A few years ago I would never have dreamed that I would be joining tens of thousands of runners at the start line of the 21km Two Oceans Half Marathon.
Also read: Watch: Mathanga makes his mark with Two Oceans victory
However, on Sunday I did just that.
It has always been on my bucket list but I didn’t train nearly hard enough in the weeks prior. In fact, I hardly trained at all and I suffered for it.
It may be the most beautiful marathon in the world, in the most beautiful city in the world but scenery aside, there was nothing pretty about those hills.
Certainly not when you spend nearly three hours slogging your way through 21km while muttering a word that rhymes with ‘bucket’ but isn’t.
Don’t get me wrong. I love running and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. It’s a great way to lose yourself in thought.
It’s a reason to get up early in the morning, take in the sunrise, explore your surroundings and get your heart rate up.
It gives you a chance to plan and assess your life. It’s also the most effective antidepressant I’ve ever come across.
The most difficult part is getting started, but simply by waking up, making your bed and getting out the door before your body realises what you’re doing, you get a daily sense of accomplishment.
However, 16km into Sunday’s event, I didn’t feel as though I was accomplishing much.
By that point, I only had a parkrun to go, and while I was quite confident that I would make the cut-off, it was quite clear that this was no fun run.
This was hard work. I was drenched in sweat, aching from head to toe and having something of an existential crisis.
The beautiful run in the beautiful city had become a burden, and it wasn’t pretty. Why would anybody do this to themselves?
My father had a theory that long distance running is like beating your head against a rock. People are gluttons for punishment, but it’s not the act that has people coming back for more. It’s how good it feels to stop.
In retrospect, I can’t fault this logic, but this is by no means the only reason why the Two Oceans and other endurance events enjoy such tremendous popularity.
For some, it’s the hope of winning or breaking a record. Those people finished in a little over an hour and were probably already home, having a snooze, by the time I shuffled onto UCT’s campus.
There are also those who simply want to challenge themselves and accomplish something that many would not or could not attempt.
[Watch] Two City firefighters Jermain Carelse and Renaldo Duncan took on the Two Oceans Half Marathon in their fire gear to drum up support and donations for the Volunteer Wildfire Service.
To continue to donate, visit https://t.co/LSoVoTtyoq.#CTStaff pic.twitter.com/XHIY4wPzza
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) April 16, 2023
For others, like the two brave firemen who ran the event in full regalia to raise funds for volunteer wildfire services (and finished ahead of me), it’s about giving back.
Cape Town is a worthy host full of worthy causes, and both are given plenty of exposure through this event.
While the stunning setting, the magnificent mob mentality and the contagious crowd support all contribute to an amazing atmosphere, it is the notion that charity and humanity are more important than a personal best that truly makes the Two Oceans the most beautiful race in the world.
Personally, Sunday’s event was a slow, steady slog, full of sweat, suffering, swearing and celebration, but it was the selflessness of those who were making the world a better place, one step at a time, that left a mark on me.
I can now tick off this amazing event, but it’s so much more than just an entry on my bucket list.
It’s about giving back, doing better and selflessly suffering for something special.
It’s about humanity, charity, camaraderie and making the Cape great, even if it does feel like banging your head against a rock.
Also read:
Gerda Steyn and Givemore Mudzinganyama win Two Oceans Marathon
Picture: Murray Swart / Cape{town}Etc