On 9 June, in the predawn darkness of Durban, thousands of runners gathered to tackle the 97th Comrades Marathon. At 5:30 AM, the ultimate human race commenced as participants set off from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
The star of the day was South African runner Gerda Steyn, who clinched her third Comrades title in a record-breaking performance. Steyn finished the gruelling 86-kilometre up-run in a stunning 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 46 seconds, shattering her own record set in 2019 by over nine minutes.
Steyn finished more than 15 minutes faster than Russian athlete Alexandra Morozova who crossed the finish line in 6 hours, 5 minutes, and 12 seconds.
Steyn, who now holds the record for both the up and down runs, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from spectators. (The Comrades alternates yearly between the “up” run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and the “down” run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban).
“The energy and encouragement from start to finish were incredible,” Steyn said.
Not to be overshadowed, the men’s race saw a historic win as Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 25 minutes, and 0 seconds. He narrowly missed breaking the 16-year-old men’s up-run record by just 11 seconds. South African runners performed well overall, but for the first time since 2011, the men’s title went to an international competitor.
The Comrades Marathon is more than just a race; the 86-kilometre trek is a showcase of human endurance. Over 24,000 runners participated in the event, with 5,000 volunteers and 75 doctors on standby. Despite some traffic snarls post-race, the event ran like a well-oiled machine (some may say it ran as well as Gerda Steyn).
While thousands attempted to cross the finish line in this demanding ultra marathon, South Africans couldn’t help cracking a few jokes while watching from the couch.
Amidst the triumphs (and jokes), the 97th Comrades Marathon once again showcased the undeniable spirit of human endurance and the power of athletic achievement.
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