While others celebrates the whole entertainment during comrades marathon 2026. Siphesihle is telling us about his unfortunate situation that led him to hospital. Here is his story from the horses mouth
” I would like to share what transpired on race day Sunday.
So everything was fine and going according to plan till 28km into the race where I started to feel chest pains, I continued running till 30km, that’s when things got worse, I started to cough, when I cough, white bubbles with blood came out, I drank water and continued running, at about 35km I felt like my chest is boiling, I had to stop to calm my breathing, when I stopped I started to coughing again and same things came out heavy this time. I took water and continued, so that’s what I experienced throughout my race, even when my legs finally gave in after 70km, it continued to happen, I walked Polly short, I didn’t even attempt to run but that’s where I struggled more, I even sat down and mind you , no one is there except the runners, but my fellow runners were so kind to me. They shared their water with me.
On top of Polly shorts I told myself that naaah, I cannot run anymore let me just walk, at the end my target was long long gone, so I just wanted to have 1 medal, not DNF.
Thanks to Mr Sipho Chawe who saw that I’m not okey at the finish and called for emergency assistance for me.
At the medical tent to couldn’t help me because I was really running out of breath, that’s when I was referred to the hospital and the X-ray was down and it was found that I had taken more water before my race and the heart couldn’t handle the water and the water started spreading to the lungs, that’s why I was having chest pain and vomiting bubbles with blood.
Now with all that being said I wish I can say the race was difficult and all that but I didn’t feel it because I was battling my health, may next time I will feel it”.
