Durban - “It will humble you” – so goes the slogan of this year’s Comrades Marathon, and for first-time participant and the youngest woman runner, 20-year-old Janine Parker, it could just be a humbling experience for all the right reasons.
The Waterfall runner, a second-year psychology student at Unisa and part-time au pair, will tackle the ultimate human race for the first time with her mother, Katherine Perry, who will be vying for her 10th medal.
“Since I was 6, I have been supporting my mom from the sidelines, and since then I always dreamed of completing the Comrades myself.
“Just 14 years later here I am, ready to complete the ultimate human race.
“It will be a very special Comrades for me, as it will be my first, with my mom running by my side,” said the lass, who runs for the Kearsney Striders Athletic Club.
For the mother and daughter duo, the race is not just about crossing the finish line on Sunday at Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium.
They will also be honouring Parker’s sister, Sarah, who died aged 18. She committed suicide in 2012, after years of suffering from bipolar.
“For many years she suffered, but I know that she is finally at peace now, and that gives me a great peace of mind.
“After losing a close family member, getting through each day in itself is an absolute mental struggle.
“And that is another reason I have decided to take part in this race, because as I have heard, it is a mental battle more than a physical battle,” she said.
Parker said she had used running as an escape from her personal changes and admits to being “extremely nervous” ahead of the gruelling task.
On her preparation for the 89km ultra-marathon, Parker said she had trained well and had more than 1 300km under the belt in her training regimen from January this year.
“There have been lots of early mornings,” she said.
“There is no specific target, but it would be nice to finish in under 10 hours. The training has been very tough, and training with mom has been quite hectic,” she said.
And the oldest runner in this year’s Comrades Marathon is 77-year-old Barry Varty, coincidentally a former chairman of the Comrades Marathon Association in the 1990s.
Although Varty has failed to finish his last four Comrades Marathons, he has completed 28 races and is aiming to finish his 29th.
“Vernon Jones is the oldest to finish the Comrades at 80, and he was awarded a place on the Founders Trophy.
“I would like – because I learnt everything I know about the Comrades from him – to be associated with him on that trophy. It will be an absolute honour, but, of course, that’s provided I finish,” Varty said.
Varty said he ran every single Comrades Marathon with the fallen comrades of World War I in mind.
“When I’m running, they will be on my mind, they always have,” he said.
Varty will run in the colours of the Yellowwood Park Athletic Club, of which he is an honorary life member.