Photo top left to right: left to right Walter (club chairman), Pierre, Haroen, Brian; Bottom, left to right: Martin, Aubrey Solomon, Kallie Pedro, Jeff (did not run), Desmond - Koenie Le Keur did not fly and Aubrey Fortuin took a later flight.

On return the bodies were frail, but the smiles were wider.

Follow up : After Comrades - July 2003

Apparently, this was one of the warmer mornings in Pietermaritzburg.

The bus dropped us at the start at 04:45 on June 16, ready to take the long road back to Durban.

It had been a fun weekend for the 10 runners representing UWC Athletics Club and we had much fun in the days leading up to the big race. Most of the four first timers, understandably, confined themselves to their rooms for much of the time unsure of what to expect.

Standing in the freezing temperatures of Maritzburg they knew there was no looking back. To Durban it is. 89 kms to go.

Aubrey Solomon, who mistakably listened to the chairman who believes that Comrades is easier than Two Oceans, took off in a hurry and flew at around 6 minutes a kay, soon to be overtaken by a "few" of his club mates. At Drummond the eventual UWC champion, Martin Adams, led him by only 3 minutes (04:19 - Drummond). Considering the wheels came off 20 kilometres earlier he was soon joined by his namesake, Aubrey Fortuin, and they crossed the finishing line well within bronze medal time, one second apart.

Mr Fortuin promptly collapsed on the other side. Mr Solomon, my roommate for the trip, asked me not to describe his pitiful state.

The other bronze medalist first timer, Haroen Davids, joined the biggest bus Comrades had ever seen and ran an excellent time of 10:49 while Brain Patrick smiled ear to ear with his Vic Clapham medal around his neck. Pierre Kleinsmith, proving that slow people can complete the race, came in at a well-calculated 5 minutes before cut-off.

We were apprehensive at the thought of running throughout the day through a humid Kwa-Zulu Natal, but eventually the weather played it's part and played it well.

Finishing times of UWC runners

Martin Adams 10436 09:40:47
Cornelius Le Keur 35177 09:50:40
Desmond Daniels 33319 09:56:36
Frederick Pedro 44989 10:01:53
Aubrey Solomon 33967 10:25:13
Aubrey Fortuin 19978 10:25:14
Haroen Davids 52650 10:49:53
Walter Hendricks 45886 10:55:50
Brian Patrick 51625 11:26:53
Pierre Kleinsmith 52076 11:55:08

Haroen the Hero

Two years ago Haroen Davids, Comrades Marathon Bronze Medalist, fought for his life.

After losing some feeling in both arms, in early 2001, he immediately notified his doctor and admitted himself to Karl Bremmer Hospital.

Doctors worked for hours until Haroen's heart stopped beating. He was dead for over 15 minutes while doctors massaged his heart.

After the miracle of life returned to him Haroen dedicated himself to fixing his cholesterol problem. Since the reason for his heart problem was directly related to blocked arteries due to high cholesterol, he was put on a medication program to overcome this. The cholesterol control medication, alone, cost him over R300 per month.

It is at this point that he decided to get moving. He started brisk walking and, after good advice from his cardiologist, started running.

His aim? To get the cholesterol down with minimal costs incurred.

The result? His cholesterol dropped much faster over the weeks, running, than when he used his medication. This led to a new level of fitness. He, then, made the big decision. To run the 2003 Comrades Marathon in under 11 hours.

This he successfully did with over 15 minutes to spare. 15 minutes for life.

Time-to-Run Club section