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Durban University of Technology 48Mkhize, who has always supported him and aligned his nutrition with his training. He also thanked his coach Thuso Mosia for doing a good job as he has seen improvement over the last three years they have worked together.It was Kenisa%u2019s first time participating in the marathon and it was a great learning experience. Kenisa, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Education, is a proud long-distance runner who finished in 7hrs, 55 mins, which he says was a great achievement for him. He thanked the DUT Sports Administration Unit and the School of Education for their amazing support that helped him reach his goal. %u201cRunning is my passion. When you run long distances, you feel both joy and pain. There are moments when your body wants to stop, but your mind keeps you going. It%u2019s a powerful and emotional journey. Finishing a race like the Comrades is a proud moment for any runner,%u201d he said. His advice to runners is: %u201cWhatever you put your mind to, you can achieve. To students who also do sport: discipline, hard work and consistency will take you far,%u201d he said.Fourth-time Comrades Marathon runner Dr Hillermann shared that she was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude as this year%u2019s race held a deeply personal significance for her. %u201cIt had been six years since I last ran the Comrades (8hrs, 18mins), during which time I became a mother to two wonderful boys; my youngest is currently eight months old. Preparing came with unique challenges, particularly balancing motherhood, work and training. My husband and I each have designated %u2018sports mornings%u2019 as we take turns caring for our children. This limited the amount of time I could dedicate to training, so I was genuinely concerned about achieving my goal of finishing under 10 hours. I feel overjoyed with my time of 9hrs, 21 mins. What kept me going, however, was the anticipation of meeting friends who seconded at specific times. The prospect of meeting them within that time range gave me the focus and determination I needed to keep moving forward, even during the most difficult times,%u201d she said.%u201cWhile my time was over an hour slower than my previous performance, I consider this year%u2019s race an even greater personal victory %u2013 the experience was incredibly rewarding and deeply memorable. The support from the crowds was exceptionally phenomenal, which truly kept one going. In particular, the support from the DUT community was exceptional. Running in my DUT kit and hearing people call out %u2018Go DUT%u2019 filled me with immense pride and motivation. Those cheers also played a big role in helping me stay focused and keeping me moving forward.%u201dDUT Registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, who was at Sandy%u2019s corner in Pinetown, said: %u201cWe were here to support our runners; the spirit was very high from about 05h30. We are proud of our runners and we wish them a restful period to recover. Thanks to all the supporters for the celebratory spirit as we mark our 21 years of age. This is my fourth time since 2022. I like the spirit and the vibe; it is not something I could watch on TV.%u201dSimangele Zuma/Waheeda Peters...The support from the DUT community was exceptional. Running in my DUT kit and hearing people call out %u2018Go DUT%u2019 filled me with immense pride and motivation. Those cheers also played a big role in helping me stay focused and keeping me moving forward. %u2013 DR LAUREN SNELL-HILLERMAN