You literally have hundreds of people cheering you on for hours. The Comrades is run in June, which has the runners performing in varied weather conditions throughout the 11-hour race. You have to dress wisely, because whatever clothing you take off during the day, you have to carry yourself for the rest of the race, unless you have someone to hand it to along the route. Comrades is not a race that is run by most for big cash prizes or other sponsorship opportunities, with the exception of an elite few. It holds a great deal of prestige and significance in South Africa.
Runners begin with the basic black number on a white background.
The same number is kept throughout the runner's Comrades career. After completion of nine races, at the start of the tenth race, a runner receives a yellow background. Upon finishing the tenth race, the runner is awarded a green background, known as a green number and the number is then retired. Rorke earned his green number in 1989. To emphasize the amount of significance it holds, Rorke noted that it is one of the items he has stipulated in his will.