Quotes
Who's online
There are currently 0 users and 0 guests online.
August 2011
It’s time!
Winter has dealt us its worst, although we might still get the occasional cold snap, but as usual us runners prevailed! Some better than others, but it’s starting to get a bit lighter and warmer, and the familiar faces, as well as some new ones, are appearing at our training groups.
We are heading towards what I feel is the best running time of year – Spring!
There are some really nice races coming up and with some really nice quality training, you will hit the ground running and shed the winter and Comrades cobwebs all in one foul swoop!
For those intent on starting the march towards the next Comrades marathon, please remember that entries open in just over a month’s time. See below for more details.
Have a great August!!
Comrades 2012
The 2012 Comrades Marathon will take place on Sunday, 3 June 2012 and will be a “Down Run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. The race will start outside the City Hall in Albert Luthuli Street, Pietermaritzburg and finish at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban.
Entries for the 2012 Comrades Marathon open on 1 September 2011 and close on Friday 30 November 2011, at close of business, or when the cap of 18,000 entries is reached. For example: if entry numbers reach 18,000 on 7 November 2011 entries will officially close.
Entry fees for the 2012 Comrades Marathon are as follows:
• Local athletes (South African citizens) R300.00
• Rest of Africa Athletes R500.00
• International Athletes US$180.00
The CMA will offer an “early bird” special entry fee for local runners who enter between 1 September and 30 September 2011. The “early bird entry fee” will be R270.00, the same as the 2011 entry fee!
All athletes who submitted their entries by closing date of entries have until Friday, 4 May 2012 to qualify for the 2012 Comrades Marathon. The athletes will be required to submit their qualifying details (club name, license number and qualifying time) to the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg by Friday, 4 May 2012. Athletes who have successfully completed the 2011 Comrades Marathon can use their race time as the qualifying time for the 2012 Comrades Marathon.
The CMA has also approved for implementation in 2012, for the first time in its history, a Substitution Rule that would allow athletes to substitute (or replace) other athletes who entered but are no longer able to run due to injury, illness or because they were unable to qualify. The detailed substitution procedure and time period for the substitution process will be announced in due course.
The CMA urges regular Comrades athletes as well as Novices to be proactive and enter early so that they can benefit from the special early bird entry fee of R270.00 which will be available from 1 September to 30 September 2011. If athletes don’t make use of this opportunity they will have to pay the higher entry fee of R300.00 valid from 1 October to 30 November 2011.
Prospective Comrades athletes can enter for the 2012 Comrades Marathon in the following ways:
• Online Entries on the Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com
• Mr Price Sport, Home and Clothing stores countrywide.
• Postal Entries by posting the completed entry form with proof of payment to the CMA office in Pietermaritzburg: P.O. Box 100621 Scottsville, 3209.
• Comrades Marathon House: by handing the completed form together with payment, in at the Comrades Marathon office in Pietermaritzburg.
Bruce Fordyce's Top 10 Competitors
on November 30, 2010
Here is Bruce’s list of the best Comrades runners he ever ran against during 1977 -1991. This list is in no particular order.
1) Johnny Halberstadt
Johnny Halberstadt may well have been South Africa’s greatest ever distance runner. His range included a sub 4 minute mile and a 5:45 Comrades Marathon. He won every major SA road race at least once and every SA road title. His two second places in the Comrades did not do justice to his immense talent but for 3 years, from 1979 -1981 he terrified all of us and was always a major contender to win.
2) Alan Robb
Alan’s record speaks for itself: 4 wins, 12 gold medals. He was particularly lethal on the down run.
3) Hosea Tjale
With the exception of the Comrades, “Hoss” won every major South African ultra and the London to Brighton. He came desperately close to winning on a couple of occasions and earned 9 gold medals.
4) Bob de la Motte
Bob de la Motte truly believed he would win the Comrades. While other contenders hoped to win, Bob knew he would. When he didn’t, he came back the following year twice as determined. In 1986 he broke the Comrades record and still did not win. He was the most ferociously determined athlete I ever met.
5) Mark Page
One of the most talented runners to run the Comrades, Mark might well have won the 1992 Comrades had he not been struck by really bad cramps on the descent to Little Pollys.
6) Nick Bester
Nick has been the toughest runner ever to run the Comrades and probably the most talented all round sportsman. In addition to his 1991 Comrades win, he was an Ironman champion, Dusi gold medallist and mountain bike champion. It should come as no surprise to those who know Nick to learn that he was a parabat soldier.
7) Piet Vorster
It took Piet 7 years to win the Comrades but he did and with a record and against a stellar field.
8) Shaun Meiklejohn
It took Shaun even longer (13 years) to win. But all of his 22 medals are silver or gold. And in 2010 he ran a 6:45. Say no more
9) Frith Van der Merwe
Luckily I didn’t run the 1989 Comrades or Frith Van der Merwe would probably have given me a hiding. Arguably the best runner the Comrades has ever seen and the equal of most elite male runners.
10) Wally Hayward
The argument would be between Wally and Frith about who is the greatest runner. But in 1988 Wally annihilated us all in the up Comrades in a computerised handicap race. He was 3 weeks shy of his 80th birthday!
MapStudio launches interactive sports website
MapStudio, a leading publisher and distributor of maps and travel guides in South Africa, has developed a sports mapping website for the South African running community.
Known as ‘MyRoute’, this community website has been developed with the local runner in mind. “We’ve taken an international concept and brought it to our shores with some exciting new features,” says Adrian Kaplan, MapStudio Marketing Manager.
Users are able to register and create a free personal profile at www.myroute.co.za. This profile will then allow the user to plot running routes on the interactive map provided, either by zooming and scrolling to the start point on the map or by entering a town name into the predictive text search facility.
Individual race routes that have been created can then be saved and downloaded by fellow users, making this a truly interactive community platform.
The MyRoute website also boasts a comprehensive calendar of events with a list of most races taking place across South Africa. Race information can be found by using a variety of search criteria including region, date and race distance.
Race Maps & Elevation:
Race organisers have been encouraged to upload their routes, making these available to users when accessing the calendar of events.
The site also boasts a unique elevation tool which automatically calculates and illustrates the elevation profile of a route as it is drawn on the interactive map.
Phase Two:
Phase two of the MyRoute website will involve the integration of social media platforms and the launch of a calendar of events for the cycling community.
Register for free at www.myroute.co.za
Washie 100 Miler (Gigi Young)
The Washie 100 Miler isn't a race, it's a journey. A journey that involves huge commitment, support & compromises from the family; moral support from wonderful friends; and the efforts from all the people who care for me and helped me to achieve my dream goal. The journey started with my loving husband.
I met up with my other two magnificent Ironman Seconds, Noel and Julie at East London airport. Floods of support started to build up from other Washie runners such as Jimmy Parsons (10 times), Norrie Williamson, my coach Marcel and lots of e-mails, SMS messages, text, phone calls etc. From all the people who care for me so much me created a complicated mix of nervous feelings, self doubt, fear etc.
I / we have been preparing for this Journey since September 2010, when all the training events started to fall in place - Athens Classic 2500 Anniversary Marathon in October, Dubai Marathon in Jan & then the Boston Marathon in April went well to plan. Night training somewhere in the desert with my crazy friends Samantha, Rosemary, Marek, Julie and Noel capped off the LSD preparations as I trained through the hot Dubai summer in the heat. Getting up at 3 or 4am every morning, often twice a day to run hills, interval sessions, LSD and strength training in the gym (on Cybex of course!). Everything was falling into the place through the united support of my family and my running buddies Jacques, Marek, Rosemary, Samantha, Noel & Julie. The feeling was great as both mentally and physically I became prepared for the Washie - otherwise known as “The road from Hell”. I was extremely nervous but ready to face to this personal challenge!
Very unfortunately four days before the big day however I started to an abnormal pain in my hip flexor. I thought/hoped it might be just nerves and may just be a tight muscle. I told myself not to worry; rest and see how my fitness took me. My training prep had gone so well. In my mind there were only two things left - get to the Start, and get to the Finish!
One day before the race I did an easy 5 km run with the team. Noel asked me very politely, "are you ok?" he obvious saw my strides weren’t looking right! I decided to tell them honestly and we all decided to agree that it was nothing to worry about. Nobody was going to dare suggest anything just 24hrs before the race!
Throughout the week while in South Africa I was overwhelmed with the support and warmness shown by other South African runners and supporters. People I had never met before such as Jimmy Parsons and Gereld (4 times Washie) from France were so supportive. I shall never forget their kindness and encouragement. I arrived at the start area, met up with other runners and some friends of friends who happened to live in the area. We were all chatting and I started to relax. Inside me however I knew I felt a fear. Never start a race with this feeling of doubt, ever!
The raced started at 5 pm. The Race Committee had lost the “Start” banner but nobody seemed to care. The first 15km was an out and back loop without my Seconds. During this period the sun set and the African night set in. It was pitch black and I started to worry about my sense of direction. Better stick with other runners. It’s not Jumeirah here I muttered to myself! When I saw my Seconds greet me at the first meeting point I started to feel excited! My legs were not right, but I still thought and hoped it was only a stiffness that would loosen up when I got going...
Around 32km however I had a significant pain in my hip flexors. I had to be honest to my team “I am injured, but I want to carry on”. Needless to say I could see the worry on their faces. It was way too early on in the race to have this type of pain. We of course all agreed to carry on and see how I felt. As each one of my seconds switched to run alongside me I received different pep talks. They were all very sensitive to my feelings, advising me gently that IF I decided to stop, it would be fine with them; don't worry about letting the team down; it was my race and not anyone else’s..... All the words were very touching but we had still over three marathon distances to accomplish and the night was still very young! The pain got worse and worse. Obviously my team could tell how I was struggling but I gave them the “look” as they explained later that I was NOT up for stopping or giving in! When we reached the 80 km check point, I had been running steadily but slower of course than what we had planned. It was still midway through the night and the huge trucks speeding along the road forced me off the road into the ditch numerous times. Not only did I have huge hills to navigate but these damn trucks and sheering pain from my hip flexors. As the night wore on the temperatures dropped to 7ºC. The pain and the hill climbing limited me to alternate running 100m then walking 100m. This run was not getting any easier despite the brief encouragement of the African sunrise. By the time we got to the 108 km mark, my team had to start monitoring my time and pace to make sure I could make it to the 120 km mark check point in time. They calculated the time needed to eat and even gave me a hard time over my toilet breaks! By the time we got to the 120 km mark I had learnt to power walk as this relieved some of the pain in my hip flexors. My seconds calculated my time again and based on pace told me I was now about 1.5 hours ahead of the race cut off. Our revised goal was to get to the finish line between 25-26 hours. I told them that whatever happened I would run, walk & crawl to the Finish. I was not going to give up! John, Noel and Julie all looked at each other and we continued in grim silence.
With 52 km to go, it was John's turn to run/walk with me. A strong headwind pick up as we endured another 5 km long hill. The pain grew worse and I started to cry. You could see the concern on their faces! I told them I hoped this pain was temporary - Quitting would last forever! We carried on, taking every single step and grinding out the kms as my wonderful seconds walked and ran alongside me. As we got to the last 20 km we dared to dream of the finish line. Our goal seemed achievable!! We started cheering & smiling at each other! With the great support and a little bit more of determination & stubbornness.........
WE DID IT - crossing the line at 24hr31min!! I mustered enough energy running through the finishing line amid cheers of encouragement.
We all had a big hug, kisses, tears..... my feelings were very complicated, mixed with pain, exhaustion, excitement, appreciation then I looked at the faces of these 3 wonderful people, wondering what I have done to have them in my life. What they had been through for last 24 hours, they have done whatever the best they could to get me through this toughest day to make sure I achieved my DREAM GOAL! My Seconds made the impossible goal possible.
The highlight of the trip was the prize giving on the following Sunday morning and the chance to meet with all the other runners and sharing the experiences of this epic run. When the race organizers called out my name for the trophy the applause was overwhelming. They don’t have many non S African runners running the Washie, especially from Dubai. Later I was interviewed by the local newspaper. The cheering & the greetings were unexpected! I felt it was a shame nobody mentioned the top job of my seconds!!! The trophy should be shared among the four of us.
The joy and sense of achievement I felt at that time will last with me forever!
Special thanks to:
My very dear husband for his unlimited loving support in every way I can think of.
My two wonderful Ironman Seconds, Noel & Julie for their amazing friendship & sportsmanship. They made the trip to S Africa specially to support me - words cannot express how much I appreciate them.
My Coach Marcel Viljoen for his professional coaching, mental preparation and encouragement to get me to this event.
My family, their love and support; their compromises to help me reach this goal.
All my friends & running buddies in Dubai and S Africa, some had helped me out to beat the heat, ran overnight or got up for my 4 am runs. We received over 100 text messages before and during the race!
Without any of the above, I doubt I would have made the finish line.
It is now 6 pm Sunday evening, I am sitting in the ice-bath (again) and it’s a chilly 12ºC outside. Despite the cold and pain I am still feeling very contented and very proud with my trophy! :-)
