Believe it or not, I have just spent 12 hours pretty much glued to a computer. No, not work but the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. This year saw the 85th edition of the race and I should have been on the start line... its tough not being at a race that you really wanted to be at. But this year, the Comrades had greater meaning. It is Nimadi’s ‘home’ race and I therefore wanted to be in her home, with her and her family. Also, Manya, Niandi’s sister was running the race; so what I hear you say, but Manya is in remission from Cancer and therefore the true spirit of ‘Comrades’ would shine in her desire to cross the finish line.
I have to say, that I am not a watcher but a doer! You know exactly what I mean don’t you... I would so much prefer to be in the agony. However, I have had an epiphany and a real revelation. This year the Comrades Organization provided a live stream of the race, so I was able to watch all the action unfold in this iconic race. And what a race! I was glued to my seat. Never have I enjoyed watching a race so much. I provided constant real time updates to my Facebook page so others could follow. I monitored friends and of course Niandi and Manya in real time via the athlete tracking. It was an emotional and draining day. At one point Niandi hadn’t come through a check point when I had expected and I therefore started to stress only to be reassured at some point later when a time popped up. Following Manya was even more stressful. Her run was about making that 12 hour cut off. In the end she did it with time to spare in 11:40 but boy did I chew my nails down screaming at the computer and live feeds wishing her along. I shed a few tears and I don’t mind admitting it. Niandi crossed the line and I cried, Manya crossed the line and I cried. Racing does this to me because I know what it takes, the commitment required and the emotions one goes through. This race for Niandi was her 12th Comrades, absolutely stunning. I am so proud of her!
Cat Archer who I used to coach until about a month ago had a great first Comrades and came in with a time of 8:33. Angie Sadler did 7:50 and David Ross did 8:02.
As it happens, it turned out to be a stunning day and stunning race. The men really pushed with a changing lead but last year’s winner came good in the latter stages and Stephen Muzhingi from Zimbabwe won in 5:29:01. It was quite inspirational watching a real fluid effortless action after running such a long way.
In the ladies race as per usual, the race was won by one of the Russian twins. This year Elena crossed the line a second faster than Oleysa in 6:11:04. Notably we had Kami Smeck from America take 4th and Lizzy Hawker from the UK take 6th. I need to mention here in the ‘top’ results one very special guy – Ian Sharman. Ian is from the UK and is well known on the ultra run scene. He now lives in America. We had been chatting about this year’s Comrades and after a 4th overall at the EcoTrail, 2 stunning back to back marathons, a top 10 at Miwok 100 and a great race at Two Oceans he was hoping to go sub ‘6’ at Comrades. On the day he ran 6:01 and placed 24th overall. Make a note of his name. He is still in his 20’s and he will be taking Gold (top 10) in future years.
The Route:
Polly Shortts
The start in Pietermaritzburg is in the center of town outside the picturesque red brick City Hall at an altitude of approximately 650m. After an initial gentle downhill from the start some moderate climbing is experienced to the top of the notorious Polly Shortts some 7km from the start, which now offers no problem at all to fresh legs. A short but fairly steep climb to Ashburton follows and then the easy descent of Little Pollys to Mpusheni. Often overlooked, but nevertheless an energy-sapper is the 7km ascent which follows to the highest point on the course at Umlaas Road. This is 18km into the race.
Inchanga
From the highest point to the foot of Inchanga the route is undulating and offers fairly comfortable running. At Mayets Superette the 2km climb to the top of Inchanga begins. While fairly long, the gradient is not very severe and is usually negotiated relatively easily by most runners. The standard marathon mark is at the top. It is the decent to the halfway mark in Drummond which runners should be wary of. It is this steep downhill and camber of the road, which heralds the start of jarring damage to legs. After the passing through the halfway, the course follows a steady climb, with Alverstone offering a difficult challenge, to the top of Bothas Hill.
Bothas Hill
What Inchanga began, Bothas continues, with 2,5km of downhill racing severely stressing the leg muscles. The severity of this descent cannot be over emphasized. The effects of this hill are usually only felt and appreciated later in the day. After this jarring downhill the short sharp ascent into Hillcrest can also be taxing.
Fields Hill
From Hillcrest, Fields Hill is reached after 10km of comfortable terrain during which quivering legs can gain some respite and recover to a degree. However, this is offset by another 3km of really punishing downhill which reduces legs to jelly again. Physio stations are much in demand from here on. After reaching the bottom of this seemingly never ending down, Pinetown flats should come as welcome relief, but this 3,3km stretch can often reduce runners to walk.
Cowies Hill
In comparison to the other hills, Cowies is not so awesome but combined with the recent decent of Fields and the flat section of Pinetown, the 1km climb up Cowies is quite formidable. The of course the 1.5km down the other side merely puts the finishing touches to the preceding 20km or so. From here to the finish there are numerous little down hills, the notable one being from the top of 45th Cutting to Mayville, which all add to the leg-weary runners woes.
Race History:
Arguably the greatest ultra marathon in the world where athletes come from all over the world to combine muscle and sinew and mental strength to conquer the approx 90 kilometres between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the event owes its beginnings to the vision of one man, World War I veteran Vic Clapham.
With the outbreak of the Great War 1914-1918, Vic Clapham signed up with the 8th South African Infantry, and fought and marched 1700 miles of the eastern savannahs of Africa in pursuit of Glen Paul Von Lettow-Vorbecks askari battalions.
The pain, agonies, death and hardships of his comrades which he witnessed during those awful days left a lasting impression on the battle-hardened soldier, especially the camaraderie engendered among the men in overcoming these privations. Thus when peace was declared in 1918, Clapham felt that all those who had fallen in this catastrophic war should be remembered and honoured in a unique way, where an individual’s physical frailties could be put to the test and overcome. Remembering the searing heat and thirst of the parched field through which he had campaigned, he settled on the idea of a marathon and he approached the athletic authorities of the day to sound their views.
Clapham asked for permission to stage a 56 mile race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban under the name of the Comrades Marathon and for it to become a living memorial to the spirit of the soldiers of the Great War This was strenuously resisted by the League, but Clapham persisted maintaining that if a sedentary living person could be taken off the street given a rifle and 60lb pack and marched all over Africa then surely a fit and able athlete could complete the distance. Applications in 1919 and 1920 were refused but in 1921 the League relented and gave permission and 1 for expenses, which was refundable.
The first Comrades Marathon took place on 24th May 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners. It has continued since then every year with the exception of the war years 1941-1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the so called up & down runs.
Entry for 2011 opens on the 1st September 2010. My entry is now carried over for 2011. Without a doubt I will be on the start, no matter what !!
