After two decades of chasing the sacred Comrades Marathon tarmac from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on foot — this year I traded sweat for stillness and stepped into the media truck.
From this roving chariot of perspective, I was no longer a player in the human symphony of suffering and triumph, but a witness to its every note, its every crescendo.
And what a show it was. A front-row seat to the thunder of dreams, the fire of competition, and the sheer, searing soul of the 98th Comrades Marathon.
The elite lead pack emerges as the sun rises in Pietermaritzburg on Comrades morning. Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
The road itself pulsed with passion, draped in banners and brimming with emotion. Supporters lined the route like a tide of humanity, their cheers forming a chorus that rose with the sun.
From toddlers with signs scrawled in crayon to gogos beating drums and vuvuzelas blowing like trumpets of war, the crowd didn’t just watch the race — they ran it with their hearts. Every “Shosholoza” and every high-five became part of the fuel propelling runners forward.
And from the media truck, we saw it all unfold — not just the sweat and pace, but the poetry of motion and the drama that only Comrades can script.
A bold gamble, A heartbreaking fade
The early chapters of this tale belonged to Onalenna Khonkhobe, who tore away from the starting blocks like a man possessed. He didn’t just take the lead — he stole it, opening up a staggering 13-minute gap by the halfway mark. To the untrained eye, it looked like destiny calling. To the veterans among us in the truck, it felt like a spark burning too bright, too fast.
Khonkhobe danced down Polly Shortts and surged through the Valley of a Thousand Hills with the urgency of a man chased by ghosts. But Comrades is no sprint — it’s a slow, simmering war. And as the kilometres wore on, so did gravity and time. With 17km to go, his heroic solo turned bittersweet as the green wave of Team Nedbank— Tete Dijana, Edward Mothibi, and Piet Wiersma — reeled him in like seasoned hunters stalking their prey.
Tete Dijana takes his third consecutive Comrades Down Run victory. Photo: CMA
It was here the men’s race transformed into an epic three-act showdown.
Dijana, calm and coiled like a spring, launched his move just as Wiersma and Mothibi threatened to strike. A tight trio, unified in team colours but divided by ambition, tore up the road in the final stretch. Wiersma, the 2024 victor, refused to yield, his stride a desperate symphony of defiance. But Dijana, once again, showed the composure of a man with a date with destiny.
“I came prepared and stuck to my race plan,” he said afterward, serenity in his eyes. “In the last 10km, I saw Piet was closing, so I accelerated and opened the gap, and I felt like I was in control.”
Five seconds separated them at the line: 5:25:27 for Dijana, 5:25:32 for Wiersma — a gap you could measure in heartbeats. Mothibi followed in fourth, his return to top form as steady and strong as a heartbeat in full stride. Nikolai Volkov stormed through late to claim third in 5:29:41, like thunder catching up to lightning.
Gerda Steyn’s symphony of grace
Gerda Steyn celebrates her fourth Comrades win. Photo: CMA
While the men’s race roared like a tempest, Gerda Steyn glided through the course with the grace of a gazelle and the mind of a chess master. Letting others set the early tempo, she bided her time — and then, when the moment came, she pounced.
By halfway, Zambian athlete Elizabeth Mukoloma had set a bold pace, but Steyn, eyes forward and legs ticking over like metronomes of discipline, took control and never looked back. Like a queen reclaiming her crown, she ran alone at the front, powerful and poised, to finish in 5:51:18 — her fourth Comrades title, a triumph of brains, brilliance and belief.
“Today was yet another wonderful experience out on the road at the Comrades Marathon,” she said, glowing with reverence.
“To see this race going from strength to strength and to be a part of it is such an honour for me. It’s really special. I set out at a more conservative pace because I really wanted to try and run my optimum race today, and it worked out well.”
Behind her, Alexandra Morozova fought cramps to claim silver in 5:55:55, while debutante Shelmith Muriuki of Kenya thrilled with a strong third-place finish in 6:07:55.
From every step a story
And from our perch on the media truck, we didn’t just see the elite. We saw the human tide — thousands flowing behind the leaders, each with a battle unfolding. We saw tears and laughter, bloodied feet and soaring spirits. We saw friends carrying friends, and strangers becoming family.
We saw Irvette van Zyl, Olympic marathoner and former world record-holder over 50km, claiming fourth in her Comrades debut. We saw Louis Massyn complete his 50th run — not just a Green Number, but a Quintuple Green milestone, never before achieved.
We felt the beat of drums and the power of dreams. We watched children on shoulders scream their hearts out. We saw history pass us, one footstep at a time.
Elite athletes setting the pace. Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
A glimpse into the future
It was more than a race. It was a dress rehearsal for immortality , as the Comrades Marathon Association continues to build toward the centenary in 2027. The new split start worked flawlessly, allowing a smooth, safe, and fast flow from Pietermaritzburg’s dawn. And the fresh finish on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue turned into a festival — People’s Park humming like a stadium on final whistle day.
“We are really happy with the way the split start worked,” said CMA General Manager Alain Dalais.
“We treated this 2025 race as a dress rehearsal for the 100th edition… and feel we are on track for an even better Down Run in 2027.”
“I would like to congratulate all the runners,” Dalais continued, “from Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn to the final finishers in the last hour… and all the way to Louis
“We hope that you enjoyed your race experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back to The Ultimate Human Race next year, when we once again take on the challenge of the Up Run.”
In twenty years of running Comrades, I’ve known pain that speaks in the language of lactic acid and victory that whispers from medal ribbons. But this year, I learned something new.
The media truck provided a fresh new perspective Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
Watching the race unfold like a living painting, from the frontlines of the media truck, gave me a view from the soul of the Comrades Marathon itself.
And I can tell you this: it is alive. It breathes. It weeps. It exults.
From my first run in 2001, Comrades has been a life changing experience for me.
The Comrades Marathon is a microcosm of life all compressed into one day. And just like in life, I have learnt invaluable lessons the hard way. This undoubtedly made me grow stronger as a person.
The media truck box has now been ticked off. It has certainly reignited my hunger and passion for an event that has given my life so much meaning and direction.
Media Truck contingent taking a short break along the route. Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
I will definitely be back for the 99th and 100th edition, not on the media truck, but on the road.
After all it is — and always will be — The Ultimate Human Race.
