Unogwaja Challenge 2013

The Comrades Marathon Association is proud to be associated with the Unogwaja 2013 Challenge.  This is the 3rd edition of Unogwaja Challenge, but in effect will be the 1st Unogwaja Challenge of its kind making the transition into a formal public event that anyone around the world can enter. As a result the numbers for 2013 have been kept low in order to test the new format as once it  has been fully proven it would be possible to increase this number in the future. There are 12 participants taking part in 2013, representing 4 countries and  includes 4 women, eight men, and thirteen support crew. The Unogwaja team show the true spirit of Comrades by their display of camaraderie, passion, courage and determination, while remembering the important history and tradition behind our great event. They have shown others that they can follow their dreams, and that anything is possible if you dare to try.

@TheUnogwaja

 

HISTORY

The Unogwaja challenge was initiated to follow the footsteps of Comrades legend Phil Masterton-Smith, who was affectionately known as “Unogwaja” which means the Hare in Zulu.

Phil Masterton-Smith was involved in two of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, when in 1930 he narrowly lost to the great Wally Hayward.  The following year in 1931, he battled against Noel Burree, and crossed the finish line meters ahead to claim Comrades Victory and become the youngest ever Comrades winner at the age of 19.

In 1933 Masterton-Smith couldn’t afford the train fare from Cape Town to run the Comrades Marathon, so he cycled over 1700kms from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg in 10 days, and on the 11th day he ran the gruelling Comrades Marathon and came in 10th position.

Tragically Phil Masterton-Smith was killed in action on 5th June 1942 by a mortar bomb, defending the Gazala line during the siege of Tobruk in World War II.

This ultimate story of passion, willpower, courage and determination was mirrored by four young men, who followed in the footsteps of Phil Masterton-Smith 78 years later. Team Unogwaja succeeded in cycling 1677km’s in 10 days from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg, and then running the Ultimate Human Race on day 11. The Unogwaja Team were joined through Red Sock Friday, an organisation that shares its origin, like Comrades, in the aftermath of a World War, and is a global community of people who share a common passion for life and positive energy.

DOING IT FOR CHARITY

Team Unogwaja are passionate about giving back, making a difference in other people’s lives and spreading “gees” along their journey.   Every pedal and step towards the finish line of Comrades Marathon on 3rd June will be in support of Charity.   Help them to help others – every rand donated will go directly towards their chosen charities.

MEET THE TEAM

1. Andrew King, age 33, Durban
2. Beverley Davey, 31, Johannesburg
3. David Williamson, 32, Dublin (Ireland)
4. Grant Matkovich, 33, Durban
5. Joff Gouveris, 32, Pretoria
6. John McInroy, 30, Cape Town
7. Katherine Eriksson, 28, Los Angeles (USA)
8. Miranda Symons, 34, Cape Town
9. AJ Spieringshoek, 26, Cape Town
10. Richard Clark, 34, Cape Town
11. Thamar Houliston, 31, Cape Town
12. Tiago Dionisio, 38, Lisbon (Portugal)

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SUPPORT TEAM

An adventure of this magnitude would not be possible without the invaluable support and dedication of the support team.  They are up before the sun each morning, and work tirelessly throughout the day making sure the team is properly looked after.  They offer encouragement, moral support, hot food and much needed massages during the long days en route to Pietermaritzburg.  Unogwaja salutes them:  

UNOGWAJA 2013

The participants from 2011 & 2012 all believe that Unogwaja should live on – “it is something that can become etched in Comrades history and we can look back one day on and be very proud, as no doubt it can have a life changing effect on many young people who take part or follow it, much like it did with us and the many people that supported us every step and pedal of the way.  It is an event that brings to life the history of the Comrades in a unique way, and is a way of spreading the story and spirit of the Comrades to younger generations for years to come” – John Mcinroy.

Follow them as they make their way to Pietermaritzburg and the Comrades Finish. The Route and/or Schedule is as follows:-

DAY	DATE	ROUTE	DISTANCE
Day 1	Thursday, 23 May 2013	Cape Town - Robertson (Atleast 100 support cyclists to join to Franshoek)	+/-205km
Day 2	Friday, 24 May 2013	Robertson - Calitzdorp	+/-213km
Day 3	Saturday, 25 May 2013	Calitzdorp - Willowmore	+/-198km
Day 4	Sunday, 26 May 2013	Willowmore - Graaff-Reinet	+/-172km
Day 5	Monday, 27 May 2013	Graaff-Reinet - Cradock	+/_139km
Day 6	Tuesday, 28 May 2013	Cradock - Queenstown	+/-156km
Day 7	Wednesday, 29 May 2013	Queenstown - Maclear	+/-190km
Day 8	Thursday, 30 May 2013	Maclear - Kokstad	+/-200km
Day 9	Friday, 31 May 2013	Kokstad - Richmond	+/-150km
Day 10	Saturday, 1 June 2013	Richmond - Pietermaritzburg	+/-35km
Day 11	Sunday, 2 June 2013	Comrades Marathon Durban to Pietermaritzburg	89km

Daily updates to be uploaded throughout the challenge.

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