Comrades Runners Who Just Made It to Finish Line Show the True South African Spirit

Check out this awesome photo taken of a female runner in the Comrades Marathon – being helped on one side by her husband, and on the other by a stranger – just seconds before the cut-off time at this year’s legendary KwaZulu-Natal annual event.

Comrades runner Sakky Sekgothe, posted the photo to a Comrades Marathon group page yesterday and said: “For better or worse, big up to Mr Juju for being there for your wife from start to finish line.

“To the ? who helped them as you can see he was worried about the time and indeed they made it in 11:59:14sec . That’s the Comrades spirit right there ?”

Sakky said: “One thing I have learnt in running ?, there’s no race or color. We are one big crazy ? family who likes chasing the pavement ?.”

His photo has touched the hearts of fellow runners… and non-runners! Sob Somlota said: “Mmm Comrades really brings South Africans black and white together that’s why I will run one day.”

Facebook user Marsha Muller said: “So beautiful to see this!!!! Touches my heart so much ? it’s not about the time you finish, it’s about your journey.”

Musa Tshabalala wrote: “Oh when they say them picture tells a thousand words. I love this. Well done to the guy there for being kind.”

Glynis Mauldon added: “Goosebumps stuff… give that man a Bells…”

André C A Jacobs said: “True Comrades spirit. What a brilliant way to embrace each other… wish all ppl in south africa can ne runners so they can have some true sense of being a nation working together as one…”

Sakky said on the post that it’s not against the rules to assist someone as long as their legs are still moving and touching the ground.

One runner who was less fortunate than those pictured was Bernard van den Dool. Unfortunately no one helped him, and while the guy next to him finished, he just couldn’t get his legs to run those last few metres fast enough and… “dropped with 13 seconds to go… but well done to those that did help others, amazing.”

Fikile Mkutyukelwa, inspired by the Comrade’s Spirit of the photo, said: “Dnt wori Bernard van den Dool. COMRADES 2018 let’s do it ???”