My Comrades Silver Medal

For Keith Reynolds the 2011 Comrades marathon was always going to be special.  Sure he has got a double green number, but after 23 attempts something was still missing from his medal collection.  This is his story.
Start of the event
I got to the start relaxed after having arranged a lift with other runners that were staying in the rooms next to us.  Only issue was fighting my way through to the tog bag area – minor. Started at the right pace (not too fast but not slow).  I was prepared to lose time on the bigger hills knowing that I could comfortably keep to and below the average on the flat and downhill sections.  Decided to stick with Energade and supplement with potatoes and bananas based on the fact that this was what I used when I ran my (previous) best time in 1989 and I didn’t have any problem then (no other gels or anything like that).
Middle of the event
Kept focused on enjoying the race, reminding myself that all the work had already been done (2055km from Jan) and that the interim Goals such as a sub 3 hour marathon had been achieved (my motto for the year was “believe to achieve - achieve to believe”).  Most of all I reminded myself to trust the program (coach).  I gained around 5 minutes in the first third of the race and went through halfway ahead of schedule and feeling very fresh.  Didn’t really take note of it but knew I was leaving many athletes behind.
Gained another 5 minutes on the second third of the race and knew that I was going to make the time regardless of what happened.
End of the event
(Last third) I “knew” I was the first runner for the second biggest club in the country (Irene).  This was one award I hadn’t ever achieved before (including while at much smaller clubs).  I also knew that I wasn’t prepared to throw my race chasing this prize but rather focused on the main goal. It was amazing passing the supporters tent in the club lead with 25 km to go.  Saw my wife at around 15km from the end but was in a good stride and barely greeted (but acknowledged).  Felt a twinge of cramp at about 13 to go and worked out that I had enough time to manage a walk/run strategy to the end.  Took my time up Polly’s with the slowest 2km of the day but wasn’t stressed about it at all, knowing that I had more than enough time available and hit cruise control to the finish.
What did I enjoy most about the event?
1) Having the inner “knowledge” that the goal was very realistic and not one just hoped for.
2) How “easy” the hills became despite having very little hill training (Saudi Arabia is very flat)
3) Being able to run comfortably at 4:30 m/km pace during the final kilometre!
Goals for next year?
Get the “Down” silver!