Running Comrades: On the road and in the boardroom

CN&CO has strong links with running as a way to keep fit, socialise and raise funds for charity. We host two annual running events – the Festive Christmas Charity Run in Joburg and the “mini-Médoc” Wine Run in Stellenbosch. We’ve also participated in several marathons around the world, including the Médoc and Paris Marathons in France and the Comrades Marathon right here in Mzansi.

CN&CO founder Carel Nolte was recently appointed to the board of the Comrades Marathon Association (pictured above), giving us access to some of the most accomplished runners in the country. We chatted to them about their Comrades experiences.

“Organising the Comrades Marathon is no small feat,” says Carel. “Beyond the immense logistical demands of staging the world’s most iconic ultra-marathon, there’s also the ongoing challenge of steering the organisation behind it. Staying relevant means evolving with modern trends, meeting the ever-changing expectations of runners and making smart, strategic decisions to ensure the race thrives for generations to come.”

The board of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is a group of volunteers who support, guide, challenge and influence the CMA staff, Race Advisory Committee (RAC), the Race Organising Committee and the many phenomenal volunteers who ensure that the Comrades is staged so successfully each year. The board is committed to the highest standards of corporate governance and ethical servant leadership summarised by their view that the Comrades must be runner-centric. And while their professional skills are diverse and impressive, what unites the current board is a deep and personal connection to the Comrades Marathon itself.

A record written on the road

Between these individuals, there have been well over a 100 Comrades starts. Of those, many were medal finishes – gold and silver – as well as a variation of colours after the 7:30 time. Including the RAC, there are 175 medals earned over thousands of kilometres of sweat, discipline, injury, elation and grit. Only one person on the current board and RAC has not run the race.

“These are not spectators in the boardroom,” says board member and RAC chair Alan Gray. “These are runners who know the heartbreak of Fields Hill, the joy of passing Polly Shorts, the thunder of the crowd in the final stadium kilometre, and the weight of the medal on a tired but triumphant chest.

“They understand what Comrades means because they’ve lived it!”

Alan himself has run 12 Comrades, boasting two silver and 10 bronze medals.

“This was back in the days of the dinosaurs where only three medals were handed out with a cut-off at 11 hours. Comrades runners have it easy today!!”

Although retired from running ultras, Alan continues to serve the Comrades community through his involvement on the board and the RAC.

“My role is to ensure the race is about runner experience,” he says, summing it up in four goals:

1. Have a good experience with registration at the Expo.
2. At the start, have well-organised and safe processes in place.
3. Ensure there are ample water tables on the route, with other goodies to help the stragglers at the rear, as well as sufficient medical help along the way.
4. Make sure the finish is spectacular. This year the experience will be enhanced with the first ever street finish under arches leading to the medal handout.

“If we achieve these four goals, we will have happy runners whose experiences have been fulfilling.”

CN&CO’s Carel Nolte serves with Alan on the board and is hugely inspired by Alan – and the family tradition with both Alan’s daughters running the Comrades this year.

“If you had told me 10 years ago that I would not only run Comrades but run three Comrades – and end up serving on the board – I would have said you were smoking something,” he says. “Yet here we are!”

Over and above this achievement, Carel has twice been the marathon’s top fundraiser. And although he won’t be running this year, he has his sights set on participating in the 100^th marathon in 2027.

“I have a lot of work to do,” he says, “and I’m looking forward to it immensely – especially that first glass of champagne after the race!”

Fellow board member Brenda Marolen ran her first Comrades in 2016 at the age of 48, succumbing to the wonderful pressure that everyone must run Comrades at least once.

“I have been seconding fellow runners since 2012,” she says, “In 2014 I took a decision to participate in 2016, just so I could see what running Comrades was all about.  

“I ran three Comrades Marathon races (2016, 2017 and 2018), completed my first race at 12:04 – sadly outside the 12-hour cutoff. I had made a promise to run Comrades until I was 50 years old. When that time came, in 2018, I was both mentally and physically ready; sadly, I suffered blisters that saw me retire at 74 km.”

Brenda says her first Comrades was the most enjoyable one.

“As a novice, I had ticked all the training boxes and was ready to enjoy myself and complete the race. And yes, I finished what I started, made new friends and experienced what I have seen runners endure since I started seconding in 2012.

“My toughest memory was during the 2017 up run, when the Comrades Marathon ran out of water. We (the back runners) ran 15 km without water until we got to the petrol station at Cato Ridge to buy water – only to miss the next cut off by 14 seconds!”

Isaac Ngwenya, who also sits on the board, has started 23 Comrades and has 21 medals.

“The hard one was when I completed after the final cut-off and had nothing to show for it!” he says.

It turned out that Isaac had an undiscovered injury that year, which slowed him down during the race.

“So, they are right,” he says, “don’t start with an injury – if you know you have one, that is.”

Isaac was also struck down with tummy trouble on one occasion.

“I ran out of energy and suffered dehydration from a running stomach,” he said. Although he still managed to finish, Isaac says it was not his most enjoyable race.

Train well, be healthy

Isaac has the following advice for aspiring Comrades runners: “Train well and have no issues. It is a big day to enjoy and celebrate, no matter where you finish. My target this year is to finish feeling good and strong so that I can share that experience with others.”

Says Carel: “Isaac is one of the elders and well-known in Comrades circles. As chair of the Heritage and Traditions board committee, Isaac has a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for our traditions.”

Nontuthuko Mashimane started her Comrades journey in 2015. She has run all eight marathons since then – and received eight medals in the process: five bronze, two Robert Mtshali and one Vic Clapham medal.

Nonthu, like many runners, raises funds for charity through her participation.

“My favourite memory is running Comrades after Covid with my brother, a Bill Rowan medallist who will be running his 15^th Comrades this year.

“That day, back in 2022, we decided to run the whole day with no target. We planned simply to enjoy the run and take it all in, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. We were both running for charity, so there was that added feeling of satisfaction you get from doing good.”

Nonthu’s toughest memory is running one year with an injury from 30 km to the finish.

“I had to run very slowly in order to finish that down run. But I made it, and got myself a very late bronze medal!”

Nonthu has been a member of CMA and a volunteer for 10 years now.

“I am so excited to receive my green number this year,” she says. “Being of service to the brand and its stakeholders has been an honour.”

Aiming for a sub-7

With four medals under her belt, Lene Swart will be running her fifth Comrades on 8 June.

“I am hoping for a sub-7 finish this year,” she says.

Lene says her favourite Comrades memory was made in 2018.

“It was my first finish, and I crossed the line just ahead of my husband,” she recalls. “I waited for him at the finish line and it was quite an emotional moment when he reached the end. We even got some airtime on TV!”

Willie Mtola, 1989’s runner-up and a former New York Marathon champion, remains an inspiration to many in the community – and serves as chair of the Athletes Committee.

This year is the first time that both the Comrades chair and vice-chair will be competing. Mqondisi Ngcobo and Mark Leathers have been setting some impressive times and judging by their Two Oceans runs, we are in for some stunning performances!

While Comrades legend Barry Holland (49 Comrades under his belt!) will not be competing this year, his knowledge is extremely valuable on the RAC. As is that of another new board member Rory Steyn who is part of the team focused on improving the safety and security of the race. Both Barry and Rory, we hear, are committed to the 100^th running ….

The 98^th Comrades Marathon will take place on Sunday, 8 June 2025. This year’s race is a down run, starting at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finishing at Durban’s People’s Park, covering approximately 89 kilometres.