Having mustered the courage to get to the start-line with 23 000 other enthusiasts at the Comrades ultra-marathon 2026, I realized once again that every year has its own dynamics. It always feels different to all the other years.
Lesson for me: never take things for granted. I thought I had mastered these emotions, yet every Comrades reminded me otherwise. Like coaching, each moment asks us to be present, to listen deeply, and to respond to what is needed rather than what we expect.
The race tested that lesson. I passed Cowie’s Hill, Fields Hill, Botha’s Hill, and then the halfway mark. Deep down, I was smiling. But approaching Inchanga after Drummond, I began to notice signals that something had changed. As coaches, we encourage others to pay attention to what is emerging rather than what they hoped would happen. In that moment, I had to do the same. I soldiered on, and my mental strength carried me forward.
73 kilomiters in the bag and 13 to go. Polly Shorts is in the horizon. I had to take a decision: carry on and risk long term injury or succumb to the unbearable climb coming up. I decided to appreciate what the universe threw at me. A challenge to me that I was not in a position master at that point. I considered the possibilities at my disposal. I heeded the advice always I give to the novices in the crowd and decided to listen to my body and did not let the excitement get the better of me. At that point, that was most viable option and I took it. I could not allow myself to collapse and wake up in a medical facility somewhere. I had to remind myself to approach the challenge with caution. To allow me the space to recover fully and prepare myself better for the next challenge.
The leadership coach in me stepped in. I had to think about the bigger picture. I remembered the “long game” that transpires in coaching conversations. I reminded myself how the “now” contributes to and influences the ultra-marathon that is life.
2027 is the 100 year Centenary of the Ultimate Human Race. I will be there. I know I will be better prepared to tackle what comes my way. I have dusted myself up and have emotionally recovered from the setback.
Sometimes the “speed humps” we encounter are not there to stop us, but to create space to reflect, recalibrate, and grow. They remind us that while others may encourage us, advise us, or cheer us on, each of us is ultimately responsible for the choices we make and the direction we take.
Leadership, whether on the road or in life, is about having the self-awareness to pause, the courage to make the decision that is right for us, and the wisdom to own that decision. Growth begins when we recognise that no one else can run our race for us.
The spirit of Comrades reminded me that while we each run our own race, we never run it alone. I am grateful for every word of encouragement and every act of support along the way.
The reflection has begun. The learning continues. Soon I’ll be back in training, preparing for the 100th running of the Ultimate Human Race from eMgungundlovu to eThekwini in 2027.
I looove the torture.
Tsietsi Telite – Chapter President
