A race like no other

We learn more about SA's famous Comrades Marathon

- CUM LAUDE MEDIA

EVERY year thousands of long-distance runners from around the world gather to tackle one of the toughest races on the planet - South Africa's Comrades Marathon. This inspiring ultramarathon challenges participants to run 89,98km between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, more than double that of a standard marathon. Not only does this famous race test participants' endurance, it's also a historical celebration of unity and human mental strength.

THE FIRST RACE IN 1921

The idea for the first Comrades Marathon came from Vic Clapham (1886-1962), who moved to South Africa from London at the age of 13 during the Anglo-Boer War.

When World War 1 broke out in 1914, Vic, then 28 years old, was sent as a soldier to East Africa. While fighting there, he and other soldiers had to march more than 2 700km (that's like walking from Johannesburg to Cape Town and halfway back again!) in pursuit of German colonial troops. These long treks made him seriously ill and almost cost him his life.

After the war, Vic couldn't stop thinking about his fellow soldiers - their courage and all they'd gone through. Instead of building a statue to remember them, he wanted to create something people could actually do, a living memorial - a reminder that people could actually experience. He came up with the idea of organising a race that would honour the sacrifice of the soldiers.

Vic asked a veterans' group to help with his race idea; they said no. But he refused to give up and decided to organise it by himself. The first Comrades was held on 24 May 1921.

Only 34 runners took part and just 16 of them managed to finish the gruelling race. The winner was Bill Rowan, who crossed the finish line after 8 hours and 59 minutes.

A SYMBOL THAT GROWS