At 61 years old, Lenasia South’s Vanessa Govender, defied all odds at the 2025 Comrades Marathon proving that perseverance has no age limit. A licensed runner with Daxina Strides Athletic Club, Govender made her Comrades debut this year, fuelled by determination, discipline and a dream.
After qualifying with an impressive 42.2km time of 4 hours and 48 minutes, she not only earned a podium finish in her category but also made history as the first woman from her club to do so. But her Comrades journey was anything but smooth.
Just 20km into the grueling ultra-marathon, she collided with another runner who lost her balance and instinctively grabbed onto her. The fall left her with two injured, bleeding fingers but she refused to quit.
She told Globe Post: “I knew I was hurt, but I also knew I had the heart to keep going. I passed every cut-off and made it all the way to the 80km mark. That’s when the paramedics pleaded with me to stop. One of my fingers was bleeding heavily and they were concerned for my health. That’s when I knew I had to put my wellbeing first.”
Now recovering with four stitches to her finger, Govender isn’t backing down. Her sights are firmly set on Comrades 2026.
“I’ll be back stronger and smarter,” she said.
“I’ll avoid getting too close to other runners and focus more on hill training and long distances. This was just the beginning,” Govender concluded.
Her story is not just one of pain and endurance-it’s a testament to the unbreakable spirit of a true runner.
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