Comrades Marathon – Ultimate Human Race
Date: Sunday, 9 June 2019
“Sizonqoba – Together We Triumph.”
History lesson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comrades_Marathon) –
Comradesis an ultramarathon of approximately 89km (55mi) which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It’s the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon. The direction of the race alternates each year between "up" run (87 km) starting from Durban and "down" run (now 90.184 km) starting from Pietermaritzburg. The spirit of the Comrades Marathon is said to be embodied by attributes of camaraderie, selflessness, dedication, perseverance, and philosophy (ubuntu).
The race is run on the roads of KwaZulu-Natal province, marked by "The Big Five" hills. On the up run they appear in the following order: Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Botha's Hill, Inchanga, and Polly Shortts. The highest point of the race, at 2,850 feet (870m) above sea level, is situated near Umlaas Road interchange. Comrades was run for the first time on 24 May 1921 (Empire Day), and with the exception of a break during World War II, has been run every year since. The race was the idea of World War Iveteran Vic Clapham, to commemorate the South African soldiers killed during the war. Clapham, who had endured a 2,700km march, wanted the memorial to be a unique test of the physical endurance. The constitution of the race states that one of its primary aims is to "celebrate mankind's spirit over adversity".
“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” – Nelson Mandela
Race Information (https://www.comrades.com) –
The race is on Sunday, 9 June 2019 starting at 5:30am and finishing at 5:30pm. The race is 'gun to gun'. Entries are limited to a maximum of 25,000. It is an “UP RUN” starting at the City Hall in Durban and finishing at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. The race distance is approximately 87km. The distance is subject to change and will be confirmed in the final race instructions. All qualifying races must be ASA compliant and meet Comrades Marathon qualifying criteria. A qualifying race must be completed between 26 August 2018 and 02 May 2019 and details submitted to the organisers. All runners will be seeded according to their qualifying times. The no mobile seconding rule will be very strictly enforced. No pacing will be permitted. Runners will be required to board a bailer bus and be transported to the finish venue if they do not reach the cut-off points.
MEDALS
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Gold
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First 10 Men and Women
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Wally Hayward (Men)
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Position 11 to sub 6hrs 00min
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Isavel Roche-Kelly (Women)
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Position 11 to sub 7hrs 30min
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Silver
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6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30 min
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Bill Rowan
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7hrs 30 min to sub 9hrs 00min
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Robert Mtshali
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9hrs 00min to sub 10hrs 00min
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Bronze
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10hrs 00min o sub 11hrs 00min
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Vic Clapham
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11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min
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Comrades Marathon Amabeadibeadi Campaign consists of six official charities: CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation), Community Chest, Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, Hospice Palliative Care, Wildlands Conservation Trust and World Vision South Africa.
Pre-race Part 1 (Yes I babble so feel free to skip this part) –
The lead up to Comrades 2019 was over a decade in the making. My sister-in-law (Carmen) first ran Comrades in 2008. I admired her running success, and although running wasn’t my priority back then, it was a fairy-tale dream, deeply imbedded in the back of my mind. In 2008, I was pregnant with my second child and hoping to one-day return to running a half marathon distance (the furthest I’d ever run). Fast-forward to 2014 and I ran my first (and second) marathon at Canberra (and Melbourne respectively). In 2015, I ran my first ultra-marathon at Two Oceans, South Africa (also with Carmen). In 2017, I decided to bite the bullet and enter Comrades 2018. A friend of mine also entered and I was looking forward to achieving and sharing one of my lifelong dreams. Long story short (because this is already going to be too long), before I was able to secure a qualifying time, my dog knocked me over and I sustained a persistent injury. I was so disappointed when the time came to withdraw my entry. It took six months to recover from a joint sprain and ITB issues. However, I managed to get some traction in the legs and distance on the board again by February 2018. I ran an acceptable qualifying time at Sydney (marathon 3:38), which seeded me in batch C. Comrades has a strict 12 hour cut-off and goes by gun time, so starting closer to the front of the pack is important. Although I entered Comrades 2019, I reserved a space in my mind (and heart) for another possible DNS (did not start). I didn’t want to get my hopes up, and as usual, I didn’t trust my hips to endure the training (or the event).
My plan included:
Running – 60-80km per week (base) with minimal hills to avoid annoying existing hip issues.
Events – 2 marathons (Hobart, Rollercoaster), 2 x 50km (Brimbank, Princess Park), 1 x 55km (Frankston to Portsea) and possibly 1 x 60km.
Strength – minimum 2 sessions per week.
Treatment – regular Myotherapy (dry needling) and Chiropractic.
I also focused on my WHY. It’s a question many distance runners are asked… Why do you run for so long? It’s something I’ve struggled to answer succinctly. There are so many reasons but freedom is a word that comes to mind. Freedom from the white noise that surrounds us in everyday life, from my kids (I love you but we all need a little time-out),from my worries, from social media, from expectations, from work, from to-do lists… from everything. Freedom from our human self and a chance to connect with something deeper… yes I’m going to say it, something spiritual. Running (especially running longer than ever before), means I start to disconnect from my physical self and reconnect with something greater.
I went to my Kinesiologist a few days before flying out of Melbourne and the word JOY made an appearance. To me, joy is greater than happiness because it has a spiritual implication. Therefore my WHY is FREEDOM and JOY! (I warned you this post was going to be long.)
Pre-race Part 2 –
A fellow running friend (Kellie) decided to fly to South Africa to support us, and then continue with her own travels. We managed to get the same flight to Durban, and met Carmen there. We’d booked 5 nights at Blue Waters Hotel with a sensational beach view. We arrived late Thursday night and I think all of us were asleep seconds after our heads hit the pillow.
Friday (and Saturday) was all about the Comrades Expo and I was super excited! After indulging in our included buffet breakfast, we walked the short distance to the expo and claimed our race pack: bibs, Championchip, wristband for the International tent etc. Then we headed into the official merchandise section. A few hours later I left with a Comrades jacket, tops hydration belt, mug, notebook, keyring, toy bear and rhino. I was very happy with my purchases! We proceeded to the Hilton, and the Consports stand to collect our drop bags. Consports is an organisation designed to assist international runners on course with additional fueling. I wasn’t too concerned about having extra supplies but some runners on Facebook said the food on course wasn’t enough, so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
Additional fuel included:
At One bars x 2
Tom and Luke’s Zesty Lemon balls (yes you read that right!)
Bread rolls x 2
Endura gels x 2
Chocolate/lollies
Coke x 2 bottles
Nuun x 4 bottles
Salt tablets (*the weather forecast was 25 degrees).
Saturday afternoon I called my hubby to touch base. This is the second time I’ve travelled to South Africa, leaving Brad at home with our boys (and it doesn’t go unnoticed). I’m very grateful!
Saturday night, we ventured to the restaurant for an early dinner from the buffet. The vegetarian options were limited and I was missing my greens. I wasn’t too obsessed with food though (my brain was solely focused on getting through 87km the following day). I was nervous and excited. I just wanted to make cut-off!
The start line –
My alarm was set for 3am but we were awake by 2:30am. I got dressed in my K-Mart singlet ($6!), 2-in-1 shorts, compression calf sleeves, Injinji socks, arm warmers, RMA buff, Flipbelt and new Comrades hydration belt. I applied anti-chaff cream, grabbed my sunnies and Garmin. The hotel put on breakfast for Comrades runners from 3-5am so after getting my kit on, we followed the other crazy runners downstairs. After a bite to eat, we caught a taxi to the Hilton and said goodbye to Kellie (who purchased the Consports Supporters package, which included a bus trip to the first fuel station and finish line). Carmen and I walked a few hundred metres to the start area of the 94thComrades marathon (48thup run).
When we arrived at the start area, there was a buzz of excitement from twenty-two thousand of my closest friends. OK maybe not my friends but distance runners have an unspoken language that brings us together. Running separates no man or woman, race, religion or creed. Running brings us closer to what so many of us are seeking in life… it connects us. I hugged Carmen and made my way to section C. Carmen was a little further back in the pack (she’s a faster runner than me but due to injury she ran a slower qualifying time). I made small talk to my neighbours in C pen and met a lovely South African man, Tshepang. I took a moment to breathe and relax. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and anxious in massive crowds before a race, but instead I consciously chose to become a spectator. I took note of the huge Comrades symbol in lights on the side of the building, I listened to people talk strategies and expectations, and I inhaled the scent of eucalyptus and menthol.
As 5:30am approached, I listened to the thousands of runners surrounding me sing the South African national anthem, Shosholoza, and Chariots of Fire. The rooster crowed (a recorded sound of Max Trimborn, who at the start of Comrades 1948 let out a nervous crow in anticipation of the 90km run and in his memory, the famous crow is played at every Comrades). Immediately after, the gun fired to signify the beginning of this epic race. I remembered advice from Carmen – keep my eyes on the ground to avoid rubbish, food and other potential hazards. I was also aware of the raised cats-eyes throughout the course, as a friend of mine had slipped on one last year. As I carefully crossed the start line, confetti fell from the sky like snow, and I smiled silently to myself. This was it! This was the moment I’d been waiting for… an event so momentous and significant that nothing else mattered. I felt blessed to be part of it.
The first 26km –
The first section was congested, dark and unremarkable as far as the course was concerned. There were already spectators on course clapping and encouraging us. Within ten minutes, we were running on the N3. It was similar to running Wings for Life (Melbourne) along the Monash Freeway except it was a highway in Durban, South Africa. After some climbing and staying strong in my lane, we reached 5km (30min) and the Tollgate Bridge. The road temporarily flattened out and we veered onto the M13. After 7km we reached the 45thCutting (named after the British 45thRegiment of Foot – Sherwood Foresters).
Now is the time I admit to being ignorant when it comes to the course. Even if I studied maps and considered a tactical approach, I’d struggle to connect with details or directions. I’d watched videos about the Big 5 hills: Cowie’s hill, Fields hill, Botha’s hill, Inchanga and Polly Shortts. Three of the big hills are in the first 37km (Cowie’s, Fields and Botha’s hill). Inchanga is after the halfway point and Polly Shortts is just before 80 km. But it meant nothing to me.
Sometimes my tendency to daydream or disconnect is an advantage. I don’t get hung up on expectations or pace. For Comrades my objective was a) Make cut-off, b) Break 11 hours, or c) Break 10 hours. I set my Garmin to beep every 10km and had a vague goal of less than 70min for each split. I knew the first 40km had about 1000m elevation, and I was prepared to walk when necessary to conserve energy.I ran by effort (except when the stubborn little voice in my head refused to walk until the first Consports station at 26km).
On with the story… we continued climbing and reached 10km after an hour. I had my first gel and electrolytes. I grabbed the sachet of electrolytes and tore off the corner (I love sachets because they’re so easy to drink from unlike a plastic cup when I inhale liquid into my lungs. Plastic sachets aren’t great for the environment but neither are cups). Unfortunately the electrolytes set off mild asthma and I was glad I packed Ventolin. I was also glad I took salt tablets, knowing I’d need more than water (and my pre-made Nuun bottles). The sun was coming up and more people were on the sidelines, especially through Westville. I noticed several red and white Westville club tops, and countless spectators calling out “Go Westville.” There were words of encouragement from all directions. A couple of runners asked me where I was from and wished me luck. The vibe was friendly, supportive and inclusive. Shouts of “Go Kate” emerged as I smiled and waved. I continued plodding upwards.
About 15km (92min), we made a turn and started climbing the first of the big 5: Cowie’s hill. I don’t remember it specifically but I do recall that I was feeling pretty good. My heart and lungs were fine, my legs were managing and I had no pain. After the first landmark hill, the map shows a drop into Pinetown. The personalized cheers and accented words made my heart smile. I loved hearing “Go ladies” and “You go get that medal Kate.” It seemed like the entire nation was giving us a boost. And to think, I was worried about not having headphones to listen to my latest audiobook! It was at this point, I was fortunate enough to see Carmen, running strong and overtaking me. I encouraged her to keep pushing but I had no intentions of trying to keep up. After Pinetown, there was a long drawn-out climb up Fields Hill (22km mark). Fields Hill is unrelenting for 3km… Although the map marks the Top of Fields Hill only half way up the actual hill, so someone is telling lies.
At 26km, I spotted the first Consports fuel station. They quickly produced my bag of goodies and I helped myself to a bread roll, lemon ball, electrolyte bottle and chocolate. I gave Kellie a sweaty hug and when she asked how I was feeling, I replied with, “That was a hard climb.” My instincts told me I should’ve walked a little (hindsight is always so helpful… for next time).
Onwards and upwards –
The next hill was Botha’s (35km) and I’d been running for over 3.5 hours. I often hit the wall or run out of steam at this point but I was OK. I allowed my stride to break into a walk but not a stroll. I wanted to keep the momentum going and blood pumping to my legs. I listened to the noises around me, water sachets popping underneath shoes, people offering fuel and runners breathing heavily. I watched as some runners walked and others continued to run. I used my walk break as an opportunity to take salt tablets and munch on my bread roll. I could feel the warmth of the sun and grabbed another water sachet to ensure I remained hydrated.
I continued around the bend and noticed the Wall of Honor and Arthurs Seat. The wall of honor overlooks the Valley of 1000 hills and is a landmark for previous Comrades runners (even today, runners may purchase a plaque recording their name and number to go on the wall). Arthurs Seat is an alcove cut into the wall to remember Arthur Newton (he won Comrades five times in the 1920s). People can leave flowers or simply say hello for luck.
I hit the marathon point after 4hrs 26min (I didn’t realise I was so slow until I reflected on Strava later, but I had climbed roughly 1000m already and still had over a marathon to go). Drummond is (almost) halfway and a great spot for spectators. I was swept along as locals clapped and sang in unison (a cappella style). This was party central and it really lifted my energy levels. This next section is tough physically and mentally, but I remained in good spirits. With my positive mindset, I was ready to conquer the second half.
The second half is easier right?
Inchanga was located somewhere between 45-47km. My Garmin read 47km but I suspect I added distance darting from side to side of the road to avoid camber. Regardless, I allowed myself to walk, knowing Consports second station was close. After some respite, I felt better at 47km than I did at 26km. Pacing, effort level and keeping my heart rate relatively low were important factors, given that I hadn’t run the distance or event before. Again, Consports were quick to locate my bag and I wasted no time finding the bottle of Coke (only time I drink full strength Coke is during an ultra).I swapped my empty bottle of Nuun for a full one, took the second bread roll and some lollies.
I floated through Harrison Flats and Cato Ridge (I have no recollection of this, I’m cheating by reading the map). I approached Camperdown (60km in 6hrs 20min) and took a deep breath. The presence of onlookers was growing as the warmth from the sun was intensifying. There was chanting, singing and clapping from various sideline groups – young and old. I heard Shosholoza several times throughout the day. Packs of runners (known as buses) ran in synchrony and chanted in time with their feet. The 9-hour bus had overtaken me early on (the same time I saw Carmen) but somehow I missed the 9.5-hour pacer. Now I set myself a goal to stay in front of the 10-hour bus!
With 20km to go, I stopped at the last Consports station and gulped down some more Coke. I packed a gel, lemon ball and electrolytes for the trip home. I took more salt tablets and electrolytes (I knew I was dehydrated). I reached Umlaas Rd (highest point of the course) and although this is not one of the big 5 hills, it’s quite challenging. On the other side of the hill, my Garmin recorded 70km (7.5 hours). I was getting slower and walking the inclines but I was happy to keep going. My mind was strong, and my legs were fatigued but OK. For the next half hour, I took advantage of the decline and adopted a forward lean. I relaxed my whole body – arms, ribs and most importantly, my quads. I didn’t work downhill, but I also didn’t put the breaks on. It suited me and I resumed my normal running pace. My Garmin beeped and I noticed the power was 10% (very frustrating considering the battery life says 11 hours). I reached the bottom (Tumble Inn) and the 75km mark in 8 hours. Before anyone could say, “Go lady!” I was faced with yet another uphill (Little Polly’s). I scanned the pack and majority of people were power walking or jogging. I walked up and ran down. I glanced at my watch… it was dead (sad). Around the same time I unmistakably felt the blister pop, on my right little toe. It’s crazy to think how much blisters and chaffing can hurt. I momentarily considered stopping to apply a band-aid but quickly changed my mind. The damage was done and my fine-motor skills had shut down at least 20km ago, so there was no point. As I hiked upwards, trying to ignore my toe, I heard a voice… it was Tshepang from the start line. We made small talk and agreed Polly Shortts was a nasty hill (especially at the 80km mark). As we spoke, I heard singing and chanting from behind. It was the 10-hour bus with a massive herd of runners. The leader of the pack would chant, count down, blow his whistle and the group would walk until he cued them to run again. Initially I didn’t take much notice but somehow I ended up tagging on to the back of the bus.
I caught the bus home –
Everything from 80km to the end was guesswork because my watch died. I knew my Garmin was clocking exactly 2km ahead of the markers. I also knew I’d attained my goal to run each 10km split in 70min or less. All I had to do was hold on! Not long after the bus caught me, I started feeling a bit grumpy. There’s no other way to describe it. I’m not sure if I was hangry, tired or just over it. But the wonderful, inspiring and encouraging supporters had become super annoying. I didn’t mind the occasional chants from the bus, because it helped to maintain some kind of rhythm. All other noise was irritating! However, I went from grumpy to grateful within minutes. I let my mind (and heart) indulge in the knowledge that I was actually going to finish my first ever Comrades marathon. I could sense tears of joy rising up… stay focused Kate, stay on the bus.
For the last few kilometres I sat on the back of the bus and trusted the driver. When he walked, I walked. When he ran, I ran. When he clapped, I clapped. As we turned the last corner we ran under the overpass and the acoustics made the 10-hour bus sound like a heavenly church choir. This is the moment I will remember when I reflect on Comrades 2019. It was my moment of JOY! Pure joy.
I was running with my tribe and soaking up all the good vibes. As we exited the other side, we pushed on as an army of runners. The crowd was going wild as the announcer introduced the sub 10-hour bus. I looked up and happened to see Carmen (finished in 9:08... well done) and Kellie. All I could do was throw my arms straight up and shout, “How good is this!”
A minute later I crossed the Pietermaritzberg finish line in 9 hours 52 minutes. Total elation! I was handed a titanium Robert Mtshali medal (He was the first unofficial black runner in 1935, finishing in 9hrs 30min).
After thoughts –
Although my report is lengthy, there’s so much I haven’t discussed like the 6,000 volunteers and Superhero-themed aid station. And the emotion – euphoria and heartbreak you witness at the finish line when 5:30pm ticks over. Or the Bruce Fordyce After Party, when I met Bruce (won Comrades 9 times), Digger (Ambassador at large), Camille Herron (won Comrades 2017 and Tarawera 100miler) and Dr. Lisa Harvey Smith (astrophysicist and ultra-runner). Or how much Comrades helps South Africa to raise money for HIV and other charities. It’s an event like no other. I’m so fortunate that I made it to the start line… and the finish line. And yes, (before you ask), I’d love to go back in 2020 to run the downhill and claim my back-to-back medal. So stay tuned for more of my running and life adventures… thanks for reading :)
