Several weeks ago I wrote about why I am running Comrades, and in the end it really comes down to the feeling of camaraderie that exists among runners. I was fortunate enough to grow up in the running subculture, so I have known this supportive spirit my whole life. It’s only been in the last nine months, since starting my Comrades journey, that I have learned about the spirit of ubuntu.
Ubuntu is a philosophy about humanness, and the belief that there is a universal bond that connects all of humanity. If you follow Brandon Stanton and his wildly popular social media campaign Humans of New York, you are already familiar with ubuntu. (For those of you who don’t know HoNY, start following these stories now. You can thank me later.) I find these stories of loss, heartache, perseverance, friendship, and soul-baring honesty a refreshing tonic in our sweets-laden, sound-byte culture.
Much the same can be said for stories that appear on the Comrades Marathon Facebook group. Never have I witnessed a more compassionate, supportive group of mostly strangers in my life. It’s fascinating to read the stories of regular South Africans who saw Comrades on TV one year, felt inspired by the race, and have since taken up running and changed their lives. It is a tale that is repeated over and over again within this community.
There are also the stories of runners who are seeking support– donations of used-but-still-functional running shoes, rides to races, or training partners. There are runners who need a hook up to a local running club for a license (required for South African Comrades) and others who ask for loans to afford race fees. And from what I can tell, there is a huge group of givers just waiting to lift up their fellow runners. Even the record-holding nine-time Comrades winner Bruce Fordyce contributes to the group conversation.
These interactions are so inspiring to witness because when I was growing up, what I knew about South Africa was limited to the hard-for-my-American-post-civil-rights-brain to understand: apartheid. I knew that my dad wanted to go to South Africa to run a big race, but that Americans didn’t go there because the government had policies that we didn’t support. My childhood self certainly couldn’t understand the complexities of the issues.
What I know about South Africa now is what I’m learning from my Comrades. To read the stories of black and white runners competing and encouraging each other exemplifies ubuntu. To see runners reach out to other runners– regardless of race and ethnicity– to help them achieve their goals is a beacon of hope. The democracy of running is what I find most compelling about my sport, and Comrades lives and breathes it.
Nelson Mandela said “sport has the power to change the world.” From what I’ve witnessed in the Comrades community, it already is. Maybe we aren’t as far along as we’d like to be, and maybe we still have a long way to go, but the spirit of ubuntu is alive and well among Comrades. And I’m humbled to be a part of it.
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