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Comrades 2017
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Back home and in reflective mood - I can't figure what went wrong today - I suppose I was aware I was knocking down the miles a bit ahead of schedule early on, but I'd looked at the profile and I was sure I needed a ten minute buffer going through half way just to be safe, that part of the plan went well. Didn't think I was going to have much bother in the second half after my strong finish at Two Oceans but I just ran out of beans, chucked anything down my neck on offer in case I wasn't feeding the engines, half a bottle of Gatorade, my own chews, jelly babies, wine gums, milk bottles, plenty of water, my legs just wouldn't throw down the power, the only thing I didn't take was salt after the past 2 weeks of turmoil.
Have just read up on the posts after I left the hotel - sorry I lost all your bets! Very humble you all had such faith in me
Becca - sorry I missed you - thanks so much for hanging on after your half - I was dismayed when the 5 hour guy caught me with 5 miles to go and patted me on the back as he passed me saying "come on this should be a doddle for you" - I tried so hard to track him... damn!
Part of me is wondering if I am fit enough to complete this year's up run even if the do accept my ultra; right now a heap of beers in Durban with Terry sounds like a very fine day out
What I have said to them is; if you look at the Iron Man acceptable qualification, a pen.H is given as long as you complete with any time within the competition cut-off. I didn't qualify on any of the marks up to 100k - at the time I was simply running carefree, didn't even know the qualification window had opened, but similarly to the Iron Man I did complete the event within the 40 hour limit set in this case (38:34) so is that equivalent to a pen.H. Hoping for some feedback tomorrow, but, I bet a heap of other submissions with mitigating circumstances are piling in too.
As I predicted it was a hot day out there when the sun broke through today, well above the 13C forecast... I seemed to be the only one chucking water all over the place to keep cool though, can't say it had too much of a detrimental effect.
Lowrez – you’ve certainly put a huge amount of effort into this, I hope you can be proud of that in itself. Good luck with the organisers – I can see sense in your logic…I hope they do too
Debra – did the cat allow your lie in? The main reason they suggest the bus tours to the international runners is so that they take into account how steep the course can be – I am sure you’re well aware of how steep it can be, but if you fancied it Seren and I are on the later (0915) bus tour on the Friday.
Terry – brave effort going for it at Ashford
The shoes I’m running Comrades in arrived over the weekend and was pleased to get a good run in them. They feel great and nice to feel the bits coming together. I had a lovely outside based long weekend with plenty of running, cycling, sea swimming, kayaking and BBQ’s with the family. Saw a huge friendly seal yesterday – came right up to us
It seems that I will not be at Comrades this year. My injury recurred on a (planned) 32km run this weekend after grumbling in the week. I had to call for help and get collected after 26km when I didn't want to hurt myself anymore. Currently my left lower-back, right hip and right achilles are sore.
Lowrez - I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. I'm pretty sure you would still have been suffering the after effects of your stomach bug. When Paula Radcliffe blew up in Athens, it was as a result of anti inflammatories she'd been taking after a minor op. They upset her stomach, and basically everything she ate the week before the race went straight through her. She only made it to mile 20, but you finished
Bike It - sorry that you too are injured and unable to do Comrades this year. I hope you get the injuries sorted and can go from there.
Am also doing the later bus tour on the Friday
Sorry it didn't work out Terry. You had a mountain to climb that was taller than Inchanga but you gave it your best shot.
Sorry that you didn't make it lowrez. I think that the 5 hour pacer has run Comrades so he might have appreciated the significance. I think that I saw you on one of the early switchbacks. This is the first evidence that I have that you actually exist in real life and are not some elaborate hoax, since I have failed to meet you on both previous occasions in Durban, even when staying at the same hotel. I had a friend running the marathon so I was waiting anyway but had to go and meet her before you finished. Fingers crossed that the authorities have mercy and accept your ultra.
A far from ideal preparation for me in the last month or so but a decent training weekend with Oxon 20, followed by 33 miles on my bike on Sunday - not a massive distance but the bike is a fold-up with small wheels and three gears, so quite a good workout, then I did some extra miles before MK half to make it a 20 mile day. The pace is slower than my usual but it's good to be moving without discomfort.
See you at Halstead, Slow Duck.
Shaping up well Debra.
Good news; I will be running up that hill this year
what a relief; if my stomach was up to it I'd have a Guinness 
bikeit - sorry to hear your injury has flared up again - take care.
Thanks everybody. Hope we can meet up Durban side soon
I do indeed exist Becca+RR - I hope Dannirr can vouch for my existence - he was the first I met last year having resigned myself to another year of anonymity as I dreamily waited for the Hilton lift on Saturday evening and the lonely transit to bed; the weirdest word came from nowhere; "lowrez". It hardly registered at first until he repeated it; "lowrez". That broke through my waking slumber and I instantly recognised that man (without cap and goggles). "Dan?". He explained to his companions the match between the tattoo on his calf and the patch on my jacket. Our exchange was far too short as he exited the lift at the restaurant and I continued on my original path to my room. However, I instantly felt peckish in my room and set out for the restaurant where we carbo-loaded a little and passed time with fine conversation. At Mugg&Bean for breakfast the following Monday I met several others including Debra, Slow Duck and Mr K (not Z).
Bike It, thanks for your kind words, I'm sorry things have not worked out, your qualifier was exceptional after so many issues, I really wish you could run this year, is there no hope for even a gentle attempt like mine if your injury subsides before the big day, or even a start and retirement if you get into difficulties?
RR thanks for that perspective; Two Oceans has been the only run where I have not had some kind of impediment this year (I'm not counting hills in that category). At breakfast yesterday I spotted a woman wearing a black and white Pontypridd Roadents vest (correct spelling); it reminded me of you
Becca - I shook that other blokes hand after the finish and called him "Comrade", got a massive grin from him! My cap was 90th anniversary unlike his, the one with the map on the underside of the peak and the 90 in the logo. Was he also wearing the 2015 orange and yellow technical T; that was my top? PS I am Dannirr!
Thanks Marty: Chariots of Perspire?
I'm back today from a brief sojourn in Palermo where I've been sampling the delights of the city including spleen and lung sandwiches, don't worry they were cooked. I have yet to get on the scales as they back into a corner every time I go in the bathroom. It was not all hard work however and I did find time to look at a pair of trainers through a shop window and that's almost as good as a long run. I slipped out for an 8 miler before breakfast on a couple of mornings but as breakfast was mainly cake I'm not sure what good it did.
I have a sore knee again which I think is down to a combination of all the walking round town and the constant getting up from tables. I will try a run tomorrow.
Good to see everyone is OK
running up that hill....with no problems! But has our Kate run the Comrades or Polly Shorts?
do do-do do do-do do-do-do
Thank for the commiserations but I hadn't expected to do well at Comrades even if I could run. I am both currently injured in a small way and massively undertrained. I could start Comrades and there is only one outcome which is a major injury by the time I stop or am stopped.
I got injured badly following the 2013 Comrades and the 2016 Comrades. These were both preceded by running Comrades with slight (2013) to significant (2016) injuries. Both resultant injuries have taken more than a year to heal as well as the chain of healthcare professionals. The root cause has been basically hips, glutes and hamstrings that are weak and not activating properly. Coupled with very powerful quads, high mass and the ability to push on when the body is falling apart. It's a Spitfire engine in a Cessna airframe. It would just be stupid of me to start, DNF and get massively injured and take another year in rehab.
It is hard for me to decide to kill this dream, particularly as I want to get my Green Number. But dreams have to either be realised or die somehow. I choose to end my 2017 Comrade dream now and choose to carry on with my Green Number dream. Instead I will focus to qualification at the Soweto Marathon (438m course ascent; 1750m elevation) in November with a time in line with what I feel I can achieve.