DOUBLE COMRADES

DOUBLE COMRADES 2009

Comrades Marathon is arguably the greatest ultra marathon in the world where athletes come from all over the world to conquer the approx 90 kilometres between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Each year the event alternates between an “up” year – Durban to Pietermaritzburg or a “down” year – Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

The Comrades route is well known for its “big five” hills – just in case you are under the misapprehension that there are ONLY five big hills, there are in fact nothing but hills, they obviously haven’t got round to giving them names yet!!!The race has a 12 hour cut-off with various cut-offs along the route.  These are enforced very strictly – as the cut-off gets nearer a man stands on the line with his back towards the runners holding a gun which he fires when the cut-off time is reached, any runner who hasn’t managed to get there is unfortunately pulled from the race – even if it’s by a second! – you’ll be glad to hear that the gun is fired into the air not at the runners!!

So, guess what I decided to have a go at? Yup, have a go at the “Double” or “back to back” as it’s otherwise known.   I first heard of the Comrades Marathon in 2006 when I ran the Kalahari Extreme Marathon, everyone was so enthusiastic about it and said that one day I must come and run it – I was also aware that only 2 men had ever completed the back to back and as far as I was aware no woman had even attempted it (Rosie Swale, I gather, did 2 up runs in 2000 with a nights sleep in between).

On the 19th May 2009 I flew out to South Africa for the start of another marvellous adventure.The build up to my Double Comrades didn’t exactly go to plan.

Everything was going well until the beginning of April – which of course is the main training month – when I got a stress fracture in my foot, it swelled up and walking on it was agony.  Thankfully I have an excellent team of people who look after me and I’m a great believer in positive thinking.  I did no running for the next week, then I started aqua jogging and spending endless hours in the gym, finally at the beginning of May I was able to start running again.  So you can understand why perhaps I was in a complete panic about the Double!

Organising an event like this from the other side of the world is not easy! I was going to need armed security guards, crew, informing the police, someone who knew the route, accommodation etc – the list was endless.

My crew were fantastic, Jane MacKinnon and Gary Roscoe, they organised, sorted and planned.  Jane and I had driven down in her Combi together from Jo’burg as that was to be our vehicle for the trip.  My security guys were provided by Rory Steyn and Tom Cottrell was another marvellous man who helped me.Jane packed the Combi up as she needed to know where everything was.  We had put a bike in the back just in case one of the security guys needed to be with me during the night.  I met Gary for the first time on Friday afternoon when he came to the flat to go through the route and plans etc – it really does make such a difference having an excellent, supportive and motivated crew.

Just after 3pm on the 23rd May we left the flat and headed off towards Durban picking up Neil Kapoor on our way, we arrived at the City Hall at about 4pm. The rest of the team arrived and we were ready to set off.  Gary had brought his own bike and guided us out of Durban and in fact cycled with us most of the way.We set off at 4.15pm from the City Hall in Durban and the plan was to go nice and slowly and get to Pietermaritzburg in 11 hours – my heart was going like the clappers, I couldn’t get my breathing right and spent the first 20 minutes running round people on the pavement – eventually I ran on the side of the road much easier, but was still struggling to relax.  Thankfully I gradually managed to get myself back in control and began to enjoy myself.  Having Gary on the bike in front of us made a huge difference , Jane & the security guys followed in the Combi, they would drive in such a way that the traffic had to go round them to miss us!

Gary was marvellous and would give us a running commentary as to which hill we were running up – I’m not sure whether this was a good idea or not but it passed the time and in my mind I was able to throw another hill away.By now I was feeling extremely relaxed and enjoying the run – Jane was in a slight panic that we were going too quickly and kept telling us to slow down – I did try to do as I was told, but each time I slowed down I would then go back to the original pace fairly quickly. Jane did a fantastic job of replenishing our drinks as and when we needed them.  Running through Westville (which is where Gary lives) we had lots of people out to support us as we ran past – big thank you to Gary’s better half for this!  Then more support and cheering in Pinetown.  Cowies Hill and Fields Hill seemed to go by without me evening noticing which was great – must have been talking too much!We had a couple of points along the route where we weren’t sure which way to go – although it seemed like ages it was in fact probably no longer than 5 minutes!

Running in the dark was great and as the evening went on it became foggier to the point where Jane was struggling to see us in front of the vehicle!The half way point at Drummond was reached in 4 hrs 35 minutes – not bad!  Going through the half way point was wonderful as the guys put on some music for us and gave a running commentary – how marvellous was that!  It was decided that we would have a 10 minute break just after the half way point – Neil needed to sort out some gels and I had a cup of coffee – with everything sorted we set off again for the final section of the up run.Along the route we came across groups of people who had set up camp in preparation for Comrades the following day – they were of course in party mood so waved us on saying “go Mimi” – I was very surprised they knew who I was.

Just after Drummond you have one of the Big Five hills known as Inchanga – this was the first hill that Neil and I did any walking on but still kept the walking to a minimum.  The temperature had dropped quite considerably and I was feeling cold so had put on a sweat shirt – this then had to come off again 10 minutes later as it was too hot – quick change into a long sleeved shirt – much better – although this was during the walking breaks I get very cross with myself when I can’t control my body temperature and feel that I’m faffing around.The next big hill that I was dreading was Polly Shortts – this is the one hill on the race that everyone talks about so my imagination was going wild!  Neil and I decided to walk up this hill which is 2km long to conserve our energy for the second half of our run later that day!  Any excuse for a chat!

The finish of the Up hill run is at the Pietermaritzburg Oval – we weren’t able to run into this but ran past the entrance and continued on until it was safe to stop – completing our first section of the Double in 9 hours 50 minutes which we were both thrilled with.

The start of Comrades is at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg, so with excellent map reading skills from Jane we drove to the VIP parking area which was a two minute walk to the start.  After a massage, something to eat, a sort out of one little blister and a very big hug to all the crew Neil & I together with his girlfriend Clare who was running her first Comrades (like us!) headed off to the seeding pens ready for our second leg.  Although Neil had an A seeding he went with Clare into the D seeding pen, I said my good byes and vanished into my seeding pen – the nerves kicked in again.  The atmosphere was electric, people chatting, music playing all waiting for the start.  My legs were feeling fantastic so all I had to do was take it nice and easy and get myself to the finish back in Durban.

One of many traditions just before the start of Comrades is “chariots of fire” – well, how emotional is that – then the cockerel crowing and finally at exactly 5.30am the gun is fired and 13,000 runners set off on the 90km run to Durban.I remember seeing the 9 hr bus (pacing man) running just in front of me as the race started – I knew that there was no way I could keep up with them and just had to let them go – my aim was to stay in front of the 11 hr bus, I also knew that I had to beat the cut-offs so needed to try and keep a fairly steady pace.

Jane had arranged for some of my carbohydrate drinks to be left at her running clubs water stations – I had memorized where they were going to be but unfortunately missed the first 3! Luckily about 15km from the half way point at Drummond Jane spotted me and handed me a bottle.  I was going through a slight bad patch at this point – energy levels were low, so it was marvellous to see Jane and be given some encouragement, the best bit of news for me was that on my current pacing I was on for a 10 hour 15 minute finish – a well needed boost and I continued on my way knowing I could achieve this. The half way point at Drummond was reached in 4 hrs 53 minutes so still happy about my progress.  After half way my pace did slow and I found that I had to fast walk up some of the hills – not the whole way but just long enough to give my legs a change of pace.  Running down Fields Hill was a killer – this I took at a steady pace as it puts a huge amount of pressure on your quads.  To distract myself from my uncomfortable legs I started chatting to people and listening to their stories which was wonderful, I also entertained myself by looking at the various names on people’s race numbers – well, it passes the time!

Gary said that he would be at Westville cheering his friends on and would be there to encourage me along – it was MARVELLOUS to spot him, he gave me some much needed refreshment and sent me on my way.

The final cut-off was at Mayville – 7km to go until the finish – such a marvellous feeling until you go round the corner and OH LOOK another hill – this I walked up quite happy in the knowledge that I was going to finish.Coming into the final 2km of the race was a wonderful feeling.  I hooked up with another girl who was struggling so I suggested that we finished together – after all, that is what Comrades is all about?  As I ran into the finish at the Sahara Stadium in Durban you are given a real boost of energy by the crowds, they are clapping and cheering – then I spotted Jane and all I wanted to do was go over to her and give her a HUGE hug!  Guy, Wade and John were also there to cheer me on – but sadly I didn’t see them – probably just as well as I would have cried my way across the line!

Finally there was the famous finish line that I had read and heard so much about – I had done it – I crossed the line in 10 hours 40 minutes becoming the first woman to attempt and complete Back to Back Comrades.  Neil finished his epic run in 9 hours 28 minutes which is just outstanding becoming the 3rd man and first British man.

For anyone out there who has never thought about running Comrades Marathon give it a go – the support and atmosphere is fantastic and the encouragement you get from fellow runners is wonderful and South Africa is the most beautiful country.

Thank you to my marvellous wonderful crew, my husband who was keeping my blog going, My sponsors The Inkerman Group for my tracking system, my family & friends for their support and thank you to everyone else who helped me – events like this you simply couldn’t achieve without their support. I had a MARVELLOUS time and an outstanding adventure.

A quote from Bruce Fordyce in the South African Runners World:

Mimi Anderson’s Achievement – By Bruce Fordyce.
I was surprised that more was not made of the amazing run by Mimi Anderson. Her back-to-back Comrades on behalf of the Dave Rattray Foundation was simply astounding. On Saturday, she ran up to Pietermaritzburg in 9:50 and on race day she ran back down in 10:50. I think Paul Selby was awarded a spirit of Comrades award when he did that for cancer a few years ago. A huge fuss was made then. Mimi’s run seems to have slipped past almost unnoticed.