First-time Comrades Runner
- Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ University
Ronnett Diale, a Technical Principal at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, is tackling the Comrades for the first time this year.
Hear from and celebrate Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ies tackling the 2026 Comrades - the Ultimate Human Race!
I’ve been a runner since 2012 and have belonged to several running clubs over the years. For a long time, I never had any interest in running the Comrades Marathon. That changed because of two people who have been instrumental in my running journey: my younger brother, whom I introduced to running, and a close friend who paid for my first marathon entry at the Denel Marathon when I wasn’t even considering running seriously.
The two of them eventually decided to take on the Comrades Marathon, and I found myself supporting them at every race along the way. Watching their commitment and determination inspired me to set a goal of my own. I decided to enter the 2026 Comrades Marathon, with the intention of completing just two Comrades races - the 2026 and 2027 marathons.
The training journey has been one of the most demanding challenges I’ve ever undertaken. I qualified at the Wonder Park Marathon, completing the 42 km race in 4 hours and 35 minutes. Later, at the Loskop Marathon, I improved my seeding and completed my first ultra-marathon in under five hours. That achievement gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment and confidence.
Now, all that remains is race day. I’m looking forward to 14 June, when I’ll finally put all the months of training and preparation to the test.
What makes this experience even more special is the support I’ll have along the route. My wife and children will be cheering me on, and I’ll be running alongside my brother and friend - the very people who inspired me to take on this challenge in the first place.
I’ll also be proudly representing my new club, WCM (West Chrome Mine), based in the North West Province. The club provides excellent sponsorship support to its runners through Sylvania and Samancor service providers, and I’m grateful to be part of such a supportive running community.
And when I cross that finish line? I have one simple reward in mind: an ice-cold beer. After 90km on the road, I think I’ll have earned it.
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Diale is also a recipient of the VC's Transformation Award. He was recognised for spearheading initiatives that upskill long-serving staff members and the alignment of job specifications to ensure equitable recognition for all team members. Diale’s efforts extended beyond professional development to structural transformation. He paved the way for the first female technician in the lab – a milestone that fostered gender diversity and inspired women postgraduate students to participate more confidently in technical spaces.
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