#NotJustAMedal: Jaide Jacobs’ Journey of Slow and Steady

“Space for every pace” is a phrase often thrown around by run crews, but for Jaide Jacobs, that promise always seemed to have an unspoken rule. The unspoken rule? It was fine as long as you weren’t running slower than a 6:30 min/km pace. If you did, you were often left behind, feeling like you didn’t truly belong.

But Jaide isn’t having it. He’s here to prove that slow and steady not only belongs, it’s just as powerful. His story is about more than finishing a race. It’s about showing that no matter how fast or slow you go, the finish line is still within reach. Jaide’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon journey is proof that when you chase a dream with heart, community, and relentless persistence, the finish line is only the beginning.

Creating a Space for Every Pace

Jaide’s running story didn’t start with grand plans or ambition. He simply wanted to run with a crew that accepted him for who he was: a slower runner who loved the sport. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always easy to find. Jaide joined several run clubs, but one by one, he was dropped from group runs or met with the condescending “well done” as he finished alone, far behind everyone else.

Determined to create something different, he teamed up with his friend, Jadon Gideon, who had experienced the same frustrations, and together they founded Slow and Steady, a run crew with a simple but powerful mission: create a space for all runners, no matter the pace.

What began as a small WhatsApp group quickly grew into a vibrant community, with Slow and Steady’s numbers soaring to 461 runners (as of March 2025)  and weekly turnouts of around 50 runners. Their commitment to inclusivity is unwavering: every kilometre on group runs, they stop to regroup, ensuring no one gets left behind. Pacers stick with the backmarkers, no matter how slow. Jaide created a community that had “spaces for all paces”, and meant it. 

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon: A Finish to Remember

With the unwavering support of his crew behind him, Jaide set his sights on his first marathon, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. For someone who hadn’t even run a half marathon yet, this was a bold, maybe even reckless goal. Jaide signed up on a whim, although there was a bit of thought behind it; enough to know it would be tough, but not enough to scare him off. Naturally, our community-driven guy didn’t set this goal just for himself, he also enlisted Slow and Steady co-founder Jadon Gideon and the very first member of the crew, Gaarith Sambo, to take on the challenge with him.

Training wasn’t easy (it never is), and a calf injury along the way made things even trickier. But kilometre by kilometre, he stuck with the plan and made it to the start line.

The Final Stretch

Race day arrived, and Jaide set off with determination, knowing it wouldn’t be easy, but believing he could make it. And then, as marathons often do, it threw a curveball. His calf, hamstring and groin flared up again, forcing him to slow down. The finish line started to feel impossibly far away, and with the cut-off looming, the pressure was on.

Those last kilometres were a test of pure grit. With just minutes to spare, Jaide hobbled forward, every step a battle against the clock. But, he wasn’t alone – his crew was there, cheering, willing him forward. He had friends running the last 10 kilometres in jeans, his girlfriend cheering him on from the roadside, and a crew full of love waiting at that magic blue carpet. It was here that Jaide truly learnt the power of the community he had created. Running is often viewed as a solo sport, but in truth it is rarely a solo effort. With the help of his people, he crossed the line in 6:52:44, just minutes before the cut-off.

More Than Just a Medal

For Jaide, this medal wasn’t just about finishing a marathon. It was proof, to himself, to his crew, to every runner who’d ever felt too slow to belong, that they did belong. That this sport could love them back. That marathons weren’t just for the fastest, but for anyone willing to put in the work, take the challenge, and see it through, no matter the pace.

And this year, Jaide won’t be standing on that start line alone. A whole crew of Slow and Steady runners will be right there with him, ready to take on their first marathon the only way they know how: together.