Well-known long-distance runner Joseph "Big Joe" Rambuwani's dream of participating in this year's Comrades Ultra-marathon was dashed when he broke his leg while closing the gate at work on 13 December last year. Rambuwani had been preparing for his sixth Comrades Ultra-marathon, set to take place this year.
A visibly disappointed Rambuwani shared that he had already begun training for the race when the incident occurred. "I was a security officer at Todani Secondary School for the past seven years. What hurts me the most is that I also lost my job because of the injury. I am heartbroken and can't even provide for myself right now," he said.
Rambuwani, who began running long-distance races in the late 1990s, has completed more than 100 races. For many years, he was a familiar sight for taxi commuters between Tshilamba and Thohoyandou as he trained daily. He also participated in notable national races, including the Phalaborwa Phosphate Marathon, the Two Oceans Marathon, and the City to City Marathon.
He founded the Mutale Athletics Club, which has produced many young runners over the years. "Age is no longer on my side, and I'm not sure if I will ever compete in gruelling races like the Comrades again," he said.