by “We are not talking about comrades …”
It became the common joke between me and a few close friends earlier this year.
I had told a few comrades that I had something great planned after the Barcelona marathon – something that even made 26.2 miles likely manner – but I didn’t want to dwell on it. The goal was Barcelona. A PB marathon. All my energy had to enter it.
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And it paid. A finish at 3:13, the product of a long morning winter, long hilly races, strength sessions and more than a few sautéed social plans. It was the race I wanted her to be.
But now? Now Barcelona is in the rear view mirror, and this tacit challenge is no longer something that I can dodge in the conversation.
So here it is: I direct the comrades marathon in South Africa in June.
Yes, the legendary of 56 miles from South Africa between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The one with brutal climbs, the quad-eragne descends and the cutting times that do not wait for anyone. It is often presented as the ultimate human race. I am inclined to agree – although certain days, following the rhythm of my son, Logan, during the first 200m to a parkrun resembles an ultra in itself.
I have never run further than a marathon. A marathon is 26.2 miles and the comrades are more than double. It’s like finishing Barcelona … then just out with casualness on 30 additional miles.
For what? Because in this self -discovery trip through the race, I really like to be out of my comfort zone and I like a challenge. I don’t continue for a while. In fact, this is one of the comrades’ calls. There is a 12 -hour cut, and honestly, if I can secure safely in this area and be able to walk at the end, I will consider it a monumental success.
Right now, I’m still in the recovery phase. Barcelona was a big effort for me. A finish at 3:13 looked like a long winter of targeted training, and I want to honor this work by allowing my body to recover completely. The temptation is always to continue too early, to set up the wave of fitness. But this next challenge requires patience. I deliberately chose a previous spring marathon to give me a little breathing margin – it is time to absorb the effort, to heal, then to regain carefully.
I think that I went well enough – there is still fatigue in my legs, but it is to be expected and I am at the stadium where I try to return to my normal racing routine, although all the races are at a relatively easy rate at the moment.
The next few weeks will be crucial. Recovery must be more than a simple reflection – it will be my absolute priority. This means getting the right bases: sleeping, nutrition and doing nothing stupid. As registering for another marathon because a few people attempted me in Edinburgh …
I will probably start reinforcing the mileage in mid-April, with Mai being my key month to get used to longer races, back and perhaps even a few sessions that test my mental endurance as much as my physique. There is also the question of hills. The comrades are not known for its flat and indulgent terrain. No, it’s no longer a “here is a climb that burns the legs at Mile 40 – good luck!” sort of race.
Thus, the strength of the hill will be vital. Just like the head in the idea that walking is not only allowed in an ultra – it is often an intelligent strategy. In a marathon, walking may have the impression of having abandoned (this is not the case) but among the comrades, this could be the difference between the finish and no.
Of course, there is another ultra-marathon that takes place in the background: the great balance between work, family and training. The adaptation of 20 miles long, work of strength and recovery naps (Ha!) In addition to a real real use and the general requirements of being a functional adult require logistics levels which could compete with a crew at the Formula 1 stand.
I have always tried to undertake longer races that do not eat in time with family and friends, but reality is that my energy levels will not always be where, ideally, I would like them to be. It’s not the best time for our coffee machine to go Kaput …
More than anything, however, I try to sit with the double feelings of excitement and fear. I think I need the two. The excitement will make me get out of bed early on a Sunday for a long training race. Fear will prevent me from taking shortened when the training becomes difficult. Together, they will keep me honest.
Because the truth is, arriving at the starting line is half the battle. The formation of something like the comrades is as much to stay healthy as to run far. Injury, illness, burnout – These are the real threats. If I can introduce myself to Durban on June 8, feeling hard, this one will be something to celebrate.
And if I can go to Pietermaritzburg before the last cut -off gun is triggered, well … I will be the most proud broken man in South Africa.
So let’s go. Barcelona was a beautiful chapter, but the comrades will be something else. Large, harder, more scary – and I hope all the more enriching.
So, yes, it’s time to talk about comrades …
