The 12 000 runners in the 2007 Comrades Marathon were sent on their way at 6.30am on Sunday from outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall to the sounds of a Zulu praise singer and the traditional Chariots of Fire theme music.
Two hours into the marathon, the men’s race was being led by novice Andries Massequ (30) with six more established competitors in hot pursuit. As expected, Russian twin Elena Nurgalieva was the front runner in the women’s race as she set to gain a second successive Comrades winner’s medal in a record time.
Official of the Comrades Marathon Association were confident that there would be no incidents along the 89,3km race from Pietermaritzburg down to Durban at the coast following a cordial meeting with officials of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The meeting followed media reports that suggested possible interference in the run arising out of the ongoing civil-service strike.
The first runners were expected at the Sahara Stadium in Kingsmead, Durban, at about 11am.
The weather was favourable and a fast time was anticipated in both the men’s and women’s races, with the down records of Bruce Fordyce and Frith van der Merwe the obvious targets, as well as the prizes for various hot spots along the way.
Before the race, an interdenominational church service was held outside the city hall because this year’s race is the first to be run on a Sunday.
The main teams, from Mr Price and Harmony Gold, were again likely to dominate the gold placings for the first 10 runners home in both the men’s and women’s races.
Of particular interest this year is the man who finishes 11th — the first runner to miss getting gold-medal status — as he will become the first winner of the Wally Hayward Medal (gold if his time is less than six hours; otherwise silver) that has been struck in memory of probably one of the greatest names in the long history of the race.
While the Russian women are again likely to dominate the women’s race, there is always a thrill in the men’s race as South African competitors appear to excel on the ”down” run.
South African runners have won five of the seven down runs over the past 15 years. Former winners Andrew Kelehe, Fusi Nhlapo and Sipho Ngomane are all back and hungry for more triumphs by being first home to the Sahara Stadium.
The bulk of the non-professional competitors have numerous personal goals in sight. Some are novices. Some are going for ”double greens” — for 20 medals. Many will be eliminated at the various cut-out stages. But the spirit of the great race, initiated 82 years ago by Vic Clapham, is what counts as about 350 000 spectators line the route to cheer the runners on their way.
The target is to get home inside 12 hours — by 5.30pm on Sunday — and beat the dreaded pistol shot to the line. — Sapa