MY COMRADES STORY BY DAWN MAKHAFOLA

“I have been an active person for most of my life but amazingly, running had never been a part of it. That was until I met a friend who convinced me to run back in 2016.

I was so determined that in 2017 I ran my first marathon. That also happened to be the year I was exposed to the Comrades Marathon. I felt inspired and plucked up the courage to join the line-up in 2018.

I must admit that a lot of my bravado was based more on my lack of knowledge but that carried me through. I ran my first one and made so many mistakes that I found myself being cut-off at Pinetown.
I was devastated but two days later, my spirit was up again. More determined than ever, I lined up again for the 2019 Up Run. Wow! That was such an emotional one because my previous experience kept playing in my head.
I managed to push through and I vividly remember the moment when I got to Polly Shortts. I was crying because I didn’t know if I was going to make it but man oh man God bless the Comrades supporters!

Someone in the crowd screamed, “DAWN JUST KEEP RUNNING, DON’T STOP!”
From there, I don’t know where I mustered up the strength but I sprinted through Pollys and right through to the finish line, crossing it in 11h59:39.

That moment of victory was life-changing for me because I witnessed firsthand that giving up should never be an option and that nothing is impossible for a willing heart. The Comrades is the greatest!”

The winner of this month’s Mr Price Sport voucher is Dawn Makhafola.