Documentary captures the power and glory of the Comrades

THE Comrades Marathon, which has for 100 years been part of South Africa’s fabric and has attracted runners from all over the world, is being celebrated in a brand-new documentary.

Down, A Comrade Story is available to stream on Showmax.

And the brains behind the documentary film, Jack Davis and Gareth Whitaker, who are also Comrades runners, said – following the latest edition of the world’s greatest ultra-marathon which took place last weekend – they were thrilled to be part of the project.

“All of us on the team have this deep love and respect for the Comrades Marathon and the impact it has on South Africa,” the pair said.

“We felt it was high time someone put together all the history, traditions, and spirit of the race in a way that people could hold onto and we’re firm believers that stories can change the world, and the Comrades story is no different.”

They said the race had shaped so much of South Africa’s culture and had earned its stripes as the top ultra-marathon in the world.

“The Comrades Marathon is more than just a race; it’s a deeply rooted part of our national fabric that resonates with the people and it remains one of the most daunting yet exhilarating tests of human endurance and spirit,” they said.

“One of the reasons it continues to draw such a diverse crowd is its accessibility – it’s an endurance event that hasn’t outpriced the everyday South African.”

Down, A Comrades Story seeks to discover why people put themselves through such extremes, running 90km from sunrise to sunset.

For the documentary, Davis and Whitaker, who is a Safta nominee and has previously co-directed the acclaimed rugby documentary Chasing the Sun, travelled with over 13 000 runners as they made their way from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.