The Running Mann

23rd August 202623rd August 2026

The Bishop of Boksburg: David Gamede’s Special Comrades Record

At an age when most are hunting around the house to find their reading glasses or trading recommendations for hip replacement surgeons with their peers, 64-year-old David Gamede is still running Comrades times that the rest of us would dream of. This year he strolled home in 7:11:19 to comfortably win the Grandmaster prize. This was Gamede’s 5^th Silver medal from 7 attempts and he is the only person to have run 4 Silvers over the age of 60.

64-year-old David Gamede finishes Comrades 2026 in 7:11:19 to win the Grandmasters prize and secure a record fourth Silver over the age of 60 (photo courtesy ActionPhoto)

I was keen to have a chat with the man who only ran his first Comrades in 2018 at the age of 56 and hear his inspirational story.

16th August 202616th August 2026

The Running Mann’s Guide to September 2026 Marathons

This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s September 2026 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2026 marathon / ultra calendar here.

A summary of your choices is below:

15th August 202615th August 2026

“Don’t Let the Old Man In”: Eric Venter’s 40-Year Silver Lining

In early May 2024, I got a message from Eric Venter saying, “Dear Running Mann – I was a category winner In the 60+ Two Oceans ultra. Besides the ‘No-Podium’, I have yet to hear from them regarding acknowledgement of my win or prize money – maybe it is something to look into…”

I had just exposed Two Oceans’ “Digimag Debacle” and explained that Two Oceans were giving me the silent treatment but passed the relevant contact information along and wished him well.

Eric mentioned “for interest’s sake” that his previous Two Oceans was almost forty years earlier in 1986. “Wow, that’s a long break between Oceans!” was my reply but it was his comment after that stuck with me, “I’m trying my best not to let the old man in.” Definitely a good mantra to live by!

11th August 202611th August 2026

Athletics South Africa’s Continued Safeguarding Failings

This is a guest blog on the safeguarding failures from ASA (relating to the Steven Swarts and his rape conviction) by Norman Brook MBE.

Before turning to how the Steven Swarts matter exposes serious weaknesses in Athletics South Africa’s safeguarding framework—and raises uncomfortable questions about ASA’s willingness or capacity to confront those weaknesses—it is necessary to set out the facts clearly.

10th August 202610th August 2026

Never Say Never Again: 31 Years for the “one in your Green Number” run at Comrades

A Green Number that’s lain dormant for three decades, a lockdown lawnmower loop and proof that “never again” is just Comrades-speak for “ask me again tomorrow”.

There are comebacks, and then there are Comrades comebacks. Missing a year or two because of injury, life or a sudden outbreak of common sense is understandable. A decade away from the Ultimate Human Race will earn you a few raised eyebrows and a respectful nod. But returning to Comrades after 31 years, at the age of 72 years and 11 months, is the sort of thing that makes even the most battle-hardened Green Number stop mid-war story and ask, “What took you so long to return?”

9th August 202610th August 2026

Marathon Nonni: Suzanne Koonce, Comrades’ Oldest Female Finisher

Late in the afternoon on 14 June 2026 a Comrades record was broken that went largely unnoticed: As she crossed the finish line in 10:43:23 for her third medal, American runner Suzanne Koonce became the oldest female finisher in the history of the event.

At 74 years and 276 days, she broke the previous record set by Petra Myburgh in 2023. Before the 2026 event, Myburgh was the only lady older than 74 years to finish but was a few months younger than Koonce.

I am not one to let these kinds of achievements slip by unnoticed and insisted that Suzanne share her inspiration story with us…

Crossing the line to become the oldest female finisher at Comrades (courtesy ActionPhoto).

7th August 20267th August 2026

Athletics Free State General Manager bust cheating at Two Oceans (A rapist’s best friend)

Kagiso Moletsane is the general manager of Athletics Free State. It is alleged that he was appointed into this position irregularly by Steven Swarts. Steven Swarts is a convicted rapist. It is alleged that Moletsane has returned the favour by protecting his rapist friend from sanctions and providing him with coaching opportunities in the province. It doesn’t get much sicker and more sordid than this.

Oh, and Moletsane also cheated to get to the start line of this year’s Two Oceans ultra marathon.

6th August 20266th August 2026

Red Star Raceway Marathon (Racing on a one-stop strategy)

[Marathon #289 / Unique Marathon #178 / 11 October 2025]

The Red Star Marathon is 11-and-a-bit laps around the Red Star Raceway just outside Delmas alongside the N12 highway. The race was started in 2023 and I had successfully avoided running it for two years. However, there was just one marathon in the whole of South Africa on the second weekend of October which naturally led to Julian and I making the short 45-minute drive just across the Mpumalanga provincial border line to rev our motors.

3rd August 20263rd August 2026

Comrades Gains Freedom: What Now?

On 1 August, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) members delivered a clear message that they were tired of the parasitic meddling and interference from KwaZulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) and Athletics South Africa (ASA).

Almost 80% of voting members chose a “CMA first” over an ASA / KZNA “accommodative” approach when voting on the first resolution and over two-thirds (67%) validated the decision at the November 2025 AGM to disaffiliate with KZNA.

There are a lot of “What does this mean?” messages as well as plenty of fearmongering and misinformation from certain quarters. There are many things that we cannot know for certain but there are several highly probable outcomes. Below is my detailed analysis and predictions as to how this will all play out.

31st July 202631st July 2026

CMA SGM: My vote is not a secret

This is how I voted ahead of the SGM on 1 August and why I believe it’s in the best interests of the Comrades Marathon to secede (for now anyway).

The benefit to Comrades is clear and obvious. Withdrawing comes with little or no drawbacks.