They call it The Ultimate Human Race. And after running 90 kilometres from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, I can confidently say: they’re not exaggerating. It’s brutal, beautiful, humbling, exhilarating – and utterly unforgettable.
The day began at 3am in our hotel room with a bowl of oats and that particular brand of pre-race nerves: part excitement, part dread. At 4:30am, Kai dropped me near the start.
I was in the age-group elite category, which meant access to the City Hall – real toilets, a quiet warm-up area, and comfy chairs. A rare privilege – it really helped to calm the nerves!
At 5:15, we were lined up like schoolchildren: women on the left, men on the right. We were led to our start pen – just in front of Batch B – and stood waiting in the dark.
Then the real elites came out, and with them, South Africa’s running queen, Gerda Steyn. The crowd roared. I was only a few feet behind her, starstruck and trying not to gawp. How is this my life?
Then came the traditional sequence: the national anthem, followed by Shosholoza, sung by 21’000 runners. A short video of that beautiful moment is here. I can’t explain what it’s like to stand there in the dark, shoulder to shoulder with strangers, singing a song of encouragement in Ndebele and Zulu. This was, without doubt, the most memorable start line I’ve ever experienced. A wave of goosebumps swept over me, and I felt the sting of tears rising.
Then Chariots of Fire started playing, two rooster crows rang out over the loudspeakers, the gun fired – and we were off.
Well, sort of. What really happened is that I was immediately swallowed whole by the masses. Batch B surged past me. Then C. Then D. Thousands of runners, all with more enthusiasm than spatial awareness. It was still pitch dark and the first few kilometres were just about survival – don’t fall, don’t trip, don’t get steamrolled.
I stuck to my plan: marathon pace plus a minute, which meant around 5:35/km. I had no idea what all these other people were doing – maybe they were all secret 2:30 marathoners? Or maybe they’d all blow up by halfway. Time would tell.
At kilometre 8, the chaos eased. The sun began to rise and for the first time, I looked around. We were running along quiet country roads, surrounded by rolling hills, trees, fields, and the occasional farmhouse. It was rural, scenic, peaceful – and for a brief moment, everything felt okay.
At kilometre 10, I heard someone calling my name and turned to see Graham and William from my running club. We had done a big training run together, and now here they were, looking strong. Too strong. They pulled ahead, and I wished them well. Post-race, I’d find out I overtook them at some point, without noticing. That’s Comrades: long enough for surprise plot twists.
Around that time, the supporters started to appear in full force. Camping chairs, coolers, boom boxes, vuvuzelas, and – of course – braais. I smelled more sizzling meat on that road than I’ve ever smelled in my life. South Africans take their roadside barbecuing very seriously and the braai smoke was everywhere.
The crowd support was mind-blowing. I thought the scream tunnel in Boston was intense – but Comrades felt like a 90km scream tunnel. People lined every road, every hill, every corner. They cheered, sang, danced. They encouraged everyone, constantly.
We officially had 47 aid stations, but actually, there were hundreds. Spectators offered oranges, water, Coke, ice, baby potatoes, salt, sweets and wet sponges. Even beer! You could have skipped every official table and still eaten your way to Durban.
At the halfway mark (45 km), the race was changing. People were slowing, walking the aid stations, walking the hills. And oh, the hills. This was billed as a “down run”, but that’s a lie by omission. Yes, the finish is lower than the start – but in between, there’s 1,140 metres of ascent (and 1,778 metres of quad-shattering descent).
I wanted to run every hill as long as I could, to keep my rhythm. At halfway, I checked my watch – 4:07. I had hoped for 4 hours flat. That meant an 8:15 finish was slipping. But 8:30? Still possible. Maybe.
Then I ran into the first bus, as the South Africans call pacing groups. About 100 runners spread across the road, run-walking in perfect unison. Their leader – the “bus driver” – held a South African flag and counted loudly to signal pace changes: “Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” Everyone counted with him in chorus. It was very impressive.
For a moment, I considered joining them. It looked warm and cosy in there. But I had my own rhythm, so I squeezed passed them on the outside.
At kilometre 60, trouble started. My legs hurt, my energy dipped, and I started latching onto stronger runners, trying to keep up. I walked my first hill – it felt like a defeat. I was in grim survival mode now.
But this is where the Comrades spirit really shines. Strangers – spectators and fellow runners – encouraged me at every step. “You’ve got this, lady!” “Go, Mami, go!” (Mami is a respectful, affectionate term here.) The shouting and cheering was now at a frenetic crescendo, the spectators were giving it their all.
Carried by their enthusiasm and energy, the kilometres ticked down. One foot in front of the other.
Also – genius move – the kilometre signs count down. Seeing “30 km to go” instead of “60 km done” makes a surprising psychological difference. The signs kept dropping. 20… 15… 10…
At “8 km to go,” we joined the motorway into Durban – completely closed to traffic. I saw the stadium in the distance. I checked my Garmin. I could still get in under 8:30, if I ran hard and if there were no more hills.
My legs responded. Final kilometres: 5:15/km. Pain everywhere, but that goal pulled me like a magnet. I saw the finish line. I heard Kai shouting my name. I saw the finish line photographers, which were our friends, Andi and Andrea. The crowds were ecstatic and so was I!
Then the final step over the finish line. 8:26. Done!
I stumbled into Kai’s arms. I was so, so happy. There was nothing else left and nothing more needed.
Final stats: I finished as 11th out of 560 in my age group (50-59) and 142nd woman out of 3,562 women who finished the race. Here are the overall stats:
After the race, we went on an 8-day hike with Andi and Andrea – but that’s an epic adventure for another post! Stay tuned!
I’m joining Runs with Pugs and The Running Teacher’s link-up, Tuesday Topics. I’m also joining Runner’s Roundup with Mile By Mile, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner and Runs with Pugs.
Wow, wow, wow !!! Was für ein Abenteuer !! In welcher Zeit !!! Dann noch die sagenhafte Platzierung – wirklich Abenteuer pur !!
Dass du das schaffen würdest, daran hatte ich keinerlei Zweifel und war richtig begeistert, als ich von deiner Zeit las !! Alles richtig gemacht, kannst so stolz auf dich sein, liebe Catrina, und das Gefühl im Zieleinlauf nimmt dir keiner, das Schönste, was es gibt, ich kann es so gut nachempfinden !!
Nochmals ganz herzlichen Glückwunsch zu dieser Herausforderung, die du mit Bravour wieder einmal geschafft hast !!!
Windige Grüße von ganz oben🏆💐
Ganz herzlichen Dank für deine begeisterten Worte – das freut mich riesig!
Ja, es war wirklich ein Abenteuer – körperlich, mental, emotional… und der Zieleinlauf war tatsächlich das Allerbeste. Ich bin froh, dass ich durchgezogen habe – und stolz, dass es geklappt hat. Das Gefühl kennst du ja bestens, liebe Margitta.
Wir sind heute Morgen in Zürich angekommen – hier ist es sommerlich warm, ein schöner Kontrast zum regnerisch-kalten Süden 😄
Ganz liebe Grüsse in den Norden und nochmals danke für deine lieben Zeilen!
🏃♀️☀️
Wow, sehr starke Leistung. Danke für deinen tollen Bericht. Da hast du ja gut durchgezogen. Mit dem Ergebnis kannst du durchaus zufrieden sein.
Ich hab gestern ein Video auf YouTube vom diesjährigen Lauf gesehen und musste an dich denken. Was ein Zufall, dass du heute deinen Bericht veröffentlicht hast. Na jedenfalls hatte der gute Junge im Video mehr Trouble unterwegs – da warst du besser drauf.
Ob das was für mich wäre? Ich glaube nicht. Ich mags eigentlich lieber ruhiger. Berlin war schon hart an der Grenze, aber das hier toppt wohl alles.
Danke, Martin – freut mich sehr, dass du meinen Bericht gelesen hast!
Ja, es war hart, aber auch unvergesslich. Und erstaunlich, wie gut an vielen Stellen doch alles funktioniert hat – da hatte ich definitiv Glück im Vergleich zu dem armen Kerl im YouTube-Video 😅
Und übrigens: du hast ja Rennsteig gemacht – das ist auch kein Sonntagsspaziergang! Wer den meistert, hätte beim Comrades bestimmt auch gute Karten. Aber klar, es ist laut, voll, emotional – ruhig ist da wirklich nichts. Wenn dir Berlin schon gereicht hat, dann ist Comrades vielleicht eher was für die Bucket List unter “einmal und nie wieder”. 😉
Liebe Grüsse aus dem sommerlichen Zürich!
I’m so impressed by how strong you are, and you certainly fit in the elite category! I actually forgot to follow your track link but checked your finish time afterwards. 8.26 is really, really good. And 149th woman!! Big congratulations!
Your way of recovery (the 8 day hike) is a statement too. What?! Most people would lie flat after running 90 km! I love how you’re rocking life though!
Thank you so much, Susanne! That means a lot coming from you, the strength professional!
I was definitely trying my best to live up to the age group “elite” label! 😄
I’m glad you saw the finish time in the end – 8:26 felt like a small miracle. And I was happy with the 149th place – it’s surprising to me how many did not finish the race, as there was a 12 hour cap.
As for the “recovery hike”… oh, I nearly died on that first day, my legs were soooo tired. But everyone was very supportive, and movement seemed to be the best way to get rid of the soreness. 😉
Big hug and thanks again!
Was für ein Abenteuer! Was für ein aussergewöhnliches Rennen! Und vor allem: was für ein großartiges Ergebnis!! Dich während des Rennens live zu tracken und mitzufiebern ist das eine, aber so einen emotionalen Bericht zu lesen noch mal was ganz anderes. Shosholoza gemeinsam an der Startlinie singen… ich hätte geheult 🙂
Das Rennen kann ich sehr sehr gut nachvollziehen, irgendwann schmerzt eben alles, trotzdem bist du in einem irren Tempo weitergerannt, klar gibts Gehpausen, aber klar gehts danach auch weiter. Du hast dein Ding gemacht, dein Tempo, dein Plan, alles genau richtig.
Einfach toll und sehr beeindruckend, herzlichen Glückwunsch nochmal!
Danke dir, Oliver – dein Kommentar hat mich richtig gefreut!
Ja, es war ein Abenteuer – und Shosholoza am Start zu singen war wirklich ein Gänsehautmoment. Ich hatte auch mit den Tränen zu kämpfen… und dabei hatte das Rennen noch nicht mal angefangen!
Du kennst das ja selbst nur zu gut – irgendwann tut einfach alles weh, und trotzdem macht man weiter, weil’s eben genau darum geht. Dein Satz „klar gibts Gehpausen, aber klar gehts danach auch weiter“ trifft es perfekt. Genau das war mein Mantra ab km 60: weiter, egal wie.
Danke fürs Mitfiebern – und für deine netten Worte! Bei dir stehen ja auch noch Abenteuer an – vor allem ein SEHR grosses nächstes Jahr! 😃🙌
Liebe Catrina,
ah, endlich der Bericht zum Rennen. Aber erst nochmals gaaanz herzliche Gratulation zu deinem Lauf mit einem grandiosen Finish! Durchgehalten, angepeilte Zeit erreicht, einfach nur WOW!
Wir hatten virtuell mitgefiebert. Ich habe immer wieder mal in Google Earth angeschaut, wie so deine Strecke gerade aussieht, natürlich ohne all die Menschen, so hatten wir einen ungefähren optischen Eindruck zusätzlich. Danke für all die Eindrücke, die du uns nun gibst. Das muss ja wirklich eine unvergessliche Atmosphäre sein. Shosholoza kannte ich noch nicht, aber auch mir machte es Gänsehaut, wie mag das erst im Moment vor dem Start gewesen sein?
Kai hatte ein Video von der Autobahn geschickt! Ach du mein Heimatland, was war DAS denn? Und du musstest auch nicht mit den 2 Gramm Kartoffeln auskommen, dank der vielen Versorgungsangebote unterwegs. Mir scheint, dieser Lauf ist nicht nur für die Läufer ein Riesending, auch fürs Publikum.
Ich hoffe, du konntest dich anschließend gut erholen. Wahrscheinlich schwirren die Eindrücke immer noch in deinem Kopf herum, von diesem Abenteuer. Richtig so, bewahre dir möglichst viel davon, davon zehrt man lange. Wer solch eine Lauf so bravourös hinter sich bringt, dem braucht nichts mehr Angst zu machen!
Liebe Grüße
Elke
Liebe Elke,
vielen lieben Dank für deine Glückwünsche und deinen so herzlichen Kommentar!
Und wie schön, dass ihr mitgefiebert habt – ich habe das auf Threema nach dem Lauf gesehen, das hat mich total gefreut! Dass du dir sogar die Strecke in Google Earth angeschaut hast, finde ich grandios – auch wenn die Menschenmassen, der Grillrauch und die hupenden Autos natürlich fehlen 😉
Shosholoza am Start war wirklich ein Moment für die Ewigkeit – Gänsehaut pur. Und danach ging’s dann richtig los… inklusive das Parkieren auf der Autobahn… welcome to South Africa! 😅
Mit Verpflegung wurde nicht gegeizt – Kartoffeln, Cola, Wasser, Chips, Eiswürfel… und wenn man wollte, sicher auch ein T-Bone Steak. Dieser Lauf ist wirklich ein Volksfest für ALLE – ganze Land scheint zu wissen, wann, wo und was der Comrades ist, nicht nur Läufer.
Ich bin inzwischen wieder ganz gut erholt, aber du hast völlig recht: das Ganze hallt noch nach, und das darf es auch. So ein Erlebnis trägt man lange mit sich.
Danke dir nochmal von Herzen fürs Dabeisein, Mitfiebern und deine lieben Worte!
Liebe Grüsse aus dem warmen Zürich!
Wow Catrina, wow!!!
I’ve never heard the Chariots of Fire theme at a race. How perfect.
I can’t wait to hear about the hike!
Thank you so much, Birchie!
Yes, Chariots of Fire at the start – right after Shosholoza and the national anthem – was absolute perfection. Spine-tingling, emotional, and somehow exactly what you need before tackling 90 km.
Oooh, and the hike? Coming soon! Let’s just say… recovery is a loose term 😅 Stay tuned!
Congratulations 🎊 without a doubt. I see that is indeed a puny medal. I guess that is the irony! Huge distance puny medal 😅💦💦💦
I see that after times were finally calculated you finished 11th. Amazing work & yes you earned that spot on the real toilet!😅💦💦💦
I agree that start line ceremony was special and meant to inspire. Yeah, you likely passed most of those peeps who stampeded at the start. Great effort and great result! And then you went hiking!😅💦💦💦 Of course. No rest for you😅
Nice summary and one of your best blog entries! Nicely written.
Haha, thank you so much!!
Yes, the medal-to-distance ratio is completely out of whack. I think they’re trying to teach us humility 😅 I just saw the Boston medal again here in our flat in Zurich – the Comrades one is so NOT impressive beside it. But I’ll take it, puny or not! 😂
That start line was really something, right? Pure drama and inspiration – followed by a stampede of overambitious runners I definitely saw again later… walking. 😉
And yep, what’s a good recovery plan? Apparently, an 8-day hike! Rest days are for sensible people 😅 I can’t wait to write about that one…. we had some issues with our overnight stays which are quite funny (but only in hindsight… 😄)
Thanks again, Yves – your comment made me laugh, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the post!
What an amazing race! I can’t imagine the crowd for 8 hours: I recall at the end of the marathon, I would be so annoyed by any noise. Hahaha that’s why you are with the elites! Well done and so inspired!
What’s your recovery routine? I feel getting slower with recovery these days. Would love to learn from you.
Thank you so much, Coco!
Yes, the crowd support was incredible – but I totally get what you mean. Around hour seven, even the cheering started to feel… loud 😅 Still, it was better than silence – I’d probably have curled up on the side of the road otherwise!
As for recovery: I definitely notice it’s getting slower as I get older. Gone are the days of bouncing back in 48 hours! This time, the hike actually helped – slow, gentle movement eased the muscle soreness way more than just sitting around would’ve. But I still feel the fatigue deep down… it’s a long one to shake off.
Liebe Catrina,
danke für diesen Post! Es war ja schon von zuhause aus zuzuschauen spannend und toll, aber dein Bericht macht das ganze noch viel direkter nachvollziehbar. Für mich ist deine Leistung einfach grandios und unvorstellbar und ich gratuliere dir noch mal dazu! ♥
Du bist da wirklich DEIN Rennen gelaufen, mit Blick auf die Pace, mit super vorbereiteten Beinen und ab km 60 auch mit ganz viel Kopf und Willen. Ich habe beim tracken auch irgendwann mal das Gefühl gehabt, jetzt “riechst” du schon das Ziel und das zieht dich quasi an und du beschreibst es ganz ähnlich.
Ich hoffe, die Wanderung war in deiner Erholungsphase gut machbar für dich und du konntest schon aktiv regenerieren! 🙂
Liebe Doris,
vielen lieben Dank für deine wunderbaren Worte – das hat mich richtig gefreut!
Es ist so schön zu wissen, dass du mitgefiebert hast – und wie du das mit dem „Ziel riechen“ beschreibst, passt perfekt! Ab einem gewissen Punkt war es tatsächlich nicht mehr die Energie in den Beinen, sondern nur noch der Kopf, der gesagt hat: Da vorne ist es. Jetzt hörst du nicht mehr auf.
Ja, ich bin wirklich mein eigenes Rennen gelaufen – genau wie geplant, solange es ging… und danach einfach weiter 😅
Die Wanderung war tatsächlich eine gute Art der „aktiven Regeneration“ – langsam bewegen, viel frische Luft, kein Druck. Hat gutgetan – obwohl wir am Anfang einige Krisen zu bewältigen hatten…🤪
Danke dir nochmals von Herzen fürs Dabeisein und deine lieben Zeilen – ganz herzliche Grüsse aus dem warmen Zürich!
PS: und ich hatte schon Pipi in den Augen, als ich nur das Video vom Start mit Shosholoza sah. Wenn ich vor Ort gewesen wäre, hätte mich das wohl voll erwischt!
😂 Ich habe es heute meinen Eltern vorgespielt, sie waren genauso gerührt!
Danke nochmals vielmals, dass du mich darauf aufmerksam gemacht hast! 🤗❤
Wow. I am speechless.
You are a running goddess.
What’s next? lol
Haha, thank you, Darlene!
I definitely didn’t feel like a goddess somewhere around kilometre 67… more like a limping mortal just trying to stay upright 😅
As for what’s next – good question! Something a little less extreme first… and then maybe I’ll start plotting the next madness. London Marathon’s still on the dream list! 😉
Wow what an accomplishment! Huge congrats to you on an epic achievement
Thank you so much, Deborah!
It really was epic – equal parts pain, joy, and disbelief that I actually made it to the finish line. Definitely an experience I’ll never forget! 😊
Wow! I am simply awestruck! This sounds l Ike quite an event, and your performance is quite phenomenal. All the start line excitement was a great preview of all that was waiting for you. Your strength and perseverance are amazing, Catrina! Congrats on everything!!!
Thank you so much, Kim!
The start line set the tone perfectly – goosebumps, emotions, and a healthy dose of “what have I gotten myself into?” 😅 From there, it was just grit, crowd energy, and a stubborn refusal to stop. I’m still processing it all – but so grateful I got to experience it!
What an incredible experience and that finishing time/place – wowza!
I had to chuckle both at the size of the medal AND the fact you capped off such an exhausting physical activity with EIGHT DAYS OF HIKING!
Huge congrats on the whole thing. I’m a newbie reader of your blog, but I could get used to epic recaps like this 🙂 (As I literally, this minute, sit on my couch in air conditioning reading blogs while eating potato chips – *facepalm*)
Thank you so much, Elisabeth – so happy you found the way to the blog! 😊
Your comment made me laugh – especially because I love potato chips and would’ve happily traded a few aid station potatoes for a bag of salt & vinegar crisps mid-race 😄
And yes, the medal is absurdly tiny… I’m convinced it’s a test of character. “Run 90 km and get a coin. Smile anyway.” 😂
The 8-day hike afterwards was perhaps not the brightest idea, but oddly enough, the slow movement helped with recovery (eventually… after some stiff hobbling on the first day).
So glad you enjoyed the recap – more madness to come, I’m sure!
Zunächst möchte ich hochoffiziell zu den staunend-begeisterten Glückwünschen *auf die Knie sinkend* 🧎♀️ für diese unglaubliche Zielzeit mit Rang weit, weit vorne einen dicken virtuellen Blumenstrauß überreichen 💐
Es liest sich nach einem faszinierenden Lauf – der ergooglete Shosholoza-Rhythmus sehr besonders und atmosphärisch gänsehäutend 😉 Alles in allem für dich schätzungsweise ohnehin bereichernder als Worte es hier und überhaupt ausdrücken könnten.
Haha, Lizzy, dein kniender virtueller Blumenstrauss hat mich zum Schmunzeln gebracht – ganz, ganz lieben Dank dafür! 💐🧎♀️
Ja, dieser Lauf war wirklich eine Erfahrung, die kaum in Worte zu fassen ist – so überwältigend, so voll von Eindrücken, Schmerz, Freude, Erschöpfung und dieser ganz besonderen Energie.
Und Shosholoza… einfach Gänsehaut pur. Wenn 21’000 Menschen gleichzeitig singen, und man steht da im Dunkeln kurz vor dem Start – das ist schon fast spirituell. Und ein ganz bisschen tränende Äuglein. 😊
Danke dir von Herzen für deine so netten Worte!
I have so been looking forward to your recap, Catrina, and it didn’t disappoint! I felt I was right there beside you the whole way (maybe I could have kept up if I was on my bike). What a rockstar Kai was to be there for you all day – that’s a long day even for the support crew. The crowd sounds absolutely fabulous, and I’m sure their enthusiasm rubbed off on the runners. Congratulations on a job well done!
Thank you so much, Debbie!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recap – though let’s be honest, if you had been on your bike, you’d have zoomed ahead, scouted the aid stations, and still had time for snacks! 😄
And yes, Kai was a total star that day. It’s easy to forget how long and exhausting it is for the support crew too – he earned his own (invisible) medal!
The crowd really was something else – like a 90km-long energy boost. I don’t think I would’ve kept moving without them!
Thanks again for following along and cheering from afar – and enjoy Utah, can’t wait for THAT recap! 😊
Wow, what a race! You really pushed through and finished so strong! It sounds like an amazing experience. Congratulations!!
Thank you so much, Lisa!
It really was an incredible experience – tough beyond belief, but also unbelievably rewarding. That finish line felt like pure magic (and a big relief 😅).
Liebe Catrina,
auch hier nochmal: HERZLICHEN GLÜCKWUNSCH!!! Grandios gemeistert, BRAVO!!!
… und die Zeit ist nochmal eine andere Nummer, auch die Platzierung (AK und gesamt) ist ebenfalls super!!! – (Ich beneide dich ein wenig, ob deiner Abenteuer! 😆 )
Am Start Shosholoza zu singen ist bestimmt toll und ein wenig spirituell, wie du schreibst. Dafür müsste man ja sogar den Text lernen! 😉 – Ich glaube, mich hätte das auch mitgenommen!
Vielen, vielen Dank für den mitreißenden Bericht, der nochmal was ganz anderes ist, als ein Tracker, oder ein Blick auf die virtuelle Karte und wo du dich gerade bewegst! Ich konnte nicht von Anfang an dabei sein, dafür habe ich dann umso intensiver mitgefiebert. Wir haben uns auf Threema auch gegenseitig informiert, sind drangeblieben … aber das konntest du ja nachlesen!
… und bis 60 km lief es mehr als ordentlich, alles weitere ist ja dann Kopfsache … und da warst du erwartet stark! – Du weißt ja, nach einem Tief kommt wieder ein Hoch und das nicht aufs Profil bezogen!!! 🙂
Also vielen Dank nochmal für die vertiefenden Einblicke in dieses faszinierende Abenteuer!
Inzwischen hast du auch ein Stück aktive Erholung hinter dir! Ich bin sehr gespannt auf deinen Bericht über eure Wanderung! – Wir sehen und hören uns (nächste Woche)?!
In der Hoffnung, dass ihr in Zürich nicht ganz so unter der Hitze (mit hoher Luftfeuchte) leiden müsst liebe Grüße Manfred
Lieber Manfred,
ganz herzlichen Dank für deinen grossartigen Kommentar – ich habe mich wirklich riesig darüber gefreut!
Ja, es war ein echtes Abenteuer, in jeder Hinsicht. Körperlich natürlich, aber auch mental. Vor allem nach Kilometer 60 war klar: jetzt läuft nichts mehr „von selbst“ – da war dann wirklich der Kopf gefragt. Und zum Glück war der wach genug 😅
Dass ihr so mitgefiebert habt – auch über Threema – habe ich am Abend im Hotel gesehen, und das hat mich sehr berührt. Es ist ein schönes Gefühl zu wissen, dass da Menschen mitfiebern, mitdenken und sich freuen – danke dafür!
Shosholoza am Start war tatsächlich etwas Besonderes – eine Mischung aus Gänsehaut, Rührung und leichtem Lampenfieber. Den Text konnte ich noch nicht – den habe ich später mal angeschaut, es wäre ganz einfach gewesen, man muss nur ein paar Wörter lernen. Aber das Gefühl am Start kam trotzdem an! 🥰
Die Wanderung war eine gute Form der “aktiven Regeneration”, auch wenn die Beine am ersten Tag anderer Meinung waren – das kennst du ja bestens aus eigener Erfahrung. 😅Und ja, inzwischen sind wir wieder in Zürich angekommen, wo es tatsächlich ziemlich warm ist. Heute zum Glück mit Regen und Gewitter – endlich kühler!
Genau, bis am Dienstag! Ich freue mich! Bis dahin, liebe Grüsse aus Zürich!
Yay! I’m so happy to read your recap and was hooked on every word.
It sounds like you were able to enjoy/appreciate the race while still meeting your goal. That’s harder than just suffering through.
LOL on the net downhill being a lie — so true!
And to go for a hiking trip after??? You are amazing !
Thank you so much, Coco! 😊
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recap – and yes, I really did try to soak it all in while still keeping an eye on the watch. Definitely a fine line between “present in the moment” and “please let this hill be the last one!” 😅
A friend had warned me about the hills on the net downhill but I didn’t really take it seriously…. aaah, I should have paid more attention!! My quads were not amused, ha!
As for the hike… the first day was tough, but it ended up being the perfect (if unconventional) recovery. 🙌😃
Wait wait wait… and 8 day hike after an 8+ hour race? You are superwoman!
Congratulations, Catrina! You did so amazing and worked so hard! I’m so glad you had such an incredible and positive experience. Your photos look so gorgeous and you are beaming in so many photos!
Potatoes as a hand out? Sign me right up!
Haha, thank you, Jenn!!
Yes, an 8-day hike right after 90 km of running… clearly, I make very bold recovery choices 😅 But oddly enough, slow walking helped more than I expected (though my legs needed a serious pep talk on day one!).
I’m so glad the joy came through in the photos, it really was an unforgettable experience. Hard as nails, but somehow still full of magic.
And yes! Potatoes! Warm, soft, straight into your hand. No plate, no fork, just carbs and hope. You would’ve loved it! 😄
Wow! So many things to say here. CONGRATULATIONS!! A huge hug too! I love your recap and I felt like I was there with you. Thank you for always sharing these experiences with us. An 8 day hike? 🙂
Thank you so much, Zenaida! 🤗
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recap – it means a lot to know you were “along for the run” in spirit!
And yes… an 8-day hike. Probably not the standard recovery plan, but it turned out to be the perfect mix of movement, nature, and “what was I thinking?” moments 😅
Big hug back – and thanks again for being part of this crazy journey!
What an adventure! Obviously, no one does it for that medal. 😂Congratulations! And knowing you did an 8 day hike afterwards is even more impressive. Or crazy. 🙂
What was the weather like? I always visualized Comrades as a sludge through the heat but it looks pretty decent.
Thank you so much, Debbie! 😊
Haha, definitely not about the medal! That little coin-on-a-ribbon is almost comical after 90 km… but somehow, it still means the world. 😂
As for the 8-day hike… Let’s call it “active recovery with questionable timing.” 😄 But I must say, I already felt better on the 2nd day.
The weather was actually perfect – sunny, clear skies, but not too hot. Cool in the morning, and it never got uncomfortably warm during the day. I’d also expected a sweaty heatfest, but we really got lucky. It made a huge difference!
CATRINA. You did AMAZING!!!!!!! What a cool experience. I’ve read about this race- heard all about the crowd support and the “busses.” 11th in your AG is impressive for such a prestigious race! I’m glad you had such a great experience.
And what is this about a hike? Can’t wait to hear all about it!
Thank you so much, Jenny!! 😊
Yes, what a wild, unforgettable experience. The crowds, the buses, the sheer scale of it all… I’d read about it too, but being in it was next level.
And at some point during the race, I thought of your trail ultra – and was very, very glad I only had tarred roads to deal with! 😅 No roots, no rocks, no sandy ditches… just 90 relentless kilometres of asphalt!
11th in my AG still feels surreal, I was so happy. Oh, and the hike… the first day was quite bad, but it got better after that. Can’t wait to share more!
Wow! I came here from Elisabeth’s blog and I am drinking my coffee and staring off into the distance. NINETY KILOMETRES! In EIGHT HOURS AND TWENTY SIX MINUTES. I mean. I can hardly believe such an accomplishment is even possible! This is amazing!
Thank you so much, Nicole!
I’m smiling at the image of you sitting there, coffee in hand, quietly trying to process the madness of 90 km… trust me, I’m still staring off into the distance too, wondering how it all actually happened 😅
It was brutal and beautiful – one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that somehow felt both impossible and exactly right.
So glad you stopped by! And thank you again for the kind words!
I’ve been stalking your blog since Comrades, waiting for your recap and somehow, I missed it until now! Still, it was worth the wait. What an amazing accomplishment and I am so proud to say I know you. Sounds like such a tough race–it shows how tough you are to dig deep and push to the finish. Besides all that, the experience is once in a lifetime. How special! Congrats Catrina!!
Thank you so much, Wendy! 😊
Haha, yes, the recap took its sweet time, didn’t it? Thanks for your perseverance with the stalking! I needed a few weeks to process and part of it was the 8-day hike I somehow thought was a good recovery plan 😅
It really was the toughest race I’ve ever done – and somehow also the most uplifting. Digging deep became the only option, especially in those last 30 km, but the atmosphere carried me through.
I’m so grateful for your support and so glad we’re connected. Thank you again for cheering me on! 💛
What a magnificent race Katrina! I feel like I just ran it with you. Oh those climbs sound so challenging. I can just imagine the fatigue you experienced and the perseverance it took to power through. What an amazing accomplishment. The tiny medal makes me smile. Medals have gotten so huge and gaudy here in the states, it’s sort of refreshing to see something much more subdued, especially relative to such a difficult race.
IF you are available at all on Saturday morning (July 5) I’d love to meet for a quick coffee. I believe we leave for Basel at 11am. If not no worries!
Congrats again on an amazing race!
Thank you so much, Marcia! 😊
I’m so glad the recap pulled you in. It really was a race like no other. The climbs were no joke, especially for a so-called “downhill” course, and by the end it was all grit and stubbornness!
And yes, that tiny medal makes me laugh too… such a contrast to the Boston medal I got in April. It somehow it feels very fitting, though, like, “you survived. Here’s a humble token.” 😅
And yes, I would absolutely love to meet for coffee on Saturday, 5 July! That sounds perfect. Just send me a quick email at “keeponrunning@sunrise.ch” so I can be at the right place at the right time. We’ll make it happen!
Thanks again for your kind words – and safe travels until then!
I am blown away, Catrina. What an incredible accomplishment. I love the respectful, affectionate term “Mami”. You are such a focused runner and is such an inspiration.
Thank you so much, Carl!
“Mami” really caught my attention too! Such a warm, respectful shoutout from the crowd, it became like a little mantra during the tough parts.
Staying focused was key, sometimes that was all that kept me moving forward. As you know yourself from your ultras!
Thanks for your kind words – it means a lot!
How emotional Catrina! I had goosebumps reading your introduction and watching the video of Shosholoza and everyone singing at the start line. Memories shooting back to my childhood standing on the edge of the road handing out oranges and water to the runners.
It’s absolutely epic what you did, not just standing on the start line, but pushing through the pain, and bringing things back to finish for an 8:26.
Congratulations. This is a memory to cherish forever.
Thank you so much, Sean – that really means a lot!
That starting line was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced – so emotional, so powerful. I didn’t know the Shosholoza song before, but now it’s forever etched in my memory. I love that it brought back childhood memories for you! That’s really special.
And yes, those last 30 km… pure grit, as you know all too well from your own ultras. Everything hurt, but the crowd, the energy, the spirit of the race – it all carried me through to that finish.
Thanks again for your kind words. I can’t wait to read your recap next! 😃