With Comrades just around the corner, it was time to do something reckless: run really far for “fun”. Last weekend, I did just that – 60km, an early start, and limp legs by kilometre 50.
Luckily, I wasnât alone. About 40 runners from my club are doing Comrades this year, so we organised a âComrades Long Runâ: two support cars on a well-tested coastal route. In South Africa, ultras somehow feel normal, almost casual. People talk about 60km the way others talk about Parkrun PBs. Itâs weird – and also kind of wonderful.
I had ordered an Uber for 5am. The driver – a cheerful Zimbabwean man in a suit and tie – was headed to church at 10. He was also preaching that day, sermon already prepped. âWant to practise it on me?â I asked. He did. We got so into it, we missed a turn. But I arrived spiritually enriched and only a few seconds late.
We set off at 5:37. The early pace was a matchmaking game: who fits whose rhythm. I ended up with Graham and William, two guys in their 40s running faster than me, but with a habit of lingering at the support car. Perfect. Iâd drop back, then catch up again while they snacked. A pacing strategy made in heaven.
The support cars were our lifelines – water, electrolytes, bananas and moral support. But they also turned into black holes of dawdling. We lingered, we chatted, we cooled off. On Comrades day, thereâll be no such luxury. Just grab, gulp, go. No dawdling, no detours. The clock wonât stop – and that sub-9 goal wonât wait.
My view usually looked like this – Graham and William far ahead of me:
Kendra was the driver of support car no. 1. Like many runners here, she has already done Comrades.
Brendan and his wife (middle two) in support car no. 2, here with William and Graham.
At kilometre 38, things started to unravel. One of my gels was missing – I could have sworn I packed six. (I found the guilty one in the laundry later.) Then, at kilometre 40, we had to wait nearly 5 minutes for the support car to arrive – it was helping other runners behind us. On top of this, Graham and William were done at kilometre 50 (as planned), while I headed home solo for the last 10. The last 10km were brutal. My pace didnât drop, but it felt like an epic battle: no support car, no pacing partners – just me, my legs, and that voice in my head asking why I do this to myself. Turns out, companionship matters more than I realised.
Some lessons for race day:
- Sticky hands are my nemesis. Gels = glue. Next time: carry a buff or tissue â anything to avoid becoming a sticky mess.
- Fuelling matters. I didn’t pack enough gels and the missing one came back to haunt me. Those last 10 km felt like wading through wet cement.
- Donât fall in love with the aid station. Theyâre meant to support, not seduce.
- Start slow, then go slower. That classic Comrades mantra worked here. Letâs hope race-day hype doesnât bulldoze that wisdom.
In the week that followed, I backed up the 60km with two back-to-back 30km runs. Strangely, 30 now feels short. Itâs wild how quickly our brains adapt when we show them whatâs possible.
Meanwhile, Eliud Kipchoge was actually in Cape Town last week! Spotted on the Sea Point promenade – my usual stomping ground. I can’t believe I missed him! I may never recover.
With three weeks to go, race day is looming. Next on the list: lock in the race strategy. Stay tuned!
- How do you deal with sticky fingers?
- Aid stations – do you sometimes linger longer than you intended?
Iâm joining Runs with Pugs and The Running Teacherâs link-up, Tuesday Topics. Iâm also joining Runnerâs Roundup with Mile By Mile, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner and Runs with Pugs.
Liebe Catrina,
was fĂŒr eine super Vorbereitung! Fehler eingebaut, deren Tragweite du gleich spĂŒren durftest (Gel daheim nĂŒtzt nix) und viel richtig gemacht, was du wiederholen wirst. Und dann die letzten 10k, die waren das perfekte mentale Training, weil du weiĂt, auch wenn es sauhart ist, du schaffst das!
Ich musste so lachen, bei deinem Satz, dass 60km so “alltĂ€glich” klingen. Das kenne ich von meinem Verein, wenn plötzlich alle (naja, einige halt) Ultratriathlons machen, und man sich gar nichts mehr dabei denkt. đ
Liebe Doris,
das war es wirklich! Und das fiese Gel â das hatte ich tatsĂ€chlich die ganzen 60 km mitgeschleppt. Es war irgendwo tief im Rucksack verschwunden und kam erst spĂ€ter fein sĂ€uberlich gewaschen aus der WĂ€sche⊠đ
Du hast völlig recht: Gerade die letzten 10 km waren pures Mentaltraining. Zum GlĂŒck werde ich beim richtigen Lauf nicht allein unterwegs sein â das war echt hart.
Und ja, das mit den 60 km ist einfach schrĂ€g. Man verliert total das GefĂŒhl fĂŒr Distanzen. Ultratriathlon ist da wirklich noch mal eine andere Liga â da wirkt so ein Long Run plötzlich fast gemĂŒtlich. đ Aber genau das machtâs auch aus: Das Absurde wird normal.
Liebe GrĂŒsse aus dem völlig verregneten, grauen Cape Town!
60 km, just another long run, haha! You’re in such impressive form to do things like that and then some 30k runs the week after!
That road looks so desolate (at that time of they anyway, I imagine) and I can imagine the support people and running friends make a difference.
Well done and keep up the good work!
I think the Boston training really set me up well for Comrades – but Iâll admit, Iâm also looking forward to a quieter summer in Switzerland this year!
And you’re absolutely right – that road is properly deserted at that hour. But in a good way: no traffic, just the sound of the ocean as we ran. Still, I was so grateful for the support crew and running friends – they were absolute gold. đ
Thanks for the encouragement, Susanne! Iâll keep grinding! đȘ
Was fĂŒr eine akribisch-perfekte und gut gelaunte Vorbereitung! Manchmal frage ich mich ja, ob bei euch UltrathonnInnen der Antrag ans Universum auf Tages-, Wochen-, MonatszeitverlĂ€ngerung erfolgreich mit âJa, genehmigtâ beschieden wurde ⊠was ein Aufwand auch an Zeit ⊠der Wahnsinn! Andererseits: wenn man so schnell lĂ€uft wie du, sind 60 Kilometer ja quasi wie bei mir einmal âums Eckâ đ
Oh ja, Lizzy, der Zeitaufwand ist wirklich RIESIG! Ich bin ehrlich gesagt froh, wenn diese Phase mit den ultralangen LĂ€ufen vorbei ist. Im Moment dreht sich gefĂŒhlt alles ums Training, Essen, Schlafen⊠und nochmal Training. đ
Mir gefĂ€llt deine Idee! Vielleicht sollten wir diesen Antrag auf ZeitverlĂ€ngerung wirklich mal offiziell stellen â am besten rĂŒckwirkend! đ
Aber du hast recht: irgendwo macht es ja auch Spass, sonst wĂŒrden wirâs nicht tun.
Liebe GrĂŒsse aus dem nasskalten und grauen Cape Town!
So so, liebe Catrina,
da machst du einfach mal 60 km … und dann wird sowas normal ! đ Toll, dass du dich durchgebissen hast!
Aber so spiritually enriched musste das doch was werden und konnte gar nicht schief gehen! đ Das hast du mir jetzt sogar voraus. Obwohl ich Pastor (in 1. Ausbildung) bin und anfangs selbst gepredigt habe, so spiritually enriched bin ich noch nie zu einem Lauf gekommen!
Mentales Training war inkludiert, jetzt bist du prĂ€pariert. Alles weitere ist Zubrot … aber nicht mehr verletzen oder krank werden! Ich drĂŒcke dir die Daumen und denke auch immer wieder mal in Richtung SĂŒdafrika!
Liebe GrĂŒĂe Manfred
Lieber Manfred
Haha, ja â es ist schon verrĂŒckt, wie schnell sich das eigene Normal verschiebt! Vor einem Jahr hĂ€tten mir 60 km noch wie eine Mondmission vorgekommen.
Der liebe Simbabwe-Pastor war wirklich nett, und ich bin sicher, seine Predigt hat mich beflĂŒgelt. WĂ€hrend dem Lauf habe ich um 10 Uhr auf die Uhr geschaut und gedacht, dass er gerade predigt. Vielleicht brauche ich so einen Pastor am Wettkampftag â fĂŒr die letzte Portion Motivation und den nötigen Segen! đ
Das mentale Training war auf jeden Fall Gold wert. Jetzt gilt es nur noch, gesund zu bleiben, keine dummen Fehler zu machen und die Ruhe vor dem Sturm zu geniessen.
Vielen Dank fĂŒr deine guten WĂŒnsche â liebe GrĂŒsse aus dem momentan ziemlich grauen Cape Town!
Those views!!!
I can’t imagine a world in which 30 km ever felt short (or doable!) to me, but I’ll never say never.
I love your key takeaways. It sounds like you’ve set yourself up for success, and I hope in addition to getting the time you’re hoping for in the race, there are moments of sheer fun.
The last 10 km of your 60 km do NOT sound fun, but you made it through! I can only dream of the mental fortitude that must take and help cement. Wow. I remain in absolute awe of distance runners.
In bright sunshine, the views are even better – actually spectacular. You should come and visit one day!
Uff, I couldnât have imagined 30 km ever feeling short either – until suddenly it did. đ Itâs wild how training reshapes our sense of ânormalâ!
And yes, those last 10 km were brutal, but also invaluable – now I know I can hang on when it gets grim.
Thanks for the kind words, Elisabeth! Iâll definitely be chasing that sub-9 goal, but I also hope to soak up the full magic of Comrades along the way!
I can’t wrap my head around running that many miles. You are amazing.
I have lost a gel and it gets in your head. And yes those sticky fingers.
You’ve got this!! Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
I know, right, Darlene? Itâs wild how much of it is mental – once your brain accepts the distance, your body just follows.
And yes… that missing gel! I couldnât stop thinking about it the last 20km. đ
Thanks for the encouragement – letâs see how it all plays out!
Lessons learned during these practice runs are what make race day successes. I’m sure you will know exactly where every gel is located and very likely will carry a spare just in case. Do you know how much runners spread out during Comrades? Will someone be within view at most times or might you run alone? I can see lingering at aide stations during a training run, but I’m sure you’ll remind yourself to use them as intended – a place to restock on fuel and fluids, and get medical attention/supplies for minor issues.
Sticky fingers are my nemesis. How frustrating for you to have an ocean of water nearby, but no way to get the sticky gel off your fingers. “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to clean sticky fingers.” đ
Ah, to miss seeing Eliud Kipchoge while he was in Cape Town must be so disappointing!
Debbie, you nailed it. The dry runs are where the real learning happens. Iâll definitely be triple-checking my gel stash next time (and yes, there will be a spare!).
As for Comrades, I hear itâs such a massive field that thereâs always someone nearby, even in the quieter stretches – I’m imagining that it will be similar to Boston. Iâm counting on that – I really needs other runners and crowds cheering you on.
And youâre right, I hope that on race day, aid stations will be all business… even in the later part of the race, where things get tough.
Also, your sticky-finger line made me laugh out loud! So true. There was water everywhere, just not the kind I could actually use. đ
And yes, still gutted I missed Kipchoge. What are the odds?
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I always appreciate your insights!
Too funny! Love the Uber driver sermon to pepp you for your 60km. Maybe day of, you will need such a sermonđ đŠ I bet you thought about his words during your 60km. Perhaps those last 10km were when you remembered it most?đ€
Argh Sticky fingers are horrible anytime. I always have one of those microfiber cloths w me. I tuck into the short waistline. Useful accessory. Will you be running Comrades w a vest?
Haha, yes, I definitely thought of the pastor – right at 10am when he would have been starting his sermon! I will definitely need one of those sermons on race day too. đ
And no, I wonât be running Comrades with a vest. Not because of the heat, but because there will be plenty of aid stations – hopefully stocked with the right gels (Maurten, fingers crossed). The microfibre cloth is a great idea though! Sticky fingers drive me mad, and your trick of tucking it into the waistband sounds genius. Might have to steal that! đđ
There are certain things that I do not miss about running, and gels are high on the list! They were always so hard to open, and the likeilhood of making a mess was always high. Blerg!
From everything that I’ve read about ultras, it sounds like the aid stations are so fun! So I can see how I might end up lingering.
WHAT A MINUTE STOP THE PRESSES!!!! I have no interest in running but I do have an interest in aid stations…I could get that experience if I volunteered at an ultra…looks like I have yet another activity for my retirement bucket list.
Absolutely, Birchie! We NEED volunteers like you at ultras! Aid station crews are everything out there. Theyâre not just handing out snacks – they keep us moving, cheer us on when weâre wobbling, and somehow make us believe weâve still got 30k left in the tank.
And yes, I agree, ultra aid stations are way more fun than the grab-and-go chaos of road races. I heard that there will be potatoes with salt at Comrades, my absolute favourite! Forget gels – give me those salty carbs any day.
Volunteering at an ultra would be such a brilliant retirement bucket list item. Youâd love it – and the runners would love YOU! đđ
What a fun run adventure. Distance and no speed as goal! I would love to join one. And you missed Kipchoge? I wouldnât be able to recover that either.
Also,
On firming, 60km seems to long to fuel on gels alone. Iâll have to mix up.
Totally agree, Coco. Gels alone get so monotonous over that kind of distance. Iâll definitely be mixing it up on race day with some real food at the aid stations. Potatoes with salt are my go-to!
And yes, missing Kipchoge still stings. Iâm trying to focus on the 60k adventure to soothe the wound, but letâs be honest… itâs not the same. đ
Would be awesome to share a no-pressure, distance-over-speed run one day. They really are a different kind of fun!
AgreedâŠsticky fingers are the worst! While I donât use gels anymore (âcause my tummy revolts in a very nasty way post-finish line), I well remember all the stickiness from races/runs past. NO matter how well I thoroughly I wiped my fingers, they STILL felt sticky no matter how much sweat, grime or water they came in contact with, LOL. This sounds like a great training run, though, even with the delayed stops at the aid stations. Nice job pushing through in the final 10K! YOU got the grit!!
Thanks, Kim! Those final 10K definitely tested the grit – I’m glad I held on.
And yes, sticky fingers are the worst! Even the tiniest bit of water feels like a luxury when youâre trying to de-stick yourself mid-run.
Sorry to hear gels donât work for your stomach. Maybe the Maurten ones could be an option? I know quite a few runners with sensitive guts who manage well with them. That said, I totally agree – they’re not exactly tasty. Iâm actually looking forward to the salted potatoes at the aid stations at Comrades. Something savoury will be a welcome break from all the sweetness!
Es klingt wie Musik in meinen Ohren, meine Augen sind wĂ€ssrig, wenn ich von deinem langen Lauf lese, wobei 60 Kilometer sind ja geradezu ein Klacks !! ( SpaĂ !!). Aber das ist eine Strecke, die ich gerne mochte, frag’ mich nicht warum, irgendwie war es meine Strecke. Man war noch nicht ganz so kaputt, aber man hatte schon einiges hinter sich gelassen !!
Du hast gekĂ€mpft, wie ich es nicht anders von dir erwartet hĂ€tte, gehört dazu, wie die Butter aufs Brot. Bravissimo, liebe Catrina, du hast es wieder einmal geschafft, auch wenn du dich unterwegs gefragt hast, warum tue ich das ?? Das kommt mir sehr bekannt vor, habe ich es oft genug erlebt ! Aber das GefĂŒhl, durchgehalten zu haben, erhobenen Hauptes und stolzer Brust im Ziel einzuwackeln, das nimmt uns keiner !!
Und die ” lĂ€ppischen ” zusĂ€tzlichen 20 Kilometer beim Comrades schaffst du genauso, ich bin sicher . GlĂŒckwunsch !! Wir Frauen sind halt stark – oder ??? Das muss uns erst mal einer nachmachen !!đ
Und nun schön aufpassen, damit du dann in die Vollen steigen kannst – Daumen sind……….weiĂt ja …..wie immer feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest gedrĂŒckt – Ehrensache !!
Ha, ja! Die 60 km sind eigentlich eine schöne Distanz: lang genug, um ernst zu werden, aber noch nicht ganz im Comrades-Wahnsinn angekommen. Und du hast recht â es ist eine Strecke, bei der man schon einiges hinter sich lĂ€sst, aber mental noch stabil bleiben kann.
Deine Butterbrot-Metapher ist goldrichtig â genau so fĂŒhlt es sich an! KĂ€mpfen gehört einfach dazu. Du beschreibst das so schön, da kriegt man direkt wieder Lust, die Schuhe zu schnĂŒren.
Beim Comrades kommen dann eben noch âlĂ€ppischeâ 30 Kilometer dazu⊠ich kann es mir noch nicht ganz vorstellen, aber ich hoffe, dass der Kopf das ĂŒbernimmt, wenn die Beine mĂŒde werden. Mit einer klugen Strategie, etwas GlĂŒck und ganz viel Respekt vor der Strecke sollte es irgendwie gehen. Und wir beide wissen ja – je lĂ€nger die Strecke, desto besser können wir Frauen unseren Vorteil ausspielen. đ
Danke wie immer fĂŒr deine motivierenden Worte und das feste DaumendrĂŒcken – das bedeutet mir viel!
Liebe GrĂŒsse aus dem immer noch verregneten Cape Town!
GroĂartig! Ein Trainingsultra! Du hast dich gut durchgebissen, trotz fehlendem Gel und lĂ€stiges Warten auf den rollenden VP (sowas wĂŒrde mich wahnsinnig machen!). Ich tippe mal dass die letzten 10km die wichtigsten fĂŒr dich waren, da ist nur noch der Kopf gelaufen, so muss es sein.
Ich hab ĂŒbrigens ein Refill-System und deshalb nie klebrige Finger. Und nein, an VPs wird keine Zeit vertrödelt, ich wĂŒrde am liebsten gar nicht anhalten đ
Der Comrades wird super, du bist mega gut vorbereitet, wenn 30km plötzlich zu “Kurzstrecken” werden, dann lĂ€uft alles richtig đ
Genau das hat ein Laufkollege gesagt, der den Comrades schon 3 Mal gemacht hat (in 7:05h!!!): die letzten 10km in diesem Training waren die wichtigsten. Siehst du, du bist schon selbst der richtige Comrades-Typ! đ
Ich glaube, du gibst eine leere Flasche ab und holst sie in der nÀchsten Runde wieder voll ab, oder? Wie machst du das mit den Gels? (oder nimmst du gar keine?)
Genau, bei den VPs muss man einfach diszipliniert sein und die tickende Uhr im Kopf behalten.
Noch 2 1/2 Wochen…. ich kann es kaum erwarten! đđ
Nee, fĂŒr mein Gel hab ich ein Refill-Dispenser System, schau mal bei Squeezy.de
Funktioniert super fĂŒr mich, das Zeug vertrage ich auch sehr gut, ich brauch nicht viel davon. Und so macht es weniger MĂŒll.
Wasser ist ja irgendwie immer da und 500ml in der Weste mitnehmen schadet nie.
Danke, Oliver! Ich habe gleich mal auf squeezy.de geschaut – sieht nach einem richtig cleveren System aus. Ich glaube, dass hast du schon mal erwĂ€hnt. Ich werde das definitiv noch genauer unter die Lupe nehmen, wenn ich wieder in ZĂŒrich bin. Klingt nach einer sauberen, praktischen Lösung mit weniger Abfall.
Und ja, 500ml Wasser in der Weste schaden wirklich nie – alleine schon wegen der klebrigen Finger! đ
Wow! What an event! You still did great things, even if your hands were sticky and it didn’t go as planned!
My sensory issues could never. I’d probably be so distracted trying to find water or a cloth to wipe my hands that I would competley abandon the race lol.
Thank you, Jenn! This run was a perfect test drive for Comrades – ideal for sorting out all the little things that could become annoying over 90k.
It reminded me of the Boston Marathon a few weeks ago, where a spectator was handing out paper towels. I grabbed one and clung to it all the way to the finish line. Absolute lifesaver for clean fingers!
Wow, great job on that run! Its nice that you had a group to do it with. I also dont like when my hands get sticky. I’ll usually pour some water from my bottle on them to rinse them off, but its annoying to waste water that way. I wonder if theres a very small pack of baby wipes or something you could carry?
Thank you, Lisa! Yes, having a group made all the difference – the miles felt less daunting that way.
Totally agree on the sticky hands. I also pour water over mine when I have to, but like you said, it feels like such a waste. A tiny pack of baby wipes is a great idea! I might test that out in my next long run – could be a game changer! đđ
I love the chat from your Uber driver beforehand! I donât use gels (texture) but that would bother me too
Thanks, Deborah! That Uber chat totally set the tone – unexpected, but kind of perfect before 60k!
And yes, the gels⊠the texture is definitely not for everyone. I donât love them either, but theyâre efficient. Still, sticky fingers are the worst part! đŹ
Liebe Catrina,
wow, ein 60-km-Trainingslauf! Ich bin sicher, der war ein sehr guter Impuls! Vor allem die letzten 10, darauf wirst du mental zurĂŒckgreifen können, dass du die auch geschafft hast, trotz leicht erschwerender Rahmenbedingungen. Was fĂŒr eine prima Sache, so etwas in gröĂerer Runde vereinsmĂ€Ăig durchziehen zu können. Auch wenn an einem VP das Auto verspĂ€tet war. Lieber so als ganz allein laufen mĂŒssen.
Ha, diese Klebe-Gels! Da hatte ich auch schon so meine KĂ€mpfe! Ich erinnere mich in Wien an total klebrige Finger! Ich hasse das!!! Da hatte ich GlĂŒck, es kam kurz danach eine Wasserstation mit flieĂendem Wasser, wo ich die HĂ€nde waschen konnte. Aber dein Gedanke ist gut, irgendwie Vorsorge zu treffen. Eine Bekannte mischt ihre Gels 1:1 mit Wasser und fĂŒllt ein kleines leichtes PlastikflĂ€schchen damit. So braucht sie nur den Verschluss aufzudrehen und kann leicht trinken. Auch kann sie gleich etwas Salz mit reinmischen.
VP’s empfinde ich nicht als sehr verfĂŒhrerisch, es zieht mich dann doch weiter.
Hey, Mr Kipchoge himself war bei euch?! Wie schade, dass du ihn nicht live gesehen hast! Denke dir, er wĂ€re dir einfach so begegnet… WeiĂt du, warum er dort war? Werbung?
Weiter gutes Training fĂŒr den Comrades!
Herzliche GrĂŒĂe aus dem trockenen frĂŒhlingshaften Rheinland!
Elke
Liebe Elke
Ja, dieser 60er war ein echter Brocken – aber auch ein richtig guter Testlauf fĂŒr den Comrades. Vor allem die letzten 10âŻkm waren mental wertvoll, so Ă la âWenn ich DAS geschafft habe, dann…â. Und in der Gruppe lĂ€uft sich so ein Ding eindeutig leichter!
YukYukYuk! Dir geht es mit den Gels genau so wie mir! Aber irgendwie braucht man das Zeug halt. Deine Bekannte hat ein gutes System – Gels mit Wasser verdĂŒnnen und gleich noch Salz rein. Das muss ich mal ausprobieren – Oliver gab mir den Tip mit Squeezy.de, die hĂ€tten ja die FlĂ€schlis dazu. đ
Bei den VPs am Comrades freue ich mich auf die Kartoffeln mit Salz! đ
Und ja: Kipchoge! Der war tatsĂ€chlich da – wohl wegen einer Werbeaktion. Ich hab ihn leider nicht gesehen, aber allein der Gedanke, dass er auf “meiner” Promenade war, ist schon etwas surreal.
Vielen Dank fĂŒr deine lieben WĂŒnsche – und geniesse den FrĂŒhling im Rheinland (hier schĂŒttetâs schon wieder).
Liebe GrĂŒsse aus Cape Town!
Remember that last 10K as you come to the end of Comrades. As Eric Liddell famously said “Where does the strength come from to finish the race? It comes from within…” . Perhaps paraphrasing Isaiah 40:30-31 but its true regardless. The battle is fought between the ears and you won!!
Absolutely! Iâll hold on to that final 10K when things get tough at Comrades.
And thank you for the Eric Liddell quote! Whether or not itâs a paraphrase of Isaiah, it really hits the mark. The real battle is definitely in the head.
I also appreciate the reminder of Isaiah 40:30â31. Iâd never seen it in the context of an ultra before, but it fits so well. đ
And now that Iâve looked up Eric Liddell, itâs clear I need to watch Chariots of Fire. Thanks for the all-round inspiration! đđ
You are so ready! Cannot wait to watch your dot on race day!
Thank you, Birdie! I’m already so nervous – how am I going to survive the next 2 weeks??
And you were amazing! Saw you cross that finish line!
Oh, thank you for tracking me! It was such an amazing experience! Now hiking the Wild Coast, which is another incredible adventure. So beautiful! đ€©
Aid stations can be very seductive. I speak from the century rides I used to do where it felt so good to get off the bike for a while that it was easy to get caught up chatting to other riders (and eating, of course).
You’re going to have a great race. Your in top shape, just coming off Boston, and you are ready for this. Your practice route was beautiful, though I’m sure by the end you weren’t even noticing.
Thank you, Debbie! Yes, those aid stations really do have a way of drawing you in – I can see how that would be even more tempting on a bike after long stretches in the saddle. The snacks, the chatter, the chance to stop⊠itâs a trap!
And thank you for the encouragement. I hope youâre right! I felt strong in this long run, even if the scenery totally disappeared from my awareness toward the end (you are so right! đ). Just one foot in front of the other!
Comrades! So exciting! I think when I was in Capetown in June, 2023 it had just taken place. I have a bunch of friends who’ve run it and I know you’ll be amazing. Sounds like you’ve got a huge aerobic engine after Boston. I’ve only crewed for 50 and 100 mile races (Leadville, CO) but I can totally relate to runners wanting to relax a bit at the aid stations. You are so right about te brain quickly adapting to the distance and what was once inconceivable becomes an “only X miles” distance. Haha!
Thanks, Marcia! Ha, yes – if youâre in South Africa around Comrades time, you canât miss it. Itâs so huge, even for non-runners! And youâre right, the Boston training definitely got my aerobic engine humming.
You crewed at Leadville?! What an amazing experience! Those ultras attract some next-level athletes. I would love to do volunteer there one day.
Itâs crazy how our brains adjust – what once felt impossible turns into âjust another stretch.â That mental shift is strange but powerful, for better or worse!
I’m not a gels person as my stomach do esn’t take them well, so I primarily do chews or beans. I don’t recall why I took the gel in Juneau. Stomach wise it was fine but your comment about stickiness brought be right back there! And yes, companionship means so much!
Ah, I just went off to read about your Juneau half-marathon on your blog. Ugh, these gels are the worst, right? Their stickiness sticks with us! Chews or beans are definitely safer bets if your stomach is sensitive.
And I totally agree, having good company on those runs changes everything – it makes the tough parts way easier to handle.
I’m just catching up on blogs…and call me impressed! Your slow is still my speedy fast. I can’t believe you ran 60 km in 5:23! Sounds like you have your fuel dialed in as well. I think you’re going to do great at Comrades!
Thanks, Wendy!
Ha, I doubt Iâll be able to hold that 5:23 pace for the full 90 km – especially since during that 60 km run we took some lengthy breaks, which really helped keep the pace up. I wonât have that luxury during the race…we will see how it goes.
Youâre doing really well with your running right now, and that progress is what counts. You are so consistent with your fitness routine!
Your Uber driver who practiced his sermon on you had me laughing, Catrina. I am sure he really appreciated it. With myself preaching at 3 churches each Sunday, usually by the 3rd church my delivery is a little bit more polished than it was at the 1st church.
Running 5:23 for 60k is phenomenal. You are a machine. That is incredible that around 40 runners from your club are doing Comrades. Support vehicles are a great idea. During the Monarch Ultra we had the support vehicle and crew. Though it was just for 1 or 2 runners. Stops were every 10 kilometers. Sometimes the support vehicle would get delayed if the crew got talking with the local people. I have in the past been a lingerer at aid stations. But as I get older and slower with cutoff times looming large, I can’t afford to waste time at these aid stations.
Thank you, Carl! It was so much fun with that Uber driver – I was more than happy to be his practice audience. I can totally picture how your third sermon each Sunday flows more smoothly than the first. You’re a good example of how repetition can sharpen a delivery.
I thought of your Monarch Ultra experience while we waiting for the support vehicle to arrive. I remember how youâve mentioned before how vital the crew was, even when they got delayed. Exactly! Aid stations can cost a lot of time – I too have lingered far too long at some in the past, but Comrades doesnât leave much room for that.
Thanks again for your thoughtful encouragement, Carl. It means a lot coming from you.
Thank you, Catrina. You are a dear friend. Amazingly you were reminded of the Monarch Ultra support vehicle. Twelve hours will be challenging for the 90 kilometers. For Pick Your Poison I had 9 hours to run 50k. A lot more breathing space. You continue to blow me away with your running. I know you can do this.
Great that for 2025 Comrades has adjusted cut-off times, so runners don’t burn themselves out too early. You probably have this information already, but thought I would pass it on. It gives the pace required for each section. đ€
https://www.theathlete.co.za/2025/05/07/comrades-marathon-2025-reveals-new-cut-off-times/#:~:text=From%20there%2C%20the%20pace%20gradually%20tightens%2C%20leading%20to,45th%20Cutting%20%2881.5km%29%3A%208%3A30%2Fkm%204%20Finish%20%2890km%29%3A%208%3A00%2Fkm
Thanks so much, Carl – youâre such a great friend! That Monarch Ultra support vehicle memory really stuck with me. Twelve hours for 90k on the road will definitely be a challenge – no time for dawdling! đ
Pick Your Poison gave you 9 hours for 50k, which sounds shorter, but considering the much tougher, hilly trail terrain, it was actually quite demanding compared to Comrades, which is on the road with 12 hours for 90k. Different challenges, but both tough in their own ways.
Really appreciate you sending the article. Iâd seen the new cut-off times but itâs good to have the pace breakdown for each section. Makes planning a bit easier – and hey, at least theyâre trying to be reasonable!
Thanks again, youâre a star. đ€
You are very welcome, Catrina. Thank you so much. You are so very kind. đ€