Running for UP graduates’ second chances

My name is Doris Mokgokolo, and I am the Postgraduate Coordinator in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria (UP).

My running journey began with social runs, never imagining I would one day take on marathons, let alone the daunting Comrades Marathon. However, my mindset changed in 2017, when a friend gave me their entry for a 42 km marathon because he was unable to run. I had no training and no preparation, and had never dreamt of running such a distance. However, as I stood at the starting line feeling overwhelmed, I decided to try. I finished before the cut-off time – and that experience taught me that limits are often self-imposed.

I completed my first Comrades Marathon in 2019. It was a milestone that reflected not just physical endurance but personal growth and discipline. However, my running journey was placed on hold when I was involved in an accident that prevented me from running the 2024 Comrades. I believed my running...