The marathon where heroes are forged
Aug 19, 2022
4 minutes
The Comrades Marathon, the world’s oldest ultra-marathon, was the brainchild of First World War veteran Vic Clapham, who came up with the idea as an annual commemoration of the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers during the war.
Clapham had been part of a monumental 2 700km pursuit by British forces of German and African troops under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck through sweltering German East Africa, and had been moved by the resilience of his fellow soldiers. He therefore wanted the race to be a unique test of physical endurance. The constitution of the Comrades Marathon states that one of its primary aims is to “celebrate [humankind’s]
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