Running Comrades for a purpose worth the pain and tears

MY COMRADES MARATHON journey has been life-changing and unforgettable.

You see, I was never a serous runner, so it is incredible that come Sunday I will be lining up for my third race.

Of course I was active at the gym and I ran 10km races now and then.

But having a brother (Sibonelo) who ran the TODAY Cricket Third One-Day International, England v South Africa, 11am, SS2 Soccer Soccerzone, 9pm, SABC1 English Football League Championship Play-off Final, Reading v Huddersfield, 3.50pm, SS3 Tennis Roland Garros, day 2, 2nd Feed, 11am. SS5 TOMORROW Ultimate Human Race regularly it was only a matter of time before I took the plunge. And I did back in 2015. After completing my first half marathon at the 2014 Mandela Marathon, I woke up the next day to enter the 2015 Comrades. It was the opening day of registration and I happened to be the first person Soccer FIFA U/20 World Cup, round of 16, 9.45am/12.46am, SS4 Tennis Roland Garros, day 3, 10.30am, SS6 WEDNESDAY Rugby World Rugby Under-20 Championship, Australia v Wales, 6.15pm, SS1; New Zealand v Scotland, 10.45am, SS2; Ireland v Italy, 1.15pm, SS2; South Africa v France, 1.15pm Maximo Soccer Super Diski: National First Division (NFD) Play-off 1, Stellenbosch FC v Baroka FC, 2.55pm, SS4 FIFA U/20 World Cup, round of 16, 9.45am/12.45am, SS4 Tennis Roland Garros, day 4, 10.30am, SS6 THURSDAY Cricket to enter the 90th edition of this incredible event.

But that excitement was soon dying out as, two months later, I got ordered to stop running. I’d sustained a severe injury and had to take a rest from races.

Naturally, doubts started creeping in and I considered giving up.

I thought maybe this Comrades thing was not for me.

I’m glad I didn’t give up. I started training in December and in February I ran my first marathon that I completed it in just over four hours to qualify for Comrades. A fortnight later I managed to qualify for D Batch.

A friend made sure that I could do more with my maiden ICC Champions Trophy, England v Bangladesh, 11am, SS2 Golf European Tour, Nordea Masters, day 1, 11am, SS1 PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament, day 2, 8.30pm, SS1 Soccer FIFA U/20 World Cup, round of 16, 9.45am/12.45am, SS4 Tennis Roland Garros, day 5, 10.30am, SS6 FRIDAY Cricket ICC Champions Trophy, Australia v New Zealand, 11am, SS2 Golf European Tour, Nordea Masters, day 2, 11am, SS7 PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament, day 2, 8.30pm, SS1 Ladies PGA Tour, ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, day 1, 6pm, SS7 Comrades by running for one of the Comrades’ AMABEADIBEADI charities.

The idea of running for a purpose and to make my first Comrades meaningful appealed to me. It sounded right that I was not going to run just for me but for those in need too as well as friends and family.

As if that was not enough, I was then chosen as the “Inspirational Runner for Old Mutual” and was thus part Horseracing Investec Derby Festival, Oaks Race, day, 3.30pm, SS8 Netball Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League, playoffs, 5.45pm, Select Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby, Blues v Reds, 9.30am, SS1 Soccer CAF Champions League Mamelodi Sundowns v Espérance, 7.50pm, SS4; CAPS United v Al Ahli Tripoli, 2.30pm, SS9 FIFA U/20 World Cup, round of 16, 9.45am/12.45am, SS4 Tennis Roland Garros, day 6, 10.30am, SS6 SATURDAY Athletics IAAF World Challenge League Grande Premio Brasil de Atletismo, 6.45am, SS4 of their radio and social media campaigns before the race. What a blessing ... What an experience. When I finished in Pietermaritzburg, in 2015 in 10:12 of toil, in which I came across some amazing people whose encouragement kept me going, my life flashed before me. From the time I had entered this great race, overcoming the obstacles and challenges, the 89km I had to conquer on my own two Cricket ICC Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka v South Africa, 11am, SS2 Golf European Tour, Nordea Masters, day 3, 1pm, SS8 PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament, day 3, 6.30pm, SS1 Ladies PGA Tour, ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, day 2, 9pm, SS7 Horseracing Investec Derby Festival, Derby Race Day, 3.30pm, SS7 Motorcycling MotoGP, Gran Premio d’Italia, Qualifying, 1.55pm, SS7 Motorsport NASCAR Xfinity Series OneMain Financial 200, 7pm, SS8 Netball Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League Play-offs, 3.45pm, Select Road running Stockholm Marathon 39th ASICS, 42, feet from start to finish, it all came back. And the emotions overwhelmed me I just couldn’t hold back the tears – tears of joy.

Comrades has taught me so many lessons, not just about running but about life itself. I still run for the Community Chest Charity and as their Ambassador, I’ve decided to make this year’s race all about bringing awareness to runners about the importance of running for a cause and the importance of giving back.

My goal and passion is to motivate people to start running and one day run the Comrades Marathon. I believe we can all inspire and motivate.

Nontuthuko Mashimane is a nutritionist in Pietermaritzburg and a Community Chest Ambsassador. 195 km, 11.50am, SS9 Rugby Vodacom Super Rugby, Crusaders v Highlanders, 4.30am, SS1; Chiefs v Waratahs, 7am, SS1; Brumbies v Rebels, 11.40am, SS1; Force v Hurricanes, 1.50pm, SS1 FNB Classic Rugby Clashes HS Ben Vorster v HS Pietersburg, 11.55pm, Select Soccer National First Division (NFD), Play-off 2, Black Leopards v Stellenbosch FC, 2.30pm, SS4/SABC1 UEFA Champions League, final, Juventus v Real Madrid, , SS3 CAF Champions League, Zanaco v Coton Sport, 2pm, SS9 CAF Confederation Cup, Kampala City Council Authority FC v Rivers United, 5.50pm, SS9 Tennis Roland Garros, day 7, 10.30am, SS6 SUNDAY Cricket ICC Champions Trophy, India v Pakistan, 11am, SS2 Cycling Criterium du Dauphine, stage 1, 135pm, SS7 Golf European Tour, Nordea Masters, day 4, 1pm, SS8 PGA Tour, the Memorial Tournament, day 4, 6pm, SS7 Ladies PGA Tour, ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, day 3, 8.30pm, SS2 Motorcycling MotoGP, Gran Premio d’Italia, Moto3, 10.45am, SS2; Moto2, 12.05pm, SS5; MotoGP, 1.50pm, SS5 Motorsport Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA 400, 7pm, SS8 Mountain Biking UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Britain, DHI Men Elite, 4.10pm, SS7 Road running Comrades Marathon, 5am, SABC1 Rugby World Rugby Under 20 Championship, Argentina v France, 10.45am, SS1; Australia v Samoa, 1.15pm, SS1; South Africa v Georgia, 3.45pm, SS1; England v Wales, 6.15pm, SS1 Gold Cup Qualifier Swallows v Winter Rose, 10.45am, Select; EP Kings v SWD Eagles, 12.450pm, Select SuperSport Rugby Challenge Border Bulldogs v DHL Western Province, 2.50pm, Select Soccer FIFA U/20 World Cup, quarter-finals, 7.45am/10.45am, SS4 CAF Confederation Cup, TP Mazembe v SuperSport United, 3.20pm, SS4; CS Sfaxien v Platinum Stars, 10.50pm, SS4 Tennis Roland Garros, day 8, 10.30am, SS6 SUBJECT TO CHANGE