other runners in putting one foot on top of another,' said McKenzie
