Why Did You Run Comrades 2011?
About Runners World
Online Editor for Runner's World magazineSubscribe
Subscribe to our RSS feed
31 Responses to Why Did You Run Comrades 2011?
Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply.
- Top 10 Worst Spectator Chirps January 31, 2012
- Why Did You Run Comrades 2011? May 25, 2011
- The Right To Wear A Race T-Shirt May 25, 2011
- What happened to the Varsity students? February 17, 2012
- Bronze Programme: December 2011 December 1, 2011
- Count Down To Comrades May 11, 2012
- 10 Best Comrades Moments May 10, 2012
- 10 Things You Will Do… But Shouldn’t May 9, 2012
- Say ‘Cheers’ to Chafe May 8, 2012
- Comrades 2012 Route Map May 8, 2012
- Charmain Shandu: The Final Gun. I managed my 1st Comrades @ 11:53:0...
- John Horrocks: Where are the double-blind controlled clinical stu...
- Nthabi: I forgot to put vaseline when I was doing Om Die D...
- simphiwe: Gee man, I was one of the disappointed ones llast ...
- charmain shandu: Useful advise. It's good to know they are ways to...
Aimee Vandale April 2012 Bart Yasso Bill Rowan Training Programme Brandon Paschal Bronze training programme Bruce Fordyce Comrades Comrades 2012 Comrades Blog Comrades Blogger 2011/2012 Comrades Marathon Comrades Marathon 2012 Comrades Route Map Craig Blewett Craig Hatting David Vlok December 2011 featured February 2012 Finishers Training Programme Fuel Helen Letseka Injury Johan Lesch John Cooper Kate Lindsey Parry Lisa Gibbon Lisa Nevitt March 2012 Motivation Murray Anderson-Ogle Nigeria Scott Ryan shaun wewege Sheldon Hallis Simon Gear Starfish Greatheart Foundation Tamara Sneyd Tapering Taryn Townsend Thea-Mari van der Sandt Training Unogwaja
Because I can and want to – why be ordinary ??
First Half running for my couz’, second half for all my fans…………………..
Because i never thought i could and now i know i can!
Because if you’re a South African it is the one race that you have to take part in at least once!
Because I want to see if I can and how far I can push my body!
It is after all the Ultimate Human Race, so why not run it
Did my 1st Comrades last year. Had an awesome!!! experience. Had to come back for my “back to back” medal.
At every opportunity my dad pulls out his Comrades medals from the 70′s and tells me that as I don’t have my own he is leaving them to me.
Well at the ripe old age of 41 I think it’s about time a got one of my own!
Like most of us, I grew up watching Comrades;more for the strugglers at the end if I’m honest-these were the days before reality TV :) Then I became a road runner 3 years ago, went for my first run, fell in love with it & bought my 1st copy of RW. In it was the article about Khoula’s 1st run & the dream was born & then realised for the 1st time last year. Comrades makes an average person like me, feel not so average, even if it’s just for a day – it’s got a special kind of ‘magic’ about it.
This is a journey for me that started with my training – to show I can do something succesfully and complete the course I have set. Not only a physical and mental challenge, but a spiritual one as well
They say you haven’t run Comrades until you’ve run down and UP….so hear it goes!!!
Because i love this Race! This is my 22nd & i’m looking forward to helping Petro my running buddy get her first Bill Rowan medal ENJOY THE DAY!!
It was on my bucketlist to run Comrades at least once. If I don’t get a medal for finishing sub 11 hours, I will try again.
Something I always wanted to do. Now I am. Looking forward to it. A bit nervious but I know Ii can.
Crossing the finish line on my first Comrades made me realise that achieving any goal comes down to applying yourself from the outset: setting your mind and heart on a dream, a goal, being as dedicated as you are patient in the preparation, rolling with the punches and accepting setbacks along the way, enjoying the many friendships that form from a common interest, and then when you’re almost there you know you’ll have to push yourself through a couple of rough patches, bite through the pain, keep you head up so you can take in the atmosphere and the support, and stay focused on the goal. It’s about the satisfaction of achievement that only comes through hard training and determination. Somehow, Comrades puts life in perspective.
Whow! You have sumed up running/ life/dreams all in one statement1 well done just done my 1st comrades 2011 “up” last year and could not have worded it better myself1
I have always wanted to run the Comrades Marathon. Somehow Life got in the way and last year I put my foot down and haven’t stopped running. I’m so excited to be running this year!
It is something that I dreamed of all my life..I was a really good runner in my youth and my mom and dad were always there supporting me but unfortunatly later in life started smoking and forgot about running. I did not however stop watching the great race on tv every year, and every year the feeling inside me would re-emerge but would soon fade away. In 2009 I decided I wanted to start running again but not untill I stoped smoking! My goal to run and lose the small spare tire forming around my waist was all the motivation I needed. The goal was not Comrades yet, but soon changed when my dad passed away in August 2010. . . Yes I am finally doing this dad! The first of at least 10….. This one will be in my dads name and I will be in Durban with my mom. I am aiming for a sub 9 hour…. Follow me. My race number is 29603… See you on the road!!!
I started off last October on grass keeping an injured mate company, and in all my wisdom (not!) entered Comerades just in case she could get me fit enough… several months later, I am still running furiously and Lisa still injured! This year is my 1st and I’m doing it for my 81 year old Mom, Sophie, who believes anything is possible,; Steve – my long suffering husband and my 3 kids who know that if Mom doesn’t run she goes a little dippy! Love you guys so very much! Roll on Sunday! xxx
My father is running his 38th at the ripe old age of 76. If he can do it, then so should I! His dream is for him, me and my son to run when he does his 40th in 3 years time. I grew up thinking that Comardes was an easy race as my father drove to Durban the night before, ran Comrades in silver medal time, and then drove back to johannesburg straight afterwards. What a shock it was to realsie that it is quite a challenge!
Comrades 2010 was supposed to be my first, after a horrible day with ITBS, I bailed at 65km.
Consider Comrades 2011 to be the re-match. I think I am better prepared, and have a little more respect for Comrades this year.
I am a runner, living in South Africa, so Comrades is a must!
The Comrades Marathon commands respect. It commands respect from runners when they’re running it and runners command respect from others when they’ve completed the great race. The run is life-changing and is the best example of attaining a goal through hard work and dedication. Runners of all shapes and sizes from all walks of life finish the race because of their commitment over several months. These are ordinary people when they start out on their journey but are extra-ordinary when they finish. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that journey as many times as possible?
It’s the Ultimate Human Race! I’ve heard too many great stories about it and I want to be part of it all!! Looking forward to my 1st one on Sunday!!
I first heard about the comrades marathon when I was 16 from my cross country couch at school, who was training for comrades. She helped me move from extremely unfit and overweight to fit and strong during my school running career and I have wanted to run the comrades since then.
However, varsity, work, etc. got in the way after matric. Last year, I realised that by the time the 2011 comrades came around, I would be 30 years old. So, I registered and trained and joined a running club.
I am running on Sunday to finally cross this off my “bucket list”!
Because I can! Any able-bodied person should at least attempt it once.
We’ve all heard it – if you live in SA, you gotta do Comrades at least once. Ya right, did my first in 2000. Then I heard, you not a true Comrade until you do the up & down, so 2001 was my second. After that, Bill Rowan medal was the one to get which I did in 2002. Now they saying to go for the green number. Ok so I’ve done 6 and unfortunately missing this year due to, what else but injuries. I should hopefully be back next year because green number it is for me!!! However, already I’m hearing that you gotta run at least 1 Comrades in your green number….damn, is this ever gonna end…
I wasn’t going to do it this year due to a demanding work schedule, but once this race gets under your skin, it’s hard to just walk away. I love Comrades – I grew up watching it on TV every year, and always dreamed of one day running it. I love the rich history and traditions associated with it, and hope to one day earn my permanent number and my place in Comrades history (this year is no. 4).
It changes your outlook on life – if you can run 90km in a day, there’s nothing you can’t achieve if you put your mind to it.
I know that there will come a day when I am no longer able to run it, but that day hasn’t come yet. As long as I am able to run, I will do it!
I actually dont know why. I just know I have to do it
The Comrades Marathon has always been a childhood dream of mine, ever since I watched my aunt complete her first comrades in 1990. On the 29th May 2011 I celebrated finishing my first Comrades with my Aunt Valerie Annandale completing her 19th.
People not participating in the Comrades Marathon may not understand the journey of five months of sacrifice, pain and anxiety leading up to this great event. This is not only a race about time and medals, but rather a celebration of each runner’s achievement in making it to the starting line on the day. I believe determination is what makes the Comrades Marathon the “Greatest Ultra Marathon Event in the World”.
Well done to all of those who participated, I wish it was compulsory for every individual to run it at least once. Imagine the World we would live in:-)
Growing up in KZN and seeing the runners sweat it out each year whilst we as children played around on the sidelines and waited for the bacon rolls to be ready; this annual event became etched in my mind as being something GREAT, something that is not taken lightly and only the dedicated few conscientiously put the effort, sweat and hours into such a feat.
This year it was my turn to stand at the start line amongst thousands of other dedicated Comrades on a dark, fresh Durban morning, excited and apprehensive as we all jostled closer together singing our national anthem! The route was beautiful, but gruelling at times and it definitely does require something extra to continue when your body is showing all the signs to stop, this special something that spurs you on which I know believe it to be part the crowds on the sidelines shouting your name and clapping your heavy steps onwards as well as our ability to push through on determination alone. Having that end goal of crossing the finish line in mind which I have so often day-dreamed about over the past months of training, I could only but put the next foot in front and push on!
I came in 11 hours and 58 minutes and am so proud to have done the journey, for me it is a once in a lifetime goal and I will continue to support the dedicated few that come back year after year to show testament to what being a Comrade is all about.
Did my first Comrades in 2010 and needed to return for my back-to-back medal. The 2011 up run was much tougher than my down run and I was a lot more emotional when I finished this time around because there were times during the race when I doubted I would finish in time. Now my brother is planning to join me at the starting line in 2012.
I love this race.