That one-day each year, May 30th 2010, where a special band of people, that select few of every gender, of every race of every age come together. They are here to begin a journey (89Km) that makes them winners.
Whether they finish the race or not, they are true winners. They can say with pride, that they took part in that day of days, the race of races, the Comrades marathon.
Its not just a race, it’s a mountain that every single participant must attempt to cross, to summit or conquer. It’s a life changing event, one in which everyone will dig deep into their human reserves in order to over come some of the biggest obstacles and challenges that each and every one will ever face in their lives.
Every ones personal best is measured not in time, but in endurance. And also in the belief in ones own ability, no matter how small or great the individual might be.
This is not just a race or marathon, it is a journey to discover ones inner self. A day in the life that you can proudly say that you have taken part in one of the most grueling challenges known to men. The ultimate human race.
It’s all in the mind. Running 89k is about self-belief and doing 5 tough runs and getting them right. The Comrades Marathon is the ultimate human race and the world’s largest ultra marathon run at a distance of 89k between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, South Africa.
Part 1: 42k run. Amby Valley, Lonavla
Feb 7th 2010: 2am: Lonavla. I have got up early to have my pre run meal of cereal and milk. The meal is crucial to top my glycogen levels up before running 42 km in the hills.
4am: I’m at Lonavala Dam and about to run up to Amby valley and back. It’s pretty cold out here and not a soul. Luckily I have my running buddy Danny from Mumbai with me. Both of us are evenly paced. Finally we start our run of 42k and the terrain is very tough consisting of climbs and drops all through. There is hardly any respite to the quads, which will take a hammering over time.
The run here is impossible without the help of my driver Badal. At all times the car headlights have to be focused 50 feet ahead of us as its pitch black on the road. Every 10 to 15 minutes the driver helps out with Gatorade, bananas and water. Running in darkness is very tough as we have nothing to look at except darkness and that little path of car lights ahead.
We encounter at least 2 climbs of 3 km up and then the sudden drop. Pretty hard on us but luckily great weather. Running hills strengthen your legs and ankles, increase your aerobic and anaerobic capacity and increase your tolerance for lactic acid. Did the first 21 k in 2 hours 13 minutes to Amby Valley and then back to Bushy dam. Takes us 4 hours 25 minutes to do the 42k and not a single cramp while doing this. I felt pretty good doing this run, as the terrain was real tough. Felt like I had gone up and down Peddar road, Mumbai 35 times.
Details of our 42k run, from Garmin, given km splits.
| Time: | 04:25:34 |
| Distance: | 42.00 km |
| Elevation Gain: | 891 m |
| Calories: | 3,109 C |
| Time: | 04:25:34 |
| Avg Pace: | 06:19 min/km |
| Best Pace: | 03:57 min/km |
| Elevation Gain: | 891 m |
| Elevation Loss: | 896 m |
| Min Elevation: | 611 m |
| Max Elevation: | 792 m |
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