A HALF CENTURY OF COMRADES

THIS YEAR, BARRY HOLLAND WILL BE AIMING TO FINISH HIS 50TH CONSECUTIVE COMRADES MARATHON. THIS IS WHAT HAS INSPIRED HIM.

- MIKE FINCH

The year was 1967, and the Comrades Marathon was heading for a thrilling finish outside Greyville Racecourse's Royal Durban Light Infantry Drill Hall. In the lead was a Scotsman, Tommy Malone, who had led since Botha's Hill. But chasing hard was Manie Kuhn, who had finished second the previous year behind Malone and was eager to reverse the order.

Malone hit the finishing straight with a slender lead, and looked by all rights to have won again. But as the 3,000-strong crowd leaned in to watch Malone finish, in charged Kuhn, pushing through the throng. Malone turned to see Kuhn right behind him - and as he did so, his right leg cramped, and he fell to the ground just a metre from the line. Kuhn took the win by a second.

It was one of the most dramatic moments in Comrades history; and for 13-year-old Barry Holland, who watched the moment while squashed between the crowd of spectating adults, it was the start of a journey that will culminate with a 50th attempt at the race in 2024.

"I may have been young, but that was when this Comrades thing really started," says 72-year-old Holland now. "I just knew I had to do this race one day." 

That day came seven years later when at age 20, Holland finally got to the start line to begin a race that has dominated his life ever since. Ahead of the 2024 event, his stats record 49 consecutive medals; and realistically, according to Holland, this attempt at a half-century of finishes will probably be his last.

"I've been having trouble with my knee for a while; and to be honest, I'm not enjoying doing those long training runs so much anymore. So I think if I can get my 50th, I'll be happy to retire from running Comrades. I know that Louis Massyn could go on to get 50 or more, but it doesn't bother me if he does."

CAMARADERIE