Vodacom Spirit shines bright at Comrades 2024
Congratulations to our incredible Vodacom employees who completed this year’s gruelling Comrades Marathon on 9 June. Your determination, resilience and camaraderie inspire us all. Thank you for embodying the true Vodacom Spirit and showcasing the power of teamwork and perseverance.
For the past two decades, the Vodacom Striders Running Club has been integral to the Vodacom way of life. The club was born out of a passion for staff to connect outside of the office and embark on a journey of health, providing support to each other through races.
Over the years, Striders has evolved from being an outlet at the end of a hard workday into a formalised club that supports three of Vodacom’s positive Well-being Pillars:
- Emotional & Mental Well-being
- Physical Well-being
- Work-Life Harmony
Building a community of runners
The Vodacom Striders Running Club offers more than just running. It provides employees with opportunities to build relationships, socialise with friends and family through healthy activities, and cultivate a sense of belonging beyond the daily grind. The preparation, training and support that the club generates is akin to an ongoing team-building event, and over the years the runners have formed strong bonds and become lifelong friends.
Sharedon Dada, Business Analyst: Customer Operations at Vodacom SA, joined the club in 2008. She soon became addicted to the adrenaline, excitement and drive that epitomise the Striders. By 2009, Sharedon volunteered as the Club Administrator, and in 2010 she became the Chairperson.
A natural cheerleader, Sharedon’s enthusiasm for running is infectious. What excites her most about the club is helping the runners prepare for races such as the Comrades, Two Oceans, the Soweto Marathon, 702’s Walk the Talk, as well as smaller provincial races. The variations in terrain and climate, and the long distances, demand an advanced level of commitment and endurance from runners.
Sharedon’s involvement as a volunteer starts from the very beginning, assisting members with obtaining road licences, arranging pasta get-togethers to carbo-load before a big race day, setting up training camps, and arranging sponsorship, water points, refreshments and gazebos for the all-important rest at the end of a race.
Did you know that taking part in road races in South Africa requires a licence?
Licences for road running are unique to each South African province and are valid for one year. The licence acts as insurance for runners, offering financial support and protection should runners be injured (potholes are a nightmare for ankles) or in an accident (a sad reality of running next to high-speed vehicles or in areas without adequate lighting).
Running further together
While Sharedon isn’t a marathon runner herself, she is an avid walker, short road race runner and hiker, having earned several trophies over more than a decade. However, she values the club race T-shirts even more. Each one is unique, representing her achievements, she explains. She works hard to earn the privilege of owning and wearing it and does so with pride.
This is Sharedon’s last year as Chairperson of the Vodacom Striders Running Club, and her last Comrades Marathon. As she gets ready to hand over the torch to the next generation, we share our thanks and gratitude to her for living the Vodacom Spirit and inspiring so many others to run further together.
A hearty congratulations to Sharedon and the Striders Club team who supported our runners in this year’s Comrades.
Our Striders Club Comrades runners
The Comrades Marathon is the world’s oldest and biggest ultramarathon, covering a distance of about 88km. The start and end points alternate each year, from the humid seaside city of Durban to Pietermaritzburg, an inland city with a drier climate, at a higher elevation. The race attracts runners from around the world who compete every year in June to take home a medal and beat their previous best.
Our admiration and congratulations go to all the Vodacom Striders, who trained, braved the gruelling heat, and did their best to make it to the finish line. To us, every meter you strode was worthy of gold.
The Comrades conquerors
Comrades medals are awarded based on position and the time it took for runners to complete the race:
- Gold medal – awarded to the first 10 men and women
- Wally Hayward medal – 11th position to sub-6 hour finishers
- Isavel Roche-Kelly medal – awarded to women only, 11th position to sub-7 hours 30 mins finishers
- Silver medal – 6 hours to sub 7 hours 30 mins
- Bill Rowan medal – 7 hours 30 mins to sub 9 hours
- Robert Mtshali medal – 9 hours to sub 10 hours
- Bronze medal – 10 hours to sub 11 hours
- Vic Clapham medal – 11 hours to sub 12 hours
Name | Time finished | Medal |
---|---|---|
Teboho Mohajane | 07:12:41 | Silver |
Refilwe Moila | 07:25:52 | Silver |
Dineo Manamela | 07:27:33 | Silver |
Simphiwe Cele | 7:57:32 | Bill Rowen |
Harshik Budhia | 07:58:16 | Bill Rowen |
Nkosikhona Mtshutshane | 08:23:42 | Bill Rowen |
Adnaan van Heerden | 08:46:20 | Bill Rowen |
Delani Njapha | 08:48:37 | Bill Rowen |
Zeno Gondwe | 08:51:52 | Bill Rowen |
Marcel Venter | 08:55:09 | Bill Rowen |
Steve Lekalakala | 08:58:49 | Bill Rowen |
Hendrik Tsokolibane | 09:04:39 | Robert Mtshali |
Patrick Simelane | 09:19:44 | Robert Mtshali |
Hazel Mngomezulu | 09:22:24 | Robert Mtshali |
Cyprian Mtshali | 09:28:50 | Robert Mtshali |
Lutando Mvovo | 10:10:14 | Bronze |
Motsamai Nyareli | 10:14:39 | Bronze |
Nthabiseng Tinte | 10:33:30 | Bronze |
Khulekani Mdlovu | 10:36:56 | Bronze |
Gavin Johnson | 10:40:05 | Bronze |
Thabiso Nkwe | 10:54:14 | Bronze |
Trevor Nkosi | 10:55:13 | Bronze |
Yusuf Khan | 10:55:36 | Bronze |
Lindelani Makwarela | 11:04:43 | Vic Clapham |
Tando Mkosi | 11:06:34 | Vic Clapham |
Spurgeon Myles | 11:17:25 | Vic Clapham |
Rantsane Monare | 11:18:48 | Vic Clapham |
Elisha Mohlanga | 11:24:25 | Vic Clapham |
Bryan Julies | 11:25:36 | Vic Clapham |
Sello Koyo | 11:30:14 | Vic Clapham |
Rebecca Mahlatsi | 11:34:30 | Vic Clapham |
Reggie Khumalo | 11:36:04 | Vic Clapham |
Oupa Madia | 11:41:08 | Vic Clapham |
Matome Machipi | 11:47:35 | Vic Clapham |
Rodney Moloko | 11:53:47 | Vic Clapham |
Diau Kabai | 11:56:50 | Vic Clapham |
Tembe Shenxane | 11:58:12 | Vic Clapham |
Ronnie Masemula | 12:03:28 | Vic Clapham |