Runs

Comrades Marathon Rooted In History

January 2, 2012
By Ellie Greenwood

The field at most ultras - any distance over the traditional 42.2K marathon - is somewhere around a few hundred racers. But not at Comrades. In 2011, 19,591 racers were on the start line in Durban, South Africa, representing 56 countries (including 34 Canadians). This is the biggest ultra in the world, and with South Africa being a major sporting power, Comrades is an 89K, 12-hour running party. Locals barbeque along the sidelines, kids run alongside racers - excited to see how many high fives they can get - and villagers cheer in Afrikaans.

Comrades is a point-to-point race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg (with a net uphill of approx 800m), or reverse on alternate years (downhill). The downhill years may seem like a tempting option but with the course being completely on pavement, this can be much tougher on the body and specific downhill training is recommended.

I was blown away by the atmosphere, competing at Comrades for the first time last year. From the pre-dawn singing of the South African national anthem at the Durban start line to fellow runners passing each other water along the course, it has the vibe of a friendly big city, yet somewhat exotic, marathon. A local runner ran with me for more than 30K, telling me about the upcoming course profile - he even encouraged supporters to cheer me on (I was at the front of the women’s field). We just met during the race as we settled into similar paces. He was just one example of how South Africans welcome foreigners and ensure they have a desire to come back.

The sense of camaraderie between racers possibly lies in the history of the event: A veteran of the First World War, Vic Clapham, started the idea. He wanted to create a living memorial to celebrate the spirit of his fallen comrades. The Comrades 89K marathon was first held in 1921 and has been held every year since (with the exception of years during the Second World War). The finishers medals at Comrades are named after war heroes and unlike most other marathons, there are distinctions for achieving certain time goals. Gold medals go to the top 10 finishers; those finishing under six hours get the Wally Hayward medals; silver medals go racers finishing between 6:00 and 7:30; the Bill Rowan medal, named after the winner of the first event in 1921, goes to finishers between 7:30 and 9:00; bronze medals go to competitors from 9:00 to 11:00; and those finishing just under the 12-hour cut-off receive the Vic Clapham medal. If you don’t finish under the 12-hour time limit, you can be locked out of the finishing stadium. It might seem a little harsh, but it’s just one of the quirks that makes Comrades unique, and ensures that TV-viewers remain watching until the end (the entire 12 hours is broadcast on South African national TV). If you are only going to complete one ultra ever, history, hospitality and a world-class atmosphere make a strong case for Comrades.

If You Go

Registration: Comrades does sell out every year, though over the space of several months.  Runners hoping to participate in 2012 would be advised to register soon as registration opened on 01 September 2011.

Weather: Expect sunshine and warm weather.  Daily temperatures for Durban in June average between 16 & 23 degrees.

Where to Stay: Durban offers a wider choice of accommodation (as well as more sightseeing options) than smaller Pietermaritzburg.  B&Bs, whilst not always central, can be a good budget choice (and taxis are inexpensive).  For more luxury try one of the international hotels along the sandy beach front (the ‘Golden Mile’), such as Southern Sun Elangeni www.southernsun/hotels/elangeni

Race Stats

Comrades Marathon, South Africa

When: June 3, 2012

Distance: 89K (though can vary by a few kilometres each year due to possible traffic detours)

Website: www.comrades.com

Ellie Greenwood finished fourth at the 2011 Comrades Marathon in 6:32:46. She trains in Banff.