This past weekend, my friends and I had the incredible opportunity to support our fellow runners participating in the 2024 Comrades Marathon. We assisted 41 runners from various clubs, ensuring their race nutrition was prepared and handed over 30km into the race. Most of these runners train with us under Michelle’s guidance, and a few close friends also entrusted us with their race needs.

Organising this effort required extensive planning and hard work. I never anticipated an easy task; I knew it would be challenging and exhausting. Watching the Comrades from my living room is a far cry from being out there on the ground. Watching the finish line live was intense and emotional—I often found myself in tears—but while working at our station, we had no time for emotions as we focused on our responsibilities.

This weekend taught me a lot about teamwork and friendship. I realised I have amazing friends who are reliable and supportive. We worked together so well, leveraging each person’s strengths. Managing the runners’ nutrition packets was stressful, but seeing their gratitude made it worthwhile. The highlight was witnessing some of the runners we supported cross the finish line. We created unforgettable memories and shared laughs over our mishaps and unexpected events.

To summarise our weekend, I’d use the words Passion, Purpose, High-strung, Stressful, and Rewarding. While running on the Umhlanga promenade on Saturday morning, I overheard a group of ladies discussing marathon training in general. They couldn’t fathom the commitment required, noting the hours of training and sacrifices. I turned around and said, “It’s not that bad.” And I genuinely meant it. It’s tough when you’re in the trenches pushing through training, but I cannot imagine life any other way. There is magic in working hard towards a specific goal and then going out there and achieving that goal—how can that ever be a bad thing? Is that not what life is all about?

Something so touching on our way back to Johannesburg was watching the Comrades runners at the places we stopped, proudly wearing their medals and finisher jackets. If I ever were to find myself in the same position (and I am still many years from there), having just completed the Comrades Marathon, I imagine I’d cry and sleep for a week. And I’d proudly wear my medal for at least a week—perhaps even keep it under my shirt afterwards for another few weeks.

Watch my reel on our weekend here.