Comrades Marathon 2010
Everyone interested in doing the Comrades Marathon in 2010, you need to pay attention to this!!
The Comrades Association has anticipated a huge influx of entries for the 2010 race. It also happens to be the 85th Anniversary of the marathon and is being run as a ‘down run’ which the route originally followed.
The entry process has changed somewhat from previous years – if you have entered the race before, you have the privilege of pre-entry which started on September 1st and will go until October 31st with the entries capped at 15,000.
If you are a newbie, your chance to enter starts on November 1st and continues to November 30th OR until the limit of 5,000 entries is reached.
No entries will be taken in 2010!!
All of this is why I sent my entry in on Monday 
Now I know I said I was going to give it a break with this kind of running for a while but what happens if I change my mind next year and then can’t enter – confined to being a spectator at the Ultimate Human Race – I think NOT!!
Get your entries in, the counter is sitting at 4,541 just 10 days into the entry process!!
Here is a little inspiration for those of you sitting on the fence
2 Comments / 
September 10th, 2009 / 
Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner
Running Stories – Being a Bus Driver
This is the third post in the ‘Running Stories’ series, you can see the others here, here.
I’d like to introduce you to Stuart Wainwright – in case you missed my Comrades Marathon Race dissection, Stuart was the guy who brought our sub-11 hour bus in. Stuart doesn’t only limit himself to crazy races like the Comrades, but competes in the 100 mile Washie as well – “Obsessed? Maybe, but I prefer passionate” is what he said!!
How long have you been running for and what made you decide to start running?
I started running in 2004. I had been playing rugby in the UK, and decided that I was sick and tired of spending most weekends in hospital, so started looking for a new sport.
My dad and I were at gym on Saturday afternoon, and he said that he was running a 21k the next day and suggested that I joined. I agreed somewhat hesitantly… The race was sent the wrong way and turned out to be 24+kms – I nearly died and couldn’t walk for 3 days. The next weekend I ran another one.
In Dec 2004 we decided to do the Two Oceans 56km. I ran the last qualifier for the race in 4h57 (you have to run a marathon in under 5 hours to qualify), once again nearly died, and then ran the Two Oceans a month later in 6h57 (you have 7 hours), experiencing a new level of pain. The rest just fell into place.
What made you decide “I think I might do the Comrades”?
My dad grew up running comrades. He ran 17 consecutive Comrades by the age of 34, and was the youngest to get a green number (10 runs). I never really thought that I would get into running and as a 104kg rugby player, highly doubted it! Things fell into place, and before I knew it, I had to run one with my dad. I brought him back in 2007, after a 16 year break to run his 21st. Now it’s a part of me. It’s what I do. I can’t imagine a life without running.
What made you decide to become a bus driver – and why the sub-11 hour bus?
Last year I took the 12 hour bus. It was for a number of reasons. I was running the Washie 100 miler (160.9kms) in July and felt that Comrades would be the perfect long slow training run. I had also been running in the 1000km challenge and run more than 50 marathons or ultra marathons in the previous 12 months, and felt that the 12 hour bus was safe.
This year I wanted to better my Washie time, with about 15 marathons less than last year and a lot more 100 miler experience, I decided that I was capable of running (or trying to run) sub 9 at the Comrades, but then ruining my chances for the Washie OR I could take the 11 hour bus and get to the Washie with fresh legs – Hence my 10h52m time. It is the perfect training run for Washie, in timing and distance.
It takes a lot of energy to motivate other people on a race of this length, how do you prepare for that?
Honestly, I have very little preparation for motivating people. I kinda just wing it. I try to have as much fun as possible, and offer as much help as I can. Working with another pace setter makes it a lot easier though. After doing it alone for 89kms this year, I had no voice left, and my throat and ribs hurt from shouting at the top my lungs. Well worth it though.
Are there people who help you on the day, running with you and taking the flag when you need the loo?
As I mentioned, I did it alone this year. So, when I needed a widdle stop, I simply slowed the bus, and directed boys to the left, and girls to the right. It was one the funniest sights that I have ever seen on the road… 300 guys all standing shoulder to shoulder having a wee. Would have made an awesome photo!!
If push came to shove I would hand the flag to someone that had been in the bus for a long time, and then catch up with them again…
How does the Comrades compare with other endurance races?
Comrades is the greatest ultra marathon in the world, simple as that – not for its difficulty, but for the entire event. The crowds, the runners, the sheer number of participants, and the unparalleled organisation.
There are races that wouldn’t accept Comrades as a qualifier because they are so difficult. Comrades is supported the whole way by crowds and organised helpers. Other long distance races normally result in a true understanding of the phrase “the loneliness of the long distance runner”, while Comrades is never lonely.
Life is about lessons, what have you learned from running endurance races like the Comrades?
Endurance running teaches you to finish what you start, no matter how much pain, discomfort or misery you are in. It teaches you to work for your goals, and it teaches you to understand what is within reach and what is not. Everyone takes something different from Comrades and the lessons keep coming thick and fast for me. I hope that one day I can run it as an old ballie (South African slang for old guy), and still learn something new about myself.
Aside from what it teaches you about yourself, it shows you what other people are really made of. I have always said that it brings out the real person, and before I get married, I have the condition that my partner will join me on a run, of whatever distance she can handle, to bring out the real person.
2 Comments / July 9th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Series
Running Charity Round-Up…
It seems the final numbers are in…
All pledges were honoured and with Ryan’s efforts in Canada coupled with mine, it seems we have managed to raise about R10 860 – that’s 17 kids whose school fees will be paid up for the entire year!!
I also want to thank a few people who had a huge impact on this little endeavour of mine:
- Everyone who was so generous and managed to spare some cash, especially since we’re all feeling rather pinched at the moment – Ryan’s friends (you know who you are), Shaun & Nicola, Ariane & Mdu, Brendan & Rebecca, Andy Duncan, Collin Budge and Russel Mackintosh (Russ was the one who said he’d double his pledge if I beat him, I came in 8 minutes after him!!).
- Ryan, for your enthusiasm and encouragement
- Craig for running the whole way with me and waiting for me when I needed to make pit-stops, that is what I call running-friend-loyalty!!
- Dad for maintaining your title of Worlds Best Second
- Mom for being my greatest fan and for all your support
- Barry for flying down to surprise me on the route (and for sending all the race updates on Twitter) – sorry I couldn’t stop and chat
- Stuart the bus driver who did a fantastic job of getting us all over the finish line in under 11 hours
Thanks to everyone who donated, wished us well, followed us on the day, sat through blow-by-blow accounts of the race and supported us every step of the way.
I’m thrilled with the positive response I’ve had regarding this project, I’ll keep everyone updated from time to time on how the little guys and girls in Red Hill informal settlement are doing.
2 Comments / June 12th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner
Running Theory
I have a little confession to make… You know when I wrote about Ostriching and that as a running strategy it is probably sub-optimal – weeelllll…
Since January I have been keeping a log of all my training and race kilometres, I’d decided to do this just so that I’d know how off track I was, but as it turns out I only ever plugged data in, I never actually looked back to check how far off I was – yes, (head hung low) I was ostriching it because I had a sneaky suspicion that my training wasn’t anywhere near where it had to be.
Of course the story doesn’t end there… The day before the race when I met up with other runners from my club, everyone was comparing how many kilometres they’d logged in training which ranged between 1 000 and 1 200km’s since Dec/Jan – I stealthily stayed out of these conversations because when I thought back to my training calendar I remember it being rather sparse…
SO, this weekend I decided to count up how much I actually did and finally go cold turkey on the ostriching, an exercise which made me realize that luckily I did ostrich with this particular thing because as it turns out I had to round up – to 600km’s!!!!
No really, I’m not joking I even counted again to make sure which has lead me to start thinking about this whole training thing. Do we train incessantly for the Comrades (or any longer race for that matter) to help our bodies or our minds?
My theory is that mental training is totally separate and has nothing to do with running or how much you have trained. Sure if you know you can do a marathon then you’d be more confidant to tackle an ultra, what I’m talking about is the fact that on most of these races I’ve found that it is my mind which determines how well my race is going to go, not my fitness…
I’m going to think about this a bit more, what is your theory?
My Comrades medals for 2009
3 Comments / June 3rd, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training
20 Hours and 58 Minutes…
Ok everyone so we are within a day of the Comrades Marathon and I’m about to head off to Durban. If you want to keep track of me you can find out here.
I (ok not me, but someone who I’ve asked) will be updating my Twitter and Facebook status with my progress. I’m not sure how much time I’m going to have this afternoon so if I don’t manage to get online – See you at the end!!!
One Comment / May 23rd, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Half-marathon, Injuries, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training
How many kids??!!
So in my post about Running Charity partnerships, I told you about my friend Ryan over in Canada joining forces with me in raising money to send some kids to school. Today I got the final amount he was able to raise – CAD 1,155 which is around R8,400 which translates to almost 13 kids, YES that is 13 children who will now be able to go to school because of Ryan, which brings the total to about 19 children in our efforts so far!!!
Thanks everyone who has donated up until now and for those of you still contemplating it, here is some motivation…
Yip, looks different from this angle...
"Classroom"
Leave a Comment / May 22nd, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training
Keeping in Touch…
For those of you who would like to keep in touch with my progress on race day, the Comrades Association has this rad thing where you can sms my race number to them, and every time I go over a timing mat (I think there are about 6 throughout the race) you will get a message with my location and time. This is unfortunately only open to South African residents and costs R10 per sms (which goes to charity), so be warned….
My Race number: 43099
SMS: 38132
Alternatively (this is for those of you who want to keep track from of me from other patches of this world) I will hopefully have someone receiving these sms’ and posting them onto Facebook and Twitter, how’s that for a free alternative (the R10 you saved on the sms can get donated to my “Let’s send some kids to school” campaign…)
OR, I know the options just keep coming – you can go to the Comrades website where you will be able to see the finish line live on the day (if you can’t actually be in front of the TV).
I’d like to say that those who were crazy enough to sit in front of the TV the entire day last year, were rewarded with a whole 3 second shot of me right at the end (you know who you are) and NO there was no flashing or anything of the sort going on, I had just been running for 11 hours and about 10 minutes at that stage so if you plan on making a date with the TV for Sunday, don’t get your hopes up
One Comment / May 20th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner
Running Paranoia…
Paranoia seems to be setting in… Everyone in my office is sick and so far all I’ve gotten is a runny nose but with the Comrades on Sunday, I’d be devastated if I got the flu and was unable to run…
I even considered coming in to work with a surgical mask on, or asking my operations manager (who is also running so is as nervous as what I am) if I could work from home this week.
I hate this feeling…
2 Comments / May 19th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Injuries, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training
Running Charity Partnerships…
For the past couple of months I’ve been in email contact with Ryan, a South African living abroad, who is running the Comrades Marathon for the first time this year. It’s been great chatting to someone who is going through exactly the same things I went through last year (what am I talking about, I’m going through the same stuff THIS year)…
Anyway last week Ryan informed me that he is also raising funds for running the Comrades and instead of trying to find a charity at this short notice, he has decided to join me on my mission to send children in the Red Hill informal settlement, to school!!
I am so excited for this joint venture!! Let’s see how much we can raise…
For updates on all the donations and pledges, go to my Facebook Group – Let’s send some kids to school…
2 Comments / May 18th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training
8 Things you can do with your race medals
- Re-gift: It is a recession after all… Just remember that the karmic wheel is small, what goes around comes around…
- Diving weights: they even come with a handy ribbon to go around your neck, or just stuff into pockets for the desired effect.
- Ornamental Display: This can be used as a conversation starter, although you have to take note of who you bore to death with your running tales, or expect a sharp decline in friends!
- Use as a weapon: If you take the biggest medal (I have a pretty big and heavy one, complete with the profile of table mountain on it) and keep it in a handy place, when an intruder strikes, swing said medal above the head until desired momentum is achieved (you may yell here like the Highlanders used to) and aim for the head. Beware; this could lead to imprints of whatever medal you have used, so try not to do it as a joke…
- Table Stabilizers: When you have a table that rocks because it is on an uneven surface, use a medal – not as cheap looking as a piece of cardboard and can double up as #3
- Tooth Mouse/Fairy gifts: Again in keeping with #1, the alternative to money is sitting right there in front of you. Note: you might have to explain to Junior why he can’t put it in his piggy bank for the iPod he’s been saving up for.
- Pocket Money: Times are tough and you put in many hours and hard work for that medal, it is as valuable as money (in your mind anyway).
- Accessorise: My medals come in all shapes and sizes, you could start a new trend and pare a medal up with an outfit – see how the people in the office react. Note: again could be coupled with #3, especially if there were people at work who didn’t even know about that run where you got a cramp 30 minutes into the race and then needed a number 2 after 45 minutes…
My Medals
Leave a Comment / May 16th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Half-marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running