Tangeni Sakaria and Ottillie Kaunapawa Aimwata led the winners of the NBC Marathon after taking first place in the 42-kilometre men's and women's races in Windhoek on Saturday.

The event brought together thousands of participants across the 5, 10, 21 and 42-kilometre races.

For some, the day was about competition and personal bests, while others took part to challenge themselves and be part of the running community.

The different race categories allowed participants to choose distances suited to their level.

The 21-kilometre race tested the endurance of participants, with athletes pushing themselves to reach the finish line.

The 42-kilometre marathon was the longest race of the day, putting months of preparation, discipline and training to the test.

For the two athletes, finishing first in their respective races marked the culmination of their preparation and training.

The NBC Director General, Menesiah Muinjo, said the marathon goes beyond the competition itself, highlighting its broader impact on communities and its role in promoting endurance and mental strength.

"This was undertaken in line with international practice. So there is really a lot more to it than just seeing it as a marathon. Like what I was saying, it's a matter of also thinking about what goes into it. Money, clothing, because it's also plowing back. There are communities that came to plow back in different sectors of the community. So that's also one way of giving back to where we are within our environment. So I look at it as really also building others mentally. There is also that aspect, because endurance is one way of also getting it through competitions like this."

Beyond the winners, the event brought together thousands of participants who took part in the different races.