Now, for those of you who are not in the running world is the world’s biggest ultra marathon. Ultra being the operative word. It is a grand total of 89kms which is 56 miles. I’m not sure what exactly it is that drives someone to run a regular marathon, but that alone is an impressive act and then to run distances beyond that is beyond words.
2010 Comrades details:
Date: Sunday, 29 May 2011
Start: 05h30 in Durban
Finish: 17h30 in Pietermaritzburg
Distance: 89km – 56 miles
A bit of background info on Commrades…this was the 85th year. It started as a group of runner friends daring each other to run between the cities Pietermaritzberg and Durban. The race, which was named for the acts of friendship and camaraderie found among the competitors eventually evolved to include local runners and eventually was opened up to the rest of the running world…typically there are around 14,000 runners.
The direction of the race alternates each year between the two cities Durban and Pietermaritzburg. As the World Cup 2010 “Feel it, it is here” adverts say, it is a special year for South Africa not only for the World Cup, but it was also Comrades 85th year so they extended the entries to 20,000 runners. This year also marked the first time that the run was held going from PMB to Durbs in two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010. They did this so it could end near the new Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Comrades runs through the valley of 1000 Hills, literally hill after hill after hill after hill which makes the run that much more daunting and impressive. Around the half way point on Old Main Road there is a wall of Honor commemorating the runners (I get to drive by it every time I go to 1000 Hills Community Center which is also located along the marathon route.
Watching Comrades was an event in itself. Although the race runs right by our house we decided to watch it from a neighboring town, Kloof alongside friends and family of our friend Richard who ran the race. In order to drive to Kloof, which is maybe 5 minutes away we had to wake up at 5am and be off of our road by 5:30; judging by the blockades that I sweet talked a policeman into moving, 5:30 was a time we narrowly made.
Unfortunately a few days prior my roommate Mary-Kate had her appendix out. She caught it early, the hospital is private and very nice (not some dirt hole in the ground like I’m sure you are thinking), she is doing very very well, but on Comrades morning she wasn’t feeling up to leaving the house so I went with our friends Adam and Andrew. Richards sister Claire did an outstanding job organizing our friends, food and festivities in honor of Rich!
As we settled in along side the 27k to go sign I couldn’t help but be overcome by emotions. The day in itself can be summed up in one world moving. I have never been so moved by witnessing a sporting event before. The amount of runners alone was a sight to behold and the atmosphere was one of complete support, proving the name Comrades to be a kind reality.
The winner won with a time of 5 hours 29 minutes.
I saw runners of all kinds; young and old, some fit and healthy others a bit over weight, some outfitted in barely there running apparel, others wearing outrageous costumes (two in Rhinoceros costumes, Superman and Batman, a man in a full three piece suite) twins, siblings, husband and wife and then Richard.
I started tearing up when I saw Rich. I was so impressed. As I mentioned before I have never been so moved by physical activity before. I was and still am so proud of him.
Comrades is an experience that I will never forget. Is is something that is so South Africa specific that running will be so closely linked with South Africa and my time here.
Rich’s finishing time was 9 hours 30mins and 26 seconds
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