27 km for Madiba
Double Header : Day 1
11 February 2023
The Madiba Race
Today, 11 February 2023 marked exactly 33 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
The ’27 for freedom’ or Nelson Mandela 27km Challenge, is an annual event, started in 2007, to commemorate the 27 years that Nelson Mandela spent in prison.
The event is held to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by Mandela and other political prisoners during the struggle against apartheid and to celebrate their legacy of freedom, equality, and human rights.
What a pity all their sacrifice, goodwill and legacy has been squandered by the current and previous government.
The race has 3 distances, viz.
27 km: 1 km for every year Madiba spent in prison.
10km: run/walk.
5km: The Freedom Route
I am ashamed to admit that this was the first year I entered this race.
It always fell a week before the Peninsula Marathon, which is the easiest (depending on who you ask!) qualifier for Comrades and/or Ultra, so running 27km the week before a marathon you want to ‘race’, is not a wise move.
Unless you are genetically blessed or half-human, half machine.
But since I will only be running the half marathon at Peninsula this year, I can run 27 for Madiba.
YOLO!
Who Was Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Mandela or “Madiba” as we call him, by his Xhosa clan name, was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
He was the first black South African to hold the office, and his government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalized racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.
Madiba is widely regarded as one of the greatest political leaders of the 20th century, and his advocacy for peace, democracy, and human rights made him a global symbol of freedom and equality.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. After his presidency, he continued to be an advocate for peace, health, education and other causes until his death in December 2013 at the age of 95.
Drakenstein Correctional Facility
The race starts and finishes inside the Drakenstein Correctional Facility precinct, which at the time of Mandela’s imprisonment was known as ‘The Victor Verster Prison’.
Victor Verster was a Dutch administrator in the Cape Colony in the late 19th century, from 1887 – 1890. He was known for his progressive views and policies.
Ironically, the facility was not named after him because of his political or administrative accomplishments, but rather because it was built near a farm named for him.
Madiba spent the last years of his incarceration, after Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison, at Victor Verster.
He was held in relative comfort, even having his own house on the compound. The prison, now known as The Drakenstein Correctional Centre, was considered a “model” prison and was seen as a symbol of the changing political landscape in South Africa at the time.
When Madiba was transferred there in 1988, it signalled the beginning of the end of apartheid.
During his time at Victor Verster, he was able to receive more visitors and engage in negotiations with government officials, leading to his eventual release on February 11, 1990.
The race is hosted by The Correctional Services Running club, on the outskirts of Paarl.
Paarl
Paarl, where the prison is located and where the race took place, is only 60km from the centre of the universe, Cape Town.
It’s known for its beautiful natural setting and rich cultural heritage.
Paarl is the heartland of the Boland, the Cape’s winelands, famous for its wines, and home to some of South Africa’s most famous wine estates.
The town’s natural beauty includes the Paarl Mountain, which provides a stunning backdrop to the town and is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers.
Paarl’s rich cultural heritage includes a strong Afrikaans-speaking community and a history of political activism and resistance.
During apartheid, Paarl was a centre of political activity, with many anti-apartheid protests and demonstrations taking place in the town.
Today, it is a thriving community that celebrates its heritage while also embracing modernity and diversity. Overall, Paarl is a unique and interesting place with a rich history, a beautiful natural setting, and a vibrant cultural scene.
It’s also hot.
Today temperatures got as high as 39 degrees Celsius.
Race Start
We were ushered into the prison gates by the friendly, khaki-clad wardens.
I was a touch disappointed at the turn-out. Given the significance of the venue, I expected greater support from the running community.
However, the 5km Freedom Walk was packed, with hundreds of enthusiastic children.
We had to take pictures at the statue of Madiba, of course. I had plenty of feels. I was not alone.
The gees was festive. One lady said around the 20km mark we would be wishing he had been released earlier. She was right!
The hosting club, Correctional Services had pulled out all the stops, including a VIP tent for a host of local ‘dignitaries’ also known as government ministers. We paid them no mind.
We were delighted to see our favourite announcer, Sean Falconer, commentating on the race. How he remembers everyone’s names, is astounding!
The race started promptly at 6.30am. In retrospect, given the heat today, it should have started 30 mins to an hour earlier, perhaps.
The Course
The course had changed. Apparantly.
We left the precinct of the prison and took a right up the R301, tarred road, towards neighbouring Franschhoek, confronted almost immediately by a stiff hill up.
We took a moment to take pictures at a bridge over the Wemmershoek River.
I remember learning about the dam in school.
After about 4kms the trail veered onto a jeep track next to a magnificent wine estate.
Trail, yay! What a pleasant surprise.
The trail section was mostly loose white sand, which presented its own challenge. It was still cool and I took my time noting the race’s peculiarities.
Unlike most (OK, except The Comrades Marathon) the route markers counted down each year Madiba served instead of each kilometre we had run. So the boards read, ’22 years’ i.e. 22 km of 27km to go, with a silhouette of the late Madiba.
There were South African flags with his famous fist-raise pose strategically placed along the route. It was a very nice touch.
Some of the marshals waved WP Rugby flags! Prooooovince!!!
I ran at a very conservative 7km/h for the first 5km and jumped on Uncle Rassie’s pace bus for another 6km at a roughly 6.30 m/km pace.
I was consciously trying to not go out faster, since I had a half marathon to run the next day. I had inadvertently entered 2 road races this weekend, a double-header.
I found out that I wasn’t the only one. Quite a few people were also running The Milkwood Run the following day.
I’m not sure exactly when we got back onto the road, I was too busy chatting to the other bus passengers about my 2013 Otter Trail experience, but at around 16km, Uncle Rassie decided to pull back.
I was feeling good at my current pace and continued with Chucky and another runner, Ishma-eel, from Ommiedraai Running Club.
The hardest part, mentally, on the course, was passing the prison, and the eventual finish line.
The course goes back to Paarl, past the prison and around the precinct, a combination of road and trail.
At this point the sun was out, and she was not taking any prisoners. (Pun intended)
8kms to go.
It felt like 100 degrees out there.
Shout out to the marshalls and water table helpers for spending their morning roasting in the sun, for our convenience.
The water tables were fully stocked, and the volunteers even helped cool us down, which was a Godsend.
I was just disappointed that so many red water sachets were heedlessly discarded along the route.
Please run clean.
Change starts with you. Keep South Africa green. We live in such a beautiful country. Let’s not turn it into a rubbish dump. We have politicians for that.
At the 23km the route passes the house where Madiba spent his last years as a prisoner. I missed it. I was too focused on finishing the race.
Luckily Pippa had the presence of mind to take a few pics.
The last 4kms were tough.
It was hot as all hell and exposed.
Mentally, I just told myself to hang on.
I jumped on Neil’s 3h15 pacing bus. Neil had fallen right at the start of the race and gashed open his hand and knee, but like a true hero, just kept going.
The last 2 kms we ran smack bang into the hordes of 5km runners, mostly children.
Their enthusiasm buoyed me up and I didn’t even mind having to dodge around them.
At last, the finish line was in sight.
My Garmin and the official race results were almost perfectly in sync. 3h13.
I was very pleased with that time. Have to save some for tomorrow’s climb up Misty Cliffs.
Sean managed to make every finisher feel like an Olympic gold medallist.
The kids streamed in, revelling in the attention. k
Their faces say it all:
Post-Race
What a tough race in hell’s own backyard!
Afterthought
It was important for me to run this race, this year.
As a teenager, I sang, ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ in nightclubs and at political rallies.
Then I watched his release on television on a brutally hot day, not unlike today.
As a young adult, in 1994, after our first democratic elections, I scoffed at my relatives from Australia, who offered to help me build a life there. I said, and I quote, ‘If I don’t stay, and if people like me don’t stay, who will build this country?’
I remember those words often, and despite all the cr*p we must contend with in this country, this country I love, I don’t regret staying. For long.
I have moments, days, and sometimes weeks when I don’t think I can take another second of the raw, brutal, beautiful life in South Africa.
Then it passes.
And I look at the mountains, and the people, and I thank God, for all my blessings.
South Africa has so many challenges, they seem insurmountable at times. But I remember, as a teenager, in 1985, the last year of the student riots, before Botha declared a State Of Emergency, standing amongst my peers, singing Struggle songs, and running away from Kaspirs and teargas, thinking that the Apartheid regime seemed indomitable.
I remember looking out at the hundreds of students, young as 12, none older than 18 or 19, wondering how on earth, we could defeat the guns, the rubber bullets, the Kaspers, and the Security Police with our stones and our songs.
But we did.
And I remember Madiba, the sacrifices he made, and others like him, and those who never lived to see a free, democratic South Africa.
And while it infuriates me, that most of the cadres gorging at the trough, growing fat on poor people’s money, while children drown in pit latrines, never fought or sacrificed a day for freedom for South Africa, I am also filled with hope for our future.
South Africans are resilient. We have been through extraordinary challenges.
But like our native fynbos we grow back stronger, hardier and more beautiful after a fire. We need fire to thrive.
We shall overcome.
We shall overcome poverty.
We shall overcome load-shedding.
We shall overcome corruption.
We shall overcome the ANC.
Aluta Continua!
Thank you for a most interesting and entertaining and informative write-up.
Now I know what my friend who runs and hikes, gets up to.
How you all do this is amazing, and miss my days when I used to hike
Regards
Piers
Hi Piers. Im glad you enjoyed it! Maybe you should start again? We have a group of all ages and fitness levels who hike on Sundays. We do plenty of easy hikes as well. You are more than welcome to join. Let me know, and I will add you to our whatsapp group.
Well written again glad to be part of your of it and I hope to keep it up as long as I can Insha-allah
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