This coming weekend, over 15000 people will descend on a small town called Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. Many will not have ever heard of this place, however most long distance runners will have heard of the Comrades Marathon, which is not only the oldest and largest (in terms of field) ultra marathon in the world, but for many it is the Holy Grail of running.
So much more than just a 90KM run, the event epitomises what the human spirit can achieve if it wants to and if we all work together. It is the one day when all race, wealth, social standing and other differences are set aside. The day when miner will stand shoulder to shoulder with millionaire, where labourer will stand with corporate lawyer and where we are all equal. Here over the 90KM of the Comrades marathon, no matter if we win or if we just scrape in to the 12 hour gun, only God will judge on that day. Noone really cares what your time is, all they will care about is that you stood together at the start line and again at the finish in the greatest race on the planet.
Not for nothing is Comrades called ‘The Ultimate Human Race’. As Sheehan said, the marathon is every mans Everest, but for me Comrades is ‘Everyman’s lunar landing’. To those running - God speed and may your feet and your heart be lifted in the spirit of the Comrades emblem Hermes.
Impossible is just a stupid word that people use when they are afraid to try!
Running together - stride for stride (while conquering goals) on a life changing ride! -- Sean Muller
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