Tamil Nadu at the Comrades Marathon | Six runners speak about clocking the gruelling 87.7 km run

Meet the runners from Tamil Nadu who completed the 2023 edition of South Africa’s infamously challenging Comrades Marathon, covering more than 87 km in under 12 hours.

The road to success at the gruelling Comrades Marathon in South Africa is pock-marked with perseverance, sweat, and tireless hours of running. People from around the world begin preparing at least five months ahead, running nearly 100 kilometres each week, to ensure they can tackle this challenging 96-year-old race.

The 87.7 kilometres marathon from Pietermaritzburg to the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban needs to be completed within 12 hours — with runners having to meet the time-based cut-offs at six locations to ensure that they qualify and finish with a medal. To qualify, one must complete a 42 kilometre full marathon in 4 hours and 49 minutes.

The final mile inside the stadium is the stuff of dreams and makes up for the several hours of physical and emotional battle, say tired participants. “Imagine a roaring crowd in a stadium cheering for you when you enter. Even Dhoni will feel jealous,” says Chandrasekhar G, one of the 403 marathoners from India who registered.

Tete Dijana, a South African ultra-marathoner, was the first to complete the Comrades Marathon in five hours and 18 minutes, taking home R 500,000 (approximately ₹22 lakh) . What was it like to run the 2023 edition of this iconic race held on June 11 with about 20,000 other participants? Six athletes from Tamil Nadu who took part, walk us through the journey.

Yasmin is convinced that she is a different person after crossing the finish line. The several months of preparation provided her discipline, patience and focus, while also building her speed and endurance. Having begun her running journey only five years ago, this resident of Coonoor says that it was an advantage to train in the hills as she was used to the several elevations and climbs during the marathon. “Comrades is the mecca of running. I was full of gratitude when I finished,” she says, speaking about her 10 hour and 21 minute run.

Three kilometres before the finish line, Vasu’s toes began twisting into themselves because of severe cramps. “I was looking to hit a sub 10 (below 10 hours) time but finished at 10.10. I’m satisfied though. It is still a good time for my age,” he says. Although Vasu had a fabulous run despite only training for five months, the runner says that he was not prepared for the biting cold at Pietermaritzburg. It took him the first 21 kilometres for his eyes to stop watering and hands to stop going numb. This finisher with a back-to-back Comrades medal, e aims to finish the six major marathons around the world soon.

“My run was fantastic. I completed it without any blisters, cramps or injuries,” says Dharmendar who finished his first international marathon successfully in 11 hours and 15 minutes. . The runner adds that his favourite part was having people cheer ‘India, India’ as he ran past them.