The world's oldest and greatest ultra-marathon, the Comrades Marathon is a South African institution that is internationally-recognised for the body-sapping challenge it poses and the camaraderie it fosters among its thousands of participants from all over the world. Run between the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, and the coastal city of Durban, the race alternates annually between the up run from Durban and the down run from Pietermaritzburg.

It was born from an idea dreamed up by First World War veteran Vic Clapham, who wanted a living memorial to those South African soldiers killed in the Great War. Clapham, who had endured a 2 700-kilometre route march through sweltering German East Africa, wanted the memorial to be a unique test of the physical endurance of the entrants.

The constitution of the race states that one of its primary aims is to "celebrate mankind's spirit over adversity". First run in 1921, the Comrades Marathon has been held every year since, except from 1941 to 1945 when it was stopped during the Second World War, and in 2020-21, due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. Thirty-four runners entered the first race; today over 20 000 athletes sign up each year to test their endurance in this iconic ultra-marathon, which has become known as the "Ultimate Human Race".

It captures the story and the images of this remarkable event, spanning 100 years, which appeals not only to runners but to those captivated by the triumph of the human spirit. Spiced with stories of bygone days and fun anecdotes, the book also looks at everything that goes into making this massive event a smoothly-run, world-leading exhibition of the best that South Africa has to offer.

South Africans are world-renowned for their love of extreme endurance sporting activities and their ability to organise world-class events. Some of these events are recognised as the oldest, largest and toughest in the world. Held in locations that range from rugged coastlines, lush green valleys, berg, bush and dessert, they offer some of the most scenic countryside to be found worldwide. Each year, thousands of competitors pit themselves against the elements and test their mettle to take part in many of South Africa`s hardest physical challenges. From the cold of the highest mountains to the unforgiving heat of the desert, by foot, water or bike seemingly ordinary people take on these endurance sporting events. Whether seeking to prove themselves as athletes, or attempting to escape the humdrum, one thing they all have in common is an unbreakable drive to test the very limits of their endurance. South Africa`s Toughest and Most Scenic Endurance Sporting Events, profiles 40 of the country`s toughest, unique, iconic and most scenic trail runs, marathons, swimming, off-shore and trans ocean sailing, canoeing, surf skiing, cycling, mountain biking, off-road motorcycling, off-shore ridged hull and multi-sports events. Breath-taking photographs and detailed information about each event will thrill endurance athletes, extreme sports addicts, and outdoor adventurers of all types and disciplines.

Mine-protected and mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles are today standard in the US, most major western armed forces and many other armies as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The South African Army was already routinely using mine-protected armoured personnel carriers and patrol vehicles forty years ago even if they looked primitive and ungainly. A few years later, the South African Army had reached the stage where it could deploy entire combat groups into battle zones equipped with only mine-protected vehicles, including their ambulances and supply trucks. By then the mine-protected vehicles had also become effective for use in combat, rather than just protected transport, the Casspir being the chief example. More to the point, they saved countless soldiers and policemen from death or serious injury, and the basic concepts now live on in the various MRAP types in service today. The valuable lessons learned by the South Africans with their early designs of these combat-proven vehicles has led the country to become one of the global leaders in the design of MRAPs which are locally manufactured and exported around the world. Surviving the Ride is a fascinating pictorial account featuring more than 120 of these unique South African-developed vehicles, spanning a forty-year period, with over 280 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished.