The Comrades Marathon is a 55mile point to point ultra marathon run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa with the start and finish alternating each year. As Durban is based on the coast and Pietermaritzburg is at 600m altitude inland the alternating runs are referred to as the Up and Down run. 2011 was an Up run and 2012 will be a down run. Opinion varies as to which is the easier/faster/better direction to do as the the downhill sections on the down run over the distances involved conspire to be as damaging as the up sections. But there's only one way to really find out, do both yourself.
The race has a long and legendary history with the 1st edition being run in 1921 in commemoration to the comrades that fell during the 1st World War and has been run every year since excluding the WWII years with 2011 constituting the 86th edition. This is no backwater run. 2011's entry list ran to 19,000 and race day coverage runs from 5am to 6pm on the national TV station. The Comrades is quite simply the pinnacle of the South African running calendar and indeed undoubtedly the world's premiere ultra running event. With such a pedigree this race has had many words written about it and the course has been analysed inch by inch. I'll take a quick a look at this years up run.
The official distance for 2011 was 86.95km with 1800m of vertical climbing. The Big Five in African bush parlance refers to the 5 most dangerous animals to hunt on foot and it's to this metaphor that the Comrades up run turns. The 5 hills that guard the route; Cowies, Fields, Botha's, Inchanga and Polly Shortts are affectionately called the Big Five. Yes they're dangerous and yes they require careful negotiation but they are not the only dangers out there. The big five have been named because they're the biggest hills, but not the only ones. Perhaps not as dangerous as the big five you'll find the rest of the African bush lurking on the course in various guises too. Misjudge them and you'll be going home early too.
The race takes place in the province of Kwazulu-Natal. Kwazulu translated meaning 'In Heaven' such is the beauty of the landscape. The mightiest African tribe of the 19th century, The Zulus, chose this area as their home when they had the whole of South Africa to choose from. It is over these hills and valley's that the Zulu war Impi reigned supreme thinking nothing of commuting 60miles a day on foot to enforce their rule over these lands. However, in deference to the reputation of Queen Victoria's forces King Cetshwayo ordered that they cover only 40miles a day en-route to the Battle of Islandwana in 1879 so that his men arrived fresh! A day that began with British forces suffering their greatest military defeat in Colonial times and ended with more Victoria Crosses for valour being awarded, than on any other day in history, at Rorke’s Drift. Could it be more appropriate that this be the region for the greatest Ultra Marathon in the world?
Friday night was our most important nights sleep as race Sunday sees the starters gun going at 5.30am so between the short hours and race anxiety you're probably not going to get too much shut-eye on the Sat night. Thank you to Barcelona and Manchester United for filling those hours this year. We stayed at the Hilton in Durban which is practically on top of the expo venue and about 200m from the start line (and 200m from the finish line for the down run). The uphill starts in the 1st km and pretty much keeps going up until the halfway mark at Drummond at 43km and includes the 1st 3 of the Big Five: Cowies Hill, Fields Hill and Botha's Hill. It also includes the 45th Cutting and Westville which in any other race would get their own heartbreak moniker but not at Comrades. That will be waiting for you further down the course. One of the reasons that Lord Chelmsford's forces fell to the Zulus at Islandwana is that they ran out of ammunition. You don't wan't be making the same mistake. Keep your powder dry is the order of the day. On this run you will walk, you will eat some potatoes, you will eagerly look forward to all of the 48 aid stations even though the last was minutes behind you and you will be amazed at the number of people that line the whole course even though it starts well before the crack of dawn and drags over 55miles.
The route approaching the halfway mark at and through Drummond is flattish but then you immediately encounter the 4th of the 5 hills, Inchanga. For me this was the most disheartening hill. If you're targeting a specific time for the race this hill will send your second half expected avg pace crashing into the red and for me brought on the 1st walk. Hey ho, only 43km to go! Some recalibrating of the finish time and onto the 20km of undulating plateau that gently eases you up to the highest point on the course at Umlaas Road and 21km to go. However at 9km to go, Sphinx like, lies Polly Shortts. This is Heartbreak hill Comrades style. You get to the top of this and it's all downhill from there...sort of. For generations Polly Shortts has been where the eventual race winner has stamped his authority over his rivals. I did walk some of it but made sure I was running when the cameras were rolling, illusion is everything. The finish at Pietermaritzburg Cricket Ground is quite something. It's not a big ground but the last km is lined with hospitality tents and you'd be forgiven for thinking that you'd just won the Grand National. And the noise and festivities goes on from the 1st runner to cross the line until the last.
If you're a collector of marathons then you're not done until you've done this one.
Various things mark this run for me:
In the finishing paddock from a vet: Well done. But you're only half way of course. Still gotta do the down run.
Quote of the day: at 8.51am just before I got to the halfway mark one bleary eyed spectator to his mates 'Geez guys, I can't believe we've finished all the booze already'
Avg pace of the winner: 3.49min/km (6.10min/mile). Winner ran the second half slower than his first by 3mins
2 thirds of the field finish between 10 hours and the 12 hour cut off
Temp at the finish in late autumn, 22C
