A former KwaZulu-Natal man now living in London will attempt to run the gruelling Comrades Marathon barefoot today to raise R250,000 for the Pietermaritzburg homeless network.
Graham Wells, 47, who works in housing, says he was motivated by the growing population of homeless people.
“I have always had a passion about making a difference. I just have a calling of helping the homeless and there is no provision in Maritzburg for the homeless. We have a bunch of people who created a homeless network in the city,” he said.
Wells has already run three Comrades barefoot — the first in 2016 for charity — but was unsuccessful in the 2022 edition of the marathon.
“I was in so much pain and bailed out in Hillcrest in 2022,” he said.
The official race distance for the 49th staging of the up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg has been shortened to 85.91km due to roadworks. About 20,000 runners were expected to hit the tar when the gun went off at 5.30am outside the Durban city hall, according to the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA).
Wells has finished seven Comrades marathons and said his training had gone according to plan. “It’s just the little niggles and sprained ankles two-and-a-half weeks ago. I have been trying to recover from that but I think I am good now.”
Wells, who runs under the colours of Natal Carbineers, qualified by running the Brighton marathon in the UK and after arriving in South Africa on Monday, said he had acclimatised to the weather.
“It’s fine at the moment, especially after witnessing a bit of a cold spell. I have also not been away for such a long time,” he added.
He hailed the Comrades marathon for uniting the country.
“It’s very difficult to make people understand what is so unique about it. Unless you have been able to do it you cannot easily comprehend. We live in a time where there is so much turmoil. On Comrades day we all work towards one common goal and we become a big family. Nothing has really changed about it. It’s just an amazing event,” said Wells.
Pietermaritzburg-based podiatrist Eva Mackenzie said while Wells was poised to succeed in his pursuit, as he had trained running barefoot, the uneven road surface would leave him bruised.
“You have to realise on the road surface one can find glass, iron and metal. You cannot always choose which surface of the road your feet will pound,” said Mackenzie.
Someone else who looked forward to pounding the pavement was Dolphin Coast Striders runner Barry Holland, who said preparations for his 50th Comrades had gone well despite a niggling knee injury.
It will be a family affair for Holland, 72, running with his wife, Debbie, who is going for her 21st medal, daughters Susan Peyper and Kathryn Van Dongern, aged 37 and 39 respectively, son Ross, 25, and nephew Brett Goodwin, 36.
“I have had a wonderful training time and am looking forward to the Comrades. I am excited and happy,” said Holland.
“We are all excited and happy. We would all be running in a single pack including my son Ross who is relatively a good runner. It’s always gonna be difficult for a fast runner to run slowly but Ross will be fine,” said Holland.
He readily admitted that his enthusiasm for running had rubbed off on the family.
“Yeah, look, we are a running family ... they sort of buy-in to what the Comrades really means. I will need these people to get me all the way,” he added.
Among the youngest runners is Nico du Plessis, 23, from Secunda in Mpumalanga who hoped to bag a silver medal: “ I believe this is within reach.”
Last year, Du Plessis garnered a Robert Mtshali (sub 10 hours) after coming in at 9 hours 31 minutes.
He said after tackling the marathon, he had learnt hard lessons about pacing himself and conserving energy reserves during the ultimate human race.
“I have to be very patient and will be taking things easy for the first 47 kilometres of the race and then gradually increase the pace,” said Du Plessis.
Meyerton student teacher Marilize La Grange, 21, recounted how watching the ultra-marathon had fuelled her desire to run the race. This was after her father Phillip Swanepoel bailed out of the 2019 up-run due to injury.
She said while he was unhappy about not finishing, he was alive to the prospect having gone into the race with the injury.
“My father was able to come to terms with the reality because of his injury and that why he was able to bounce back again in 2023,” said La Grange.
The pair will be vying for medals (running a first marathon and a second consecutively).
“The support on the road and the spirit is just incredible and second to none. In my world I think runners are among the friendliest bunch of people,” said La Grange.
CMA race and operations manager Ann Ashworth has in the past cautioned runners about ongoing roadworks on King Cetshwayo road (M13) which crosses over the N2 in the vicinity of Westwood Mall.
She said they were instructed by the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Durban metro to ensure runners knew of the dangers posed by roadworks. Netcare will dispatch medical personnel and ambulances on either side of the bridge to respond if needed.
There will be 48 stocked refreshment stations, 1,000 marshalls plus 200 community marshals who will assist law enforcement and security services.
Netcare 911 will provide 16 ambulances equipped with satellite tracking, six rapid response vehicles with advanced life support paramedics and emergency equipment, six motorbikes with paramedics and an air rescue helicopter will be available if needed.
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