Congratulations to Menzi Ndaba for conquering the Ultimate Human Race! Just months after shoulder surgery, he completed the 86 km Comrades Marathon. Read his inspiring story of resilience. Sunday, 09 June 2024.
The Marathon, known as ‘The Ultimate Human Race,’ is the world’s oldest ultramarathon. Over 20,500 runners grab the up run, a challenging 85.91 km course from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in KZN, and according to him, “this was an opportunity not to be missed despite my shoulder operation prior to the race,” as he confidently alludes to his participation this year. The gentleman joined the Comrades Marathon for the 5th consecutive time, and this was his second up run from 2019.
He asked himself a question: “Do I need to stop running?”“By the next morning it was clear that all the anti-inflammatories in the world were not going to make it better. A lengthy visit to the doctor followed by some radiology at the hospital left me with no doubt that I was injured. Over the next few weeks, with the help of some good (strong) medication and regular visits to the physio, the pain and swelling started to ease. The rehabilitation dragged on for months. I found myself really missing my runs with my friends and weekend excursions up the mountains, as this was going to be an up run. Social media became something I avoided, as I didn’t want to see photos of friends with their finishers’ medals. With the rehabilitation dragging on against the advice of my physio, I started to push too hard too soon, and that has helped me to participate during this year’s marathon.”
Known as “Intshebe” at his 2019 debut Comrades Marathon, Menzi won the hearts of many Sharks Board employees and the spectators who lined up along the route to cheer up the runners and keep them motivated and hydrated throughout the marathon; everyone would cheer and say, “Yadlintshebe.”
From the 2019 uprun race, when he set up the record of 6:52, he did most of his training in the mountains. Menzi came back hungry to do better in the next uprun, specifically focused on added hill training for this year’s uprun. This year’s record has been evidence that, indeed, hard work pays off, as he breaks his own record by recording a 06:49 finish time. “I am pleased that I did better than the previous up run, which I am not a fan of. I prefer down runs, and I am looking forward to also participating in the upcoming race.”
Intshebe has been immensely appreciative of the help/support Sharks Board has displayed now and in the past, he further mentioned that friends, relatives, family, his club, and general members of the public support during before the race made a big difference in his morale and confidence. “I can’t thank you enough.”
The Sharks Board, on the other side, appreciates the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this event. Definitely, the Comrades Marathon is not just a race; it is a memorial of human potential and community made possible by unwavering commitment and hard work. This race remains a beacon of hope and a symbol of what is possible when we come together in the spirit of unity and perseverance. United, we remain the Sharks Board.
Sharks Board remains the partner to the Comrade Marathon and continues making the Comrades Marathon a global iconic event by manning and maintaining refreshment stand number 04 situated at Westville on M13. We are fully aware that much of what we achieved would not have been possible without the support and lucrative collaboration with Msinsi Holdings.
We are elated to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Comrades Marathon.We congratulate over 20 600 runners from different countries of the world who came to KwaZulu-Natal to participate in this grueling 86 km up-run marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Sharks Board, as a supporting government structure to the provincial economic development, will ensure support for employee wellness and a much-needed economic boost to the province’s economy, as Pietermaritzburg and Durban are expected to have high accommodation occupancy rates.
This spirit has been exploited by utilizing the exhibition opportunity offered by the 3-day Comrades Marathon Expo, which occurs every year before the Comrades Marathon run, and it is attended not only by the Durban community but also by runners and their families from all over the world. The KZN Sharks Board was honored to attend the exhibition, as it is one of the tourism destinations. The exhibition was a method to advertise, persuade, and educate the public about the services and products that we offer, such as the Curio Shop, Audio Visual, Museum, Boat Trips, and Venue Facilities offered by the KZN Sharks Board team, with an aim to increase the client turnoutrate at the KZN Sharks Board and to enlighten the public about the wonderful experiences they can experience and learn when visiting the organization.
This year’s race was won by Piet Wiersma from the Netherlands, who finished in a time of 5:25:00. South African Gerda Steyn won the Women’s Comrades Marathon, setting a new course record of 5:49:46.
