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Sunday 1st June witnessed the 89th running of The Comrades Marathon
(actually it's an Ultra Marathon of 89.28km) and there were three Bedford
Harriers that took part - Renette & Dirk Wolvaardt and me. Thankfully we
all finished within the 12 hour cut off, because beyond 11:59.59 you don't
receive a time, a place, an acknowledgement of having run, or a medal.
It's cruel!
The day started early with a 2:15 breakfast, a 3:00 bus to
Pietermaritzburg (which I did well to survive considering the enthusiastic
driving style of the bus driver and no seat belts) and preparations for
the race having to be made in the dark. The cock crowed (a tradition at
the start of The Comrades) and the gun went off a 05:30. This was a "down
run" from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, but included 1295m of climbing, as
well as 1950m descent. Most of the many multiple Comrades runners I met in
the days before the race had said that you have to start slowly and run as
close to an even spilt as possible. This is not easy for me, as I have
never run an even split, not even in a 5km Park Run. It's not in my
psyche. However, I did start off at a modest pace, mainly because the
number of runners precluded going any faster.
There are a number of landmarks en route, including Polly Shortts,
a steep downhill, Umlass Road, the highest point at 810m, and Drummond,
the half way point. In training I had never ventured beyond 50km (at which
point I pulled a muscle), so going beyond 50km was a new experience. The
good news was that most of the last part of the race is downhill - good
news so I thought. Little did I know... Many people had told me that the
uphill is easier, which I had struggled to believe, until now! I started
cramping at 30km from the finish, just a few km before the longest
descent, Fields Hill, which is a 3km steep descent into Pinetown, a suburb
of Durban. I never would have believed how painful a descent with cramp
and blistered feet could be. Knowing there was still 21km to go took a lot
of soul searching and damage limitation, but I was determined to finish
within 10 hours, which meant I had to keep pushing. Everyone told me I
would love The Comrades and be back next year, but I am not sure. There is
only so much pain a man can take. Women are better at this pain bearing
stuff than men!
But I made it to the end and feel better about the whole thing now.
There is a special medal for anyone whose first two Comrades are
back-to-back, but rumour has it that next year will be another downhill,
and I am never doing another downhill race again! But if it does turn out
to be an uphill race, then just maybe... How about making this a Harriers
outing at a future date? I am sure Sarah, Noël and many other perennial
distance runners would enjoy the torture. Just make sure you don't come in
after 11:59.59!
One final note: I guess I wasn't the only one to suffer. Because of
my cramps, and inability to walk, sit down Well done to Renette & Dirk. I
am sorry I couldn't find you. Let's hope you weren't brought in on
stretchers..
Nick
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