Tammy’s running experience at the Cango Marathon was gruelling, but her ability to persevere through each kilometre and find pockets of happiness along the entire way will warm your heart!
Oudtshoorn, South Africa (07 March 2025) – Nothing could have prepared running enthusiast Tammy for the gruelling race that was the Infantry School Cango Marathon – a race that tested her limits while simultaneously filling her soul!
Still sporting the biggest and warmest smile through it all though, Tammy shared how she got to meet the Mayor of Oudtshoorn, make new friends and create priceless memories!
“We woke at 02:45, to catch the bus from the Infantry School at 4am to the Cango Caves.
“The excitement was thick in the air. Along with the smell of Deep Heat. Some folk were catching a nap, others were stretching (I pretended to),” she humorously reflects.
At 6 am, Tammy and all the other runners set off from the starting line of the 42.2km route – a route Tammy wishes she had familiarised herself with almost as soon as she embarked on it!
After about 8km, the route looped back and that is where she got to see the leading man of the race pass her.
“When the ‘sub 5 bus’ (running pack which aims to guarantee you will make the time) passed me, I knew I was lagging already.”
“But the views… oh my, to see a sunrise over the Swartberg mountains while running past beautiful farms with the Grobberlaars river flowing alongside the road, cloaked by the most magnificent Weeping Willows makes it all worthwhile,” Tammy recounts on the stunning scenery.
The people all around her made the experience every little bit more wholesome, almost making her forget how far behind she was!
“I love the people on these runs. No clue who half of them were but so inspiring. I did pass a man with an ‘70’ age category on his vest. Not sure if that’s something to brag about, but I was nonetheless motivated,” she laughs.
Although she completed the marathon with 40 minutes to spare, the Two Oceans Marathon qualifying time required a sub-5 – which she didn’t qualify for.
Nonetheless, Tammy is still very chuffed with herself to have improved her finishing time by almost 30 minutes since her December marathon.
“After years of not training, I decided to start running again in August. Like proper. But I still didn’t do it proper. I thought I did it proper enough.
“Anyway. I didn’t come last this time but my friends were waiting to cheer me on at the end and that was enough to make me smile and run across the finish.”
All in all, it was a fantastic day filled with lasting experiences, laughs, memories and new friendships!
Sources: Sunshine Simplicities
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