South Africa's Comrades Marathon, the ultra-distance race

South Africa's Comrades Marathon, a 90-kilometre (56-mile) race in the country's eastern hills, is as old as the first trek on Mount Everest and likewise requires a passion for extreme effort. The ultra-distance race, since its inception in 1921 has also been exceptional for its off-track ambiance that compares to the cycling Tour de France. Unlike other marathons, the runners who finish within the cut-off time of 12 hours, even the last one, receive just as much attention as that accorded to the winner -- a medal, a bouquet of flowers and media interviews. Every year, thousands of athletes take part in the race between Pietermaritzburg and the eastern port city of Durban which was started by World War I veterans in a show of solidarity and physical prowess. More than 19,500 runners, among them 1,168 foreigners, registered for the latest 87th edition of the race held in early June. "This is not about speed, but about the human spirit and to see if you can conquer this thing," said Michael Haines, 43, an American aid worker who flew in for last Sunday's race from Afghanistan where he trained on a treadmill. As the world's oldest ultra-marathon, the race is shrouded in myths and traditions. Anecdotes abound: the race has its own museum and stories of runners finishing on all fours or on stretchers would take as long to relate as this year's winning time of 5:31:03 hours by South African Ludwick Mamabolo, 35, breaking a seven-year jinx on home athletes. One famous story is of Arthur Newton, a farmer and perennial winner of five titles from 1922, who one year humbly surrendered his trophy to the runner-up in a show of moral support and spirit of camaradie. His view was that everyone who took part in the race was important and deserved to win, according to a museum curator. Then there is South African Bruce Fordyce, a nine-times title winner, who threw the crowd into a frenzy in the 1980s by sprinting from behind in the final lap, shaking hands with the leading athlete and overtaking him to the finishing line. The marathon not only attracts runners, but huge crowds of clapping, chanting and dancing spectators who organise barbecues and picnics along the race route. And since it is held in South Africa the steepest hills along the marathon route have the moniker "Big Five" -- just like the five most-viewed big game are referred to in an African safari. The race is run in a different direction each year as the start line alternates between the two cities. This year's route descended from hilly Pietermaritzburg to coastal Durban. For Fordyce, 56, the descending course is "a bit easier, but it hurts more." The starting rituals are unchangeable. It has to begin at 5:30 am (0330 GMT) when it is pitch dark and chilly. Emotions among athletes are mixed -- anxiety, worry, excitement and focus. This year's oldest runner was 83. As a recorded cock crows and a cannon is fired, athletes take off screaming their mothers' names in front of live television cameras. The goal is to cross the finish line at the Sahara Stadium in Durban. On average athletes undergo at least six months training prior to the race, but to qualify all runners must have taken part in at least one recent qualifying marathon. International athletics legend and South Africa's barefoot Olympic runner Zola Budd was among this year's participants, and she admitted being intimidated about running her first Comrades Marathon at age 46. "The toughest race of my life but the finest," said Budd after finishing in 8:06:09 hours. The women's race has been dominated for a decade by the Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva. This year Elena took her seventh consecutive win, finishing in 6:07:12 hours. The Comrades Marathon was officially opened to blacks and women in 1975. Until the end of apartheid in 1994, the race served as a substitute for South Africa being excluded from international sporting events.