Gary runs for Gugulethu Athletics Club and is collecting gently used running shoes to donate to the club. There are so many committed athletes that could really benefit and would greatly appreciate your contribution. Contact Gary to arrange collection 0790809127.
By Jaime Uranovsky
This yearโs Comrades Marathon was held on 9 June. One of 2019โs participants was Gary Sandler. This was his fourth time completing the ultramarathon, which he has been running since 2016.
Gary estimates that fewer than twenty runners from the Cape Town Jewish community run the Comrades. He notes, โI run with at least three guys regularly, Jewish guys: Craig Price, Malcolm Freedman and Rael Salkinderโฆ We trained together and we ran the Comrades togetherโฆ We kind of split up according to our ability towards the end of the race but we all started together as a group and we trained together all the time. So, thereโs a big social element to it as well.โ
Gary began long-distance running in 2013: โOnce I overcame my first challenge of completing a marathonโฆ the bug had bitten and I realised that if I could do [the Cape Town Marathon], then I could do the Two Oceans. If I could do Two Oceans, I could do Comrades. So, it gained momentum from that point โ from ticking off that first bucket-list item which was [completing] a marathon.โ
Today, the Comrades Marathon is Garyโs favourite race: โItโs the ultimate experience for a long distance road runnerโฆ Every year the Comrades is different. One year is an up-run and the next year itโs a down-run. So, this year was an up-run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, which, in some peopleโs opinion, is significantly harder than the down-run. Just in terms of the sheer up-hills you have to navigate from the start of the race all the way through to about 60kms; itโs pretty much uphill the whole way. So, the highlight for me isnโt really a highlight in that I was looking forward to it, but it was the challenge of the up-run. The last time I did the up-run I really struggled, and I came in very close to the end, so I was quite nervous about it but that was pretty much the highlight: the challenge of the up-run; to try to improve on my effort from the last time, which was about a 45-minute improvement. I was quite happy with that.โ
For Gary, running provides both physical and mental benefits. โItโs about keeping fit and healthy but itโs also a good way to energise your mind. To reinvigorate the spirit and just detox โ to keep your mind clearโฆ But also, the pains and the niggles that you get from running and the injuries that linger even after a hard run in the morningโฆ itโs pain that I donโt see as negative. Itโs almost a reminder of the effort you put in to get yourself in the best space physically and mentally to continue on.โ
For those considering running the Comrades, Gary says, โItโs possible if you put your mind to itโฆ It sounds cheesy but 90kms is something you can work towards and most of it is mentalโฆ You get what you deserve when you put the training in but most of the race is mental and anyone can do it. I started doing park runs in 2013 and I built up from there, not expecting Iโd ever do it. Itโs possible if you put your mind to it and youโve got that goal to motivate you.โ
To read the full PDF of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here
To read the editorโs column for August, click here
To read our most popular story for July, click here