Running Easy

Well, it is now over - the epic journey (as that is how it is best described) - of 90km from Pietermaritzburg (PMB) down to Durban. It started with an early morning wake-up at 2:15am...time to try and eat a piece of toast, get our gear on, and then leave by 3am to the start. It's dark, cold and ominous as you approach PMB. But as you get nearer more and more cars start to clog the roads as 13,000 runners converge on the start. After huddling in the car for about 45 minutes we decided to head for the start line, dressed in our gear and a light throwaway top. Soon we were surrounded by thousands of chattering, nervous, expectant runners as we made our way into our seeding batch. The seeding batches are from A to H - and we being "ordinary" runners were safely housed in batch G. The mixture of the smell of Deep Heat, music pumping over the huge stereo system, fidgeting runners, and dark shroud of the night pierced by the yellow spotlights, combines to create a surreal place - a place where each person is contemplating the huge journey ahead. For many it will be a journey with great challenges, for some a journey that wont be conquered, for some a journey of achievement - but whatever the day holds, at that moment we all stand together with the same journey ahead of us.

(Craig, Nicky and Brian - from our club)

Just before the 5:30am start the music changes to the songs that stir the emotions of all who have ever run before - "The final countdown", sets everyone's nerves on edge as we realise there are only minutes to go.  The traditional African song "Shozoloza" unites everyone...and then it is the national anthem...and finally it is the long awaited "Chariots of Fire". As the eerie music starts a tingle goes up your spine and a hush of expectation falls upon the 13,000 runners....there is a short pause...and the traditional rooster crows and finally a loud "boom" heralds the start of the race. Being in the back seeding batches means that the sound of the starters gun means there will still be several minutes before we start moving. But now final hurried good wishes and hugs are exchanged as the shuffle begins and the 13,000 runners all begin to move. A group so tightly packed together at the start, but a group that will end up being spread over 50km by the end of the day. A race that starts as a group but ends with each one alone in their mind taking those final steps.

And so in the dark we set off, our minds still in that surreal place as we made away along the dark roads, a part of this huge tide of humanity sweeping its way towards the sea, 90 kms away. It's a very strange feeling that 11 hours can be spent on the road, yet so little of it is remembered. It all blurs into one experience of smells, tastes, feelings, emotions -yet there are parts of the journey that are always remembered. Seeing the sun paint its beautiful orange streaks across the sky in the east was a welcome sight as the day officially seemed to start, as the rolling mass of runners continued on.  Seeing the smile of a family member as they spotted us on route strengthened the will and resolve to continue on. Yet maybe one of the most moving moments was touching the hands of disabled children along the route. In a seemingly middle-of-nowhere place is a school for disabled children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Yet on this day each year they line the road, in wheelchairs, leaning on sticks and other makeshift supports, their faces shining with huge smiles, as they hold out their hands for the runners to touch. And what a power it was to run past them and touch their hands - it felt like the power of God moved through them. And no wonder for did not Jesus say "Suffer the little children...for God's Kingdom is made up of people like these".

As we left them behind our journey continued to wind, and the kilometers continued to unfold in an unrelenting journey. The markers on the road would boldly declare how far still remained - "79kms to go", "69 kms to go" - distances too far to even consider.  "56 kms to go" - This is the distance of the Two Oceans marathon we did as part of our training. And so seeing this is quite significant. Mentally it was a reset point. Saying to yourself, "OK - we are just starting the Two Oceans now, enjoy it. Forget the 34 kms that have already passed". One of the biggest milestones is halfway. You can see it from a few kilometers out, but as you get nearer you hear the music and the fanfare. As we approached the line the announcer was saying that the front runner, a Zimbabwean, had just entered the finish stadium and was racing to the end. Wow! He had run at double our speed. It's an incredible feat! But we were not to be outdone - we sprinted for halfway, determined to cross halfway before he crossed the finish. And we beat him! Our on personal victory - we crossed halfway about 10 seconds before he crossed the finish. An unimportant victory? Yet that is what this journey is made up of - personal victories. It is all about overcoming the barriers we have, crossing the limits we set. The awesome Zimbabwean winner was unaffected by our "victory", yet for us we had achieved something. But while he received garlands and praise, we were now faced with the "business end" of the race - the second half!

It's the second half of Comrades that claims all its tolls. With 45kms already on our legs and body and mind - it is now that both physical and mental resolve are tested.  And so after some celebration amongst the runners as they cross this key point we all continue on now realising the countdown to the end has now begun. For many more kilometers the road simply winds crossing from one side of the main highway connecting Durban and Pietermaritzburg, to the other. Until finally it drops down a steep hill called Inchanga, and then rises up the other side for several kilometers. The Pietermaritzburg to Durban route (it alternates each year) is referred to as the "down run" - but for anyone who has done it they realise that this is deceiving.  Most of the first half is up, and overall there are still nearly 40kms of up hill. And then the bruising downs that follow take a huge toll on the body and feet. But having passed Inchanga you soon enter the real support zone. From the top of Botha's Hill where the boys from Kearsney College line the roads and cheer everyone on all the way to the finish about 40kms away the support is incredible. Yet the body and mind are now really needing this help. After having done over a marathon already, it takes a lot of mental resolve to do another marathon.  It's quite a thing seeing "42kms to go".

"Just a marathon to go!"

There are always a few jokes exchanged at this point amongst the runners - "C'mon -it's just a marathon", as everyone resets their minds once more for the final big test. Winding down the steep hills from Botha's Hill is amazing as the crowds urge you on in an unabated cheer. It is this that probably makes Comrades so unique. It is not just an event for the runners, it is an event that brings nearly the whole country together. Not only are thousands of people lining the roads enjoying a braai (barbeque), lounging in hot-tubs, dancing, sitting in deck-chairs - but millions more are glued to TVs as they watch this human drama unfold. 

The hill bottoms out at Pinetown - but on the way down you catch a glimpse of the sea in the distance - a mere 25kms away. Yet with the toll of all the previous kilometers on your legs this seems like a thousand miles away. Yet once more it is about resolve- drawing on your mind, your heart. For us it was putting faith in God - a strength that we could not have done this without.  The other side of Pinetown greets you with Cowies Hill -the final big hill on the run. It's a welcome break as an exhausted mass of runners walk up the hill resetting their minds, restoring their resolve. From the top of Cowies hill there is about 20kms to go, but mostly down. Soon after Cowies Hill we entered Westville -our town, and we were welcomed like royalty.

 

(Coming through Westville)

As I've said before the crowd support is a huge factor, and it is incredible at this late end of the run to receive such a tumultuous welcome.  Westville also saw us meeting lots of our friends and family as we exchanged hurried greetings. By this stage I was physically drained, while Nicky, who had felt weaker in the first half, was feeling stronger. But now the end beckoned - with only about 10 kms to go. Yet it is amazing how such a seemingly short distance, in comparison to 90km, feels eternal at the end.  The final hill into the city saw me with utter focus racing down the road until finally we hit the lat 3kms in the city - flat roads leading to the end. And then my energy was completely gone. Yet Nicky continued to feel strong and she trudged along with me as I said I would walk to the end.

Looking at my watch I guessed that we had sufficient time to walk the last 3kms and would still make it comfortably under the 11hour cut-off for the bronze medal. From 11hours to 12hours is another medal, with 12 hours being the final cut-off. So patiently Nicky walked with me as we shuffled towards the end. It is hard to explain what it feels like to be totally exhausted - yet it is amazing to experience the power of answered prayer, as even in those last minutes there is energy to continue on. Finally we arrived at the stadium and heard the announcer saying that only seconds remained before the 11hour cut-off. In my weariness I had somehow misread the time. Well, what a way to finish. We entered the stadium to tumultuous applause. The spectators were shouting and banging, the announcer was urging everyone on, the music was pounding. It felt like Elijah's experience when the hand of the Lord was on him and he ran ahead of Ahab's chariot (1Ki 18:46). We were filled with incredible energy as we raced around the stadium towards the finish line, as the seconds on the clock ticked down. And so we crossed the line in 10:59.45 - a whole 14 seconds to spare!

The feeling of finishing is amazing. No matter how many times you do it, it is an absolutely incredible feeling that can only be experienced and not described. Even though the finish looks like a war zone, with stretcher-bearers all over the place, people lying down on the grass, people being supported by friends - it's an atmosphere of pure exhilaration, grimaced smiles, fragile hugs of congratulation. But most of all it is that inner joy of an ordinary person achieving such an extraordinary goal.

And so while the stiff muscles are still a reminder of the long journey that was traveled, in true Comrades spirit, we casually now chat about plans and strategies for next year - and hopefully the big 2010 Comrades will see many of you joining us too :-) So if you haven't yet joined the marathon program JOIN NOW so you can discover your extraordinary. CLICK TO JOIN NOW.

One of the strangest things is the taper. This is that period at the end of a training period where you dramatically reduce your running. We are now only just over a week away from the Big Comrades...89km of fun, pain, joy, suffering, pleasure...etc. And so the last 3 weeks of our program have seen our mileage drop off significantly. 

We did a peak week about 4 weeks ago with one long run (being Two Oceans Marathon) of 56km and a 21km and a couple of shorter ones in the week to get us close to the magic 100 for the week. Since then we have been in the taper, dropping down to about 50...30...20...etc. It just feels weird every time we do this. You think "I just don't feel ready. Surely I should go and run a long run of 30km today". Yet this is when your body is actually getting fit. It is this rest that is so important. With 3 weeks to go there is little that can be done to build cardio or infrastructure fitness. You can maintain, but most importantly you need to rest so that the body can strengthen.

Yet even though we know this it always feels strange...but the great part is that it feels amazing go for a 10km run at a slow pae and hardly exerting any energy - that is really rewarding.

Only just over a week of the strange taper to go, and then the feet will hit the road for the Greatest Human Race!

It is amazing how valuable the time is when you are out on the road running. I have just returned from a shortish run this morning as we again reminded how amazing this time is. Nicky and I went for our regular Friday run which takes about 45 minutes. The weather was perfect - blue skies but nice and cool. Yet the really value, besides continuing to build fitness is the time to think. By the end of our 45 minutes we had covered topics from finances, kids, future plans...and more. It's just amazing how clearly you can think when you're out in the fresh air - and if you have a running partner, there is the added bonus of being able to talk about your thoughts and ideas. Most of my ideas for things I want to do, or solutions to problems come when I am running. The reason is that you are giving yourself time to think - something we have little of nowadays. Also you are outdoors away from your normal environment. Finally you are breathing in gulps of fresh air, the perfect tonic for the brain.

So, next time you have to think or plan or decide....get your shoes on and go out for a run.

C:-)

As of today it is only 3 weeks to the great Comrades marathon! We are now well into the taper...it has been a bit of a longer taper as we used the Two Oceans 56km as our Long Run, and the rest of the week as the Peak Week. But, it is always fun to be in the taper as this is when the body recovers, and even though it feels like you are doing a lot less, you are actually now getting fit. The illusion is that fitness is created when you're running. In fact this is not true. This is when the body breaks down, and it is in the rest periods that fitness starts to build up. So today we're off to run a 21km run and maybe another next week as we wind up the program.

The big challenge in these 3 weeks is to stay away from snot and stuff. There is nothing worse than to get this far and get attacked by a bug at this stage and have to pull out of the great event. So.....it's time to get back to the road and enjoy a leisurely 21km around the rolling hills of Westville.

C:-)