A Cape Town ultramarathon athlete is planning on running 120 km this month to honour and celebrate the 120-year existence of the Celtic Harriers Running Club, the fifth-oldest running club in the Western Cape.
The 120 km Commemorative Run on Saturday 26 September will see athlete and Celtic Harrier member Denver van der Bergh complete a loop, running from Claremont to Muizenberg, Simon’s Town, Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Sea Point, before returning to the organisation’s clubhouse in Imam Haron Road, Claremont.
Van der Bergh, a recovering drug addict who has embraced running over the years, will set off at 03:00 sharp.
TygerBurger reported on Van der Bergh’s endurance races a number of times, including his run from Cape Town to Durban in KwaZulu-Natal last year where he competed in the Comrades Marathon. Van der Berg is also the founder of the Serenity Strides Foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps others overcome their drug addiction.
His upcoming run around Table Mountain, he explained, is not just to honour the club, but also to raise funds for a fellow club member living with cancer. Members and supporters can join for any distance along the route, all proceeds going to the member. To this end Van der Bergh will also run in a purple Speedo, to raise awareness of cancer, along with his famous green-and-white Celtic vest.
History
The Celtic Harriers Running Club, founded in 1906 by a group of young Irish immigrants, with the passing years has created a community where beginners, walkers, social runners, elite athletes and master athletes can all find encouragement and belonging, said Van der Bergh.
He said this legacy is closely connected to some of South Africa’s most important road races.
“It’s Celtic 35 Mile Road Race evolved into the Two Oceans Marathon. After the first two Celtic races in 1970 and 1971, the event became an official club race, and the name ‘Two Oceans Marathon’ was adopted for the 1972 edition.
“Celtic Harriers also organised the first version of the Cape Town Marathon as a club event in 1994. The modern race later developed into the internationally recognised Cape Town Marathon, which became Africa’s first World Athletics Gold Label marathon in 2017.”
The club also has a strong association with the Peninsula Marathon, which began in 1964 as a training run for the Comrades Marathon, as well as the Don Lock Memorial Race, which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.
Achievement
Van der Bergh says Celtic Harriers’ greatest achievement, however, is its impact on ordinary people. “It’s Couch to 10 km programme helps people take their first step into running and gives them the confidence to rise above their circumstances. The club supports its members through weekly runs, trail groups, training programmes, races, fundraising initiatives and a strong culture of community service.”
Van der Bergh said his personal story formed part of this wider Celtic story, although it is not the main story. “I am a recovering addict who reached rock bottom and managed to rebuild my life through recovery, running and community support. Celtic Harriers believed in me from the beginning and supported me during my run from Cape Town to Durban.”
Visit www.serenitystridesfoundation.org
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