comrades marathon 2011

Nialloooo

HI all im turning 30th in july 12months, so im toying with the idea of doing the comrades marathon may 11 before i hit the big three zero.. has anyone done it before?? or anyone thinking of giving it a go ?? any advice would be helpful.. esp re training and traveling and really what just to expect.. i know its a long time off (just over 12 month) but its not something i think you could rush into ..

Bit of backround on my fitness, i run 5 times a week have done 3 (all just over 4 hours ) marathons, several half (pb 1.38) and some hill running (which im really enjoying and doing ok at) so i hope to be starting for a good base.. is this something i could really finish????

Thanks all

jeffontour

Did it in 07 as my 1st ultra, couldn't recommend it highly enough as a race but not as a 1st ultra. I'd recommend Conn or something like that as a stepping stone. The timing of Conn is good also as a build up to it. Drop me a PM if you like and I will try answer any specific questions you may have.

ecoli

Nialloooo wrote: »

HI all im turning 30th in july 12months, so im toying with the idea of doing the comrades marathon may 11 before i hit the big three zero.. has anyone done it before?? or anyone thinking of giving it a go ?? any advice would be helpful.. esp re training and traveling and really what just to expect.. i know its a long time off (just over 12 month) but its not something i think you could rush into ..

Bit of backround on my fitness, i run 5 times a week have done 3 (all just over 4 hours ) marathons, several half (pb 1.38) and some hill running (which im really enjoying and doing ok at) so i hope to be starting for a good base.. is this something i could really finish????

Thanks all

First off check which course is run that year as the course is alternated between a net uphill and net downhill course as from what i have heard the uphill one is not for the faint hearted but if you are willing to put in the work there is not reason why this cant be done and the best of luck with your endeavour

christeb

ecoli wrote: »

First off check which course is run that year as the course is alternated between a net uphill and net downhill course as from what i have heard the uphill one is not for the faint hearted but if you are willing to put in the work there is not reason why this cant be done and the best of luck with your endeavour

One of the guys in the club did it, I was picking his brain as my cousin lives in Jo'burg and it's on my list for years to come. I believe the downhill course is usually won in a faster time to the uphill, as the downhill is tougher on the legs. Sounds like a super event though, seemingly it's given huge coverage in SA, think Boston Marathon in ultra format.
You have to qualify for it too, but I don't think it's that tough. Oh and there's a cut off time also, again this shouldn't be a problem with sufficient training and no injury on the day.
It's seems to be the type of event people do later in their running career when they have a lot of miles in their legs, I don't think I'll be attempting it in my 20s anyway

jeffontour

Next years race will be a net uphill race I believe. I did the down and found it very tough on the legs. There's a tour of the route before the race organised for international runners. When doing this I asked the guide, an American writer for Running World who is one of the comrades ambassadors, whether the "up" or "down" run was tougher. He described it in terms of limps, 2 days after the up, 2 weeks after the down!

But to answer your question which I didn't do on my 1st reply of course you can do this. You're right to start thinking of it now though and working gradually towards it.

Just to whet the appetite the website says there are now 16,635 running this year with 7021 first timers. It's the least lonely ultra you can imagine and as an international runner you get fantastic support from all along the route. When I ran there were only around 400 from outside of SA I think. Your number colour indicates you're an international runner and the locals are delighted to see you there and give you great encouragement.

Now I want to go back(which I plan to do sometime for sure)!

Abhainn

I have read great things about the Comrades ultra. Would love to attempt it one day.
If you can pick up a copy of Everyone's Guide to Distance Running By Norrie Williamson. The author is a former Scottish rugby player who fell in love with ultra's and trialthlons. The book is refers frequently to the Comrades event.
I would try and complete another ultra before hand though.
Best of luck and keep us posted

TFBubendorfer

I'm seriously thinking about doing it next year, but our financial situation might have the biggest say in that.

For first-time runners the sign up starts in November but you might have to be quick, it has sold out very fast for 2010. This could be a once-off because of the World Cup, though.

2011 is an uphill year. Personally I definitely want to do the uphill course, which is why I did not run it this year.

You have to run a marathon under 5 hours in the year before the race. You can even sign up without having done this, but if you can't qualify by April (I think), your entry is void. The cut-off is a rather generous 12 hours - if you are unable to make that, you should not have been on the start line in the first place. But they are really stringent about this. The gate closes bang on time and if you're even one step short, tough luck.

Everyone I have been talking to said this is a fantastic event. It's broadcast live on telly in South Africe, all day! I really hope to be able to go there.

Krusty_Clown

Slightly off-topic, but it might be worth your while reviewing why your half marathon PB is disproportionate to your marathon times. It might highlight where some additional work might be required from either an endurance or pacing perspective. I'm far from an expert and have only done one 'easy' ultra, but endurance and pacing seem to be critical for this kind of event.

Magnet

Isn`t that the one where the 12 hr cut off kicks in and the race director turns his back on those still running in!!
The rest are DNF`s or non runners...
Fantastically cruel!
I wanna do it. :cool:

Nialloooo

Hi All thnks for the feed back

Hears the plan now, after the OH calmed down at the idea of me running 56 miles in the heat we came up with this deal..

Im going to train and and do it correctly for Dingle marathon and dublin marathon and and train as if i am heading to SA in may ...but if i dont stick to the training ie if i keep eating crap, missing run's when hung over generally cutting back on the drinking i guess and actually just not treating my body right she wont agree to come to SA with me and if she doesnt come i dont see the point as this is something i want to share with her when i cross the line .. so that its the mind is focused and the training started Wen evening .. wish me luck

KC my problems with the full marathon times were pacing issuses .. first one i when to fast and had to crawl the last 4 miles, second one spent to much time talking to a old guy who had done all dublin marathons to date , tony i had a great laugh with him , and ended up taking 2.20 for first half and 1.50 for second half..3rd one again to slow at the start i think my first experance made me slightly scared to push it out .. im hoping to fix that in dingle i bought a garmin and im working well on the pacing so finger crossed

Just a quick one for anyone that has run it before, did you make your own way and make a holiday of it or did you go with a tour group for a few days just to do it ??

jeffontour

Sounds like you've a good plan which is the main thing. You will not regret it if you give it the training it needs

I travelled independently. Did a few days in Durban before hand, then down the coast a bit and flew out of Cape Town. Took about 20 days I think, great place to travel. There's great treatment for international runners, tour of route etc. and visit to the race museum. I'm wildly jealous, you'll have a ball.

shanagarry

I'm Irish, based in Cape Town, so feel free to PM me if you need any help with the travel/logistics side of things.

I've two friends doing it for the first time this year, one relatively novice when it comes to ultras, one a very experienced long distance runner, but mostly trail runs, so I will report back on their experiences.

hot to trot

I have spent my last three long runs thinking about the Comrades too. Not helped by watching Bart Yasso 's video blog of doing it before he is too incapacitated with Lymes disease to do any more.
After I dip my toe into Ultra in June I intend to keep building it up and do Connemara Ultra next year and depending on finances and kids , might seriously go for it too , although I am much slower than you. Not sure if I would be able for Dingle this year.Maybe.
Krust is being modest. he did Connemara Ultra this year in a great time.

How would somoeone manage in a point to point with teenagers> How do you get back to the starting point or is there a way for your companions to bus to the other end while you are running?

tphelan

Listened to 2 great podcasts last week on the Comrades - interviews with Bruce Fordyce who won it 9 times - sounds very exciting and is definitely a race I'd love to do. Listen to episodes 38 and 39 here http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/marathon-talk/id350035346

hot to trot

super thanks. Didnt know about those podcasts. Will have to go for a 5hour run to get listening to some of them:D

opus

For sure I only listened to those two podcasts last w/end (am a bit behind) and it would make you want to sign up straight away! They mentioned the Two Oceans 56km run as well which sounded very good & more achievable for the non-ultra people

hot to trot

[ They mentioned the Two Oceans 56km run as well which sounded very good & more achievable for the non-ultra people [/QUOTE]


There is no such thing as non ultra people ...just people who havent yet realised they can run that far.:D