05/06/2026
Prepared for the long run. 🏃♀️
Comrades has become more than a race for Janine Parker; it has become part of who she is.
This year marks her 6th Comrades Marathon, and for Janine, the journey is no longer about the decision to run, but about continuing a path that has shaped her over the years. Each race has brought a different version of herself to the start line - mentally, physically, and emotionally stronger than the last.
For Janine, completing Comrades represents far more than distance. It stands for resilience, discipline, and the belief that she can do hard things, even when life feels heavy. It’s a mindset she carries beyond the race itself, a reminder that if she can get through Comrades, she can get through anything.
On the toughest training days, it comes back to one thing: remembering why she started. Not every run feels good, but consistency matters more than motivation. The difficult days, she says, are simply part of earning the finish line.
Like many runners, balancing training with everyday responsibilities is one of the hardest parts, often more mentally demanding than the physical miles. But she continues to show up, week after week.
Running, for Janine, is also deeply personal. It’s a space for processing life from grief to growth and each Comrades carries its own meaning.
When race day arrives, her goal is simple: to run a race she is proud of, stay mentally strong, and fully take in the atmosphere of the day. But there is one dream close to her heart - to finish alongside her mum, who will be running her 15th Comrades. A moment she describes as nothing short of special.
Ultimately, success will be crossing the finish line knowing she gave everything she had, a reflection of years of commitment, resilience, and refusing to give up.
We’re rooting for you Janine!
