Comrade Marathon - 89 km, 56 miles

Arguably the greatest ultra marathon in the world where athletes come from all over the world to combine muscle and sinew and mental strength to conquer the approx 
90 kilometres between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

Right outside my door on Old Main Street was a world event. I went outside at 8:30am when I hear the helicopter overhead.  First thing I see is a fellow photographer. He looks a tad more professional than me and a tad cuter.

This was one of the first runners and probably one of the winners.  

I took 300 pictures and posted only 39 on this blog. After taking photo's of runners from in front of my flat I started walking down my street.  Neighbors lined the block and here brought their TV outside to follow the 56 mile marathon.  

Date: Sunday, 3 June 2012

Start: 05h30 in Pietermaritzburg

Finish: 17h30 in Durban

Distance: 89km - 56 miles

The 34 km mark was outside my flat - of the 89 km.

34 km = 21.1266 miles so they've almost run one marathon.

  

This is an annual event, always in early winter.  They call it up and down.  Up and down refers to elevation.  Now you need to know that I live is what is called VALLEY OF 1,000 HILLS.  Durban is on the Indian Ocean - sea level.  So one year the runners go down - like this year and next year they will go up.  The TV commentators said that their second half - the second 'regular' marathon should be faster because they descend down into Durban.  

The race began at 5:30am, so by the time they got to me they had been running for almost 4 hours - ouch and more to goooooooo.

Here is #1 and #2 women.  They got huge prize money.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.   2 Timothy 4:6-7

People stand on the street offering the runners various things.  Here this woman has orange slices.

                                17,000 participants and this guy took some orange slices.

Ginger and I had matching South African chairs.

This road closure signs have been posted all around town for the last month.

In South Africa a BBQ is called a Braai and most everyone has their breakfast cooking.  Here one skillet for eggs and two for bacon.   

Right by my flat was a big point for water, fruit, bathrooms and medical care. 

This little girl handing out water bags that they runner bites the corner off to either suck out the water or pour it on themselves.

                                                    Cups of Pepsi was also offered. 

Many volunteers were helping keep the road clean.  With 17,000 runners tossing orange peels, cups and water bags it was quite a mess.

Age Restriction

The minimum age requirement is that the athlete must be 20 years or older on the day of the event.

 

found this sweet angel sitting watching the race.

Entry Fee

South African Entry Fee : Early Bird Entry is R270.00 - ($33.75) 1 September 2011 to 30 September 2011.

 Thereafter South African Entry Free is R300.00 - (37.50)  

International Entry Fee : US$180.00.  Rest of Africa Entry Fee : R500.00. ($62.50)

Entry Fee is waived for holders of 25 or more Comrades medals.

There was a station where you could get your legs rubbed with cream, which I assume helps with the pain.

Clapham asked for permission to stage a 56 mile race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban under the name of the Comrades Marathon and for it to become a living memorial to the spirit of the soldiers of the Great War This was strenuously resisted by the League, but Clapham persisted maintaining that if a sedentary living person could be taken off the street given a rifle and 60lb pack and marched all over Africa then surely a fit and able athlete could complete the distance. Applications in 1919 and 1920 were refused but in 1921 the League relented and gave permission and 1 for expenses, which was refundable.

The first Comrades Marathon took place on 24th May 1921, Empire Day, starting outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg with 34 runners. It has continued since then every year with the exception of the war years 1941-1945, with the direction alternating each year between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the so called up & down runs.

Employee came out to watch.  People were everywhere.

This is my favorite shot.  Remember this guy is running - fast and I got the shot. Plus his tapped legs are so cool.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

As the day and hours wore on the pack got thinner and thinner and the runners started walking. I also thought it interesting that the athletes got bigger and heavier.  The first men had thighs the size of my upper arm.  Very slight men and very tiny women.  By afternoon I saw folks throw in the towel and get in the van :(

This is a world event.  People from all over the world came.  I saw about 5 people wearing the good old RED, WHITE AND BLUE.  I screamed USA and they acknowledged me.




I saw Britain, Japan, Australia, Germany and many from the various countries in Africa.






Another interesting fact, South Africa has 11 official languages, the people cheering from the side yelled in 
many different languages.






Besides cheering, the South African were also singing their nation anthem.

I thought this guy was ill but I guess he just had leg issues.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3