The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is just a few weeks away, and for some, it is more than just a marathon, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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These dedicated athletes are gearing up for their 13th consecutive marathon, making them among the handful who have competed in every Sanlam Cape Town Marathon since its start.
We wanted to honour these athletes’ commitment by investigating what kept them coming back year after year. Fundiswa Sandi, Louis van der Walt, Anne Williams, Alison Smith, Deborah Horn-Smith, and Jenny da Silva took the time to share their favourite aspects of this unique race, as well as their personal experiences with it.
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With almost 13 years of effort behind them, these athletes have formed a bond with this marathon, recognising it as a significant part of their personal and athletic journeys. Deborah recalls running her first Cape Town Marathon in 2005, and she has remained committed ever since. Alison informed us that when she registered for her first Sanlam Cape Town marathon, she only planned to run one. Her perspective shifted when the marathon experience suddenly sucked her in.
‘I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did,’ she said. ‘There is something so rewarding about completing something that’s hard to do.’ Despite the challenges each year presents, runners continue to find the motivation necessary to triumph. ‘Every marathon is hard,’ said Alison, ‘but it’s a mental battle that I love. Your body wants to stop but your mind convinces you to keep going.’
Louis, who started running marathons in 2001, says the Cape Town marathon has been the pinnacle of his athletic year ever since. He trains all year and has missed only one week of training during his outstanding 24-year running career. For everyone, the unique combination of racing through the heart of picturesque Cape Town and the personal accomplishment of completing the course is what makes this marathon so remarkable. Jenny informed organisers that she, too, enjoys the challenge of showing up year after year, pushing herself, and ultimately improving.
Throughout this incredible 13-year run, some of these athletes have faced tremendous personal obstacles. Deborah told us that one of her Cape Town marathons was completed just nine weeks after a cancer diagnosis and surgery. She revealed that during the marathon, ‘I was ecstatic and thankful to be alive and doing what I love.’ Deborah also recalled the emotional marathon she ran shortly after the loss of a close running friend, with whom she had shared many Cape Town Marathon races. ‘The race route took us a block from where he had lived,’ she told us. ‘I ran that year with a yellow ribbon in my hand until the street where he lived, and tied it around the pole.’
Fundiswa Sandi finds jogging and the Cape Town marathon to be emotionally meaningful experiences. Louis began running to fulfil her late nephew’s ambition of running the Comrades, and she continues to run in memory of her loved ones.
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We asked these athletes what keeps them coming back to complete the 42.2 kilometres, no matter what emotional or physical challenges they endure. Fundiswa told us that the emergence of Cape Town marathon training programmes and runs had profoundly influenced her continued participation. Everyone remarked that the cheerful crowds, the Cape Town backdrop, and the wonderful race day feelings, as well as the roadside help, keep them coming back.
For Jenny, seeing international athletes and heroes visiting really adds to the event. We can’t put it better than Alison did when she said, ‘Don’t run this race if you don’t want your life to be changed forever!’
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Picture: Cape Town Marathon
