The approx 89 km Comrades Marathon is known as the ultimate Human Race. The word Comrades aptly describes this race, and this becomes clearer when one sees how the inexperienced or older runners are supported along the way by the stronger runners and urged on by thousands of supporters. Often one sees a runner whose legs just cannot hold him/her any longer, almost being carried across the finish line by fellow runners.
The race commences at 5:30 and ends at exactly 17:30, so the last one to cross the line has been running for 12 hours non stop, absolute madness in my eyes; some swearing this is their last Comrades, only to see them return the following year!
This strenuous race is run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, with the start alternating between these two cities each year.
This year was the 93rd race, and it was a down run - from the city hall of Pietermaritzburg at an altitude of 636 metres, to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban at only 5 metres above sea level.
I took one of our guests, Danel, to watch the race as her husband and a friend were running.
Watching the runners, I was struck again by how our lives can be seen as a marathon.
Our guest Anru, running his second Comrades, made it to the finish line in time.
Often in life, we all go through some real tough times, and feel like we're going to collapse under the strain, but somehow we always find strength to carry on.
We were watching at the bottom of a very steep hill - KZN has many green hills - this runner certainly battling and obviously not looking forward to the steep hill ahead. He was sure to meet up with a fellow Comrade who would offer help, or perhaps he is just a loner, like many of us, and prefers struggling along on his own, like many of us.
I have wonderful family and friends who I know I can always rely on during difficult times.
This mass group is what is referred to as 'the bus', so if you're a struggling runner, be sure to stay on the bus as one of the 'passengers' for sure will help you stay on the road to success.
Some of us walk through life carrying heavy burdens - if only we let go of those burdens and set ourselves free, or share that burden with a willing hand or ear!
As we run through life, we often have close friends looking out for us - be thankful for those friends.
Some of us really struggle at times, and get to the point where we have no choice but to let our loved ones take over, be it physical or emotional.
I was laid low a couple of years ago with a badly fractured ankle & other foot badly sprained. I learnt just how caring people really are during that painful period!
Here someone is helping a friend in a wheelchair - there were two wheelchair entrants this year, apparently they both made it to the finish line in time, thanks to a helping hand from a friend.
Apologies for the fuzzy photo but the wheelchair passed us by so fast I almost missed it.
Then we go through happy times - we can laugh, be crazy, be silly, and just have good fun.
There were many tutu clad guys and dolls.
Another runner having fun with crazy headgear.
Many of us have friends who are faced with the scary big C, or other illnesses, and we get involved with causes.
Elvis having fun but also doing a good deed - running for cancer.
Then life runs smoothly and we go about our normal daily routine - life's a breeze.
We also won our own personal race!
Our young guests two days after the race, not hobbling any more and smiling brightly as they achieved their goal.
We were also blessed with hosting the daughter of the oldest surviving Comrades winner - 5 times winner, 86 year old Jackie Mekler. This amazing man has written an unpublished autobiography, an inspiring story of how he started running long distance to get away from the pain of growing up in an orphanage.
He now is a motivational speaker at this ripe old age!
Hope you enjoyed watching the Comrades Marathon with me, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Always remember, we're all Comrades, all in this race together, so look around and grab that helping hand when you're struggling!
A huge thank you to 
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