As thousands of athletes prepared for the Comrades Marathon, South Africa's flagship 89-kilometre ultramarathon, members of the Adventist Athletics Club (AAC) gathered in Durban for a worship session that placed the race within a wider conversation about health, mission, and Christian witness.

Adventist runners from across the country and beyond met at the Radisson Hotel under the theme "Healthy Living While Advancing the Mission," ahead of the 2026 edition of the race. The AAC, which has branches across South Africa and several other African countries, uses competitive running as a platform for promoting holistic health and creating opportunities for evangelism.

Nontuthuko Mashimane, Vice Chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), addressed the runners on the importance of long-term health.

"Health is one of God's greatest gifts," Mashimane said. "Many of the diseases affecting our communities today can be prevented through regular exercise and wise lifestyle choices. Running is an excellent way to maintain physical fitness, but health also extends to the food we eat and the habits we practice daily."

She highlighted the benefits of a plant-based diet as a means of reducing the risk of chronic disease, echoing counsel offered by Adventist health pioneer Ellen G. White more than a century ago: "The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive properties necessary to make good blood" (The Ministry of Healing, 1905).

A distinctive feature of the AAC is its running vest, boldly branded with the message "Maranatha — Jesus Is Coming Again." From local races to major international events, members carry the message into every kilometre they run, turning sporting events into opportunities for conversation and witness.

AAC Chairperson Jabu Mangena said the club was intentionally using athletics as a platform for both health promotion and gospel sharing.

"Every race presents an opportunity to represent Christ," Mangena said. "Our mission is not only to run well but to inspire healthier communities and point people to the hope we have in Jesus. The message on our vest reminds us that we are ambassadors of Christ wherever we go. Through athletics, friendship, and healthy living, we can make a meaningful contribution to both society and God's mission."

Participants described the gathering as a reminder that faith, fitness, and mission belong together, and that the demands of an ultramarathon and the demands of Christian discipleship draw on the same disciplines of endurance, consistency, and hope.