My View About Comrades Marathon In South Africa

Roll of Honour

Traditionally runners retain their designated race numbers from year to year, while after completing 10 Comrades Marathons the runner is awarded his/her Green Number in Perpetuity, meaning that it is henceforth reserved for its owner. It is also possible to earn a Green Number with either 3 wins or 5 gold medals. The records for the most Comrades completed are held by Clive Crawley who has completed 42 and Fiona Dawson and Ann Margolin who have both completed 23. (Prior to 1975 women were not permitted to participate.)

The concept of Green Numbers was first introduced in the 1972, but it was applied retrospectively so that the names listed herein do in fact constitute a complete list of individuals who have met the criteria. To date 8900 runners have earned the distinction.

If you run 20 you will get a Double Green Number!!! and so on

Riel Hugo has 41 completed
Clive Crawley has 43 completed
Dave Rogers has 44 completed

http://www.comrades.com/predefined.aspx?Page=675

The Coveted Comrades Medal - Words by Mike Bath - Former CMA Museum Curator

The Comrades Marathon medal has remained true in size and design since its inception in 1921. There are some that speak slighting of its size and general appearance as being insignificant, but as Morris Alexander wrote in his book ' The Comrades Marathon Story':

'No sports medals have ever been so dearly won and cherished as the Comrades Marathon medals. It was surely an original stroke of genius on the part of Comrades founder Vic Clapham to reward with these medals the efforts of all those who completed the course within the prescribed time'

The medal is 29mm in diameter and depicts the words 'COMRADES MARATHON' and 'MARITZBURG - DURBAN' encircling a striding figure of Hermes with winged feet and helmet. It would seem that the figure of Hermes was chosen as the emblem of Comrades Marathon on the basis of his renown as the messenger of the gods according to Greek mythology. He was also the god of land travel and the patron of roads and his relevance to Comrades can perhaps be drawn from this connection.

The first medal awarded in 1921 was a SILVER MEDAL which was awarded to all finishers of the event up until 1931. An exception to this rule was a special bronze medal awarded to LEW Pearson who completed the distance in a time of 12hrs 20min in 1921.

1931 saw the introduction of the GOLD MEDAL, awarded to the first 6 men.

1972 saw the major change of ten Gold medals being awarded, Silver to those runners completing the race in sub 7hrs 30min and those completing the race in sub 11hrs 00min receiving a BRONZE MEDAL.

In 1980, because of the cost of gold and silver, the quality of the medals was down graded. Gold medals became sterling silver medals plated with gold and Silver medals were to be silver plating over 'high quality gilding metal'.

2000, the millennium year, saw the introduction a new medal, the BILL ROWAN for those achieving a time from 7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min, a medal with a bronze centre circled by a silver ring and named after Bill Rowan the winner of the first Comrades in 1921. His winning time being 8hrs 59min, therefore anyone winning a Bill Rowan would have complete the event faster than the winner of the first race.

A new copper medal, the fifth in the series, was added in 2003 with the introduction of the VIC CLAPHAM medal for those finishing from 11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min. This coincides with the increase in the time allocation for completing the event from sub 11hrs to sub 12hrs.

The Comrades Marathon Back-to-Back medal was introduced in 2005 and henceforth was awarded to novice runners who complete an 'up or down run' in succession. In terms of the implementation thereof, Back-to-Back medals were automatically awarded to 2005 Comrades Marathon finishers who had completed their first Comrades Marathon in 2004. As with any new innovation, the award was never intended to be retrospective, owing to administrative restrictions. However, in response to popular demand, the CMA have decided to make the Back-to-Back medal available for purchase to runners who have previously fulfilled the criteria of completing both an 'up' and a 'down' Comrades Marathon.

A new medal - the "Wally Hayward" - was introduced in 2007. The Comrades Marathon Association wanted to honour one of South Africa's greatest athletes, and at the same time to recognise the outstanding performances of elite athletes who narrowly miss a gold medal. This new medal is awarded to those who do not finish in the top 10, yet complete the race within six hours. The late Wally Hayward was one of the greatest ever Comrades Marathon runners. His seven medals included five wins, three of them record breaking runs. He had a remarkable Comrades career spanning 60 years. Wally remains the oldest person ever to finish the race.

Medals Currently Awarded
Gold Medals First 10 men and first 10 women
Wally Hayward Medals Position 11 to sub 6hrs 00min
Silver Medals 6hrs 00min to sub 7hrs 30min
Bill Rowan Medals 7hrs 30min to sub 9hrs 00min
Bronze Medals 9hrs 00min to sub 11hrs 00min
Vic Clapham 11hrs 00min to sub 12hrs 00min

Commemorative medals

On only four occasions has the medal changed in size and design. The size of the commemorative medal has remained constant at 40mm diameter although the design of the medal has been specific to the occasion.

1975 - A special medal was struck to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Comrades Marathon. This medal bore a commemorative '50'.

1988 - A special medal was struck to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the City of Pietermaritzburg.

2000 - A special medal was struck to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Comrades Marathon and the Millennium Race. This was one of the few medals to change the wording 'MARITZBURG - DURBAN' to read 'DURBAN - MARITZBURG'.

In 2005 the 80th year the world famous event was held, saw a subtle but distinct difference for 2005 medal. The traditional Comrades Marathon medal has not changed in 80 years - it is both humble and precious, so CMA do not tamper with the actual medal. However, the 2005 date bar attached to the medal was specially designate of the 80th celebrations and was attached to a special commemorative ribbon.

2010: A commemoratvive 40mm medal celebrating the 85th Anniversary in conjunction with SA hosting the FIFA World Cup

Medals in the women's race
Women were first acknowledged in 1975 with them being awarded Bronze Medals.
%u2022 From 1979 to 1981 a Silver Medal was awarded to the 1st Woman.
%u2022 In 1983 a Gold Medal was introduced for the 1st Woman.
%u2022 In 1988 Gold Medals were awarded to the first 3 Women and in 1995 this was increased to the first 5 Women.
%u2022 From 1998 the first 10 Women were awarded Gold Medals, the same as the men's event.

Mention the Comrades Marathon, the world-famous 90-kilometre run between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and one name still springs to mind: Bruce Fordyce, the "Comrades King", and one of the all-time greats of ultra-marathon running.

Fordyce won South Africa's gruelling ultra-marathon an incredible eight times in succession, and nine times overall, to make the race his own throughout the 1980s.

At a time when some runners were contenders on the Comrades "up run" (Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and others contenders on the "down run" (Pietermaritzburg to Durban), Fordyce broke the record in both directions.
Long-standing down run record

In 2007, his record for the down run of 5:24:07, which had stood for 21 years, was finally broken by Russia's Leonid Shvetsov. Fordyce's record was established in the amateur age; it took a man who finished thirteenth in the Athens Olympic Marathon to break it, over two decades later.

The sight of the slight, blonde-haired runner pulling away from the field in the second half of the race had much to do with the boom in popularity that the Comrades enjoyed during Fordyce's decade.

It also played a big role in turning the Comrades into a race for professional as well as amateur runners, capable of attracting a considerable number of competitors from abroad, including some of the world's best ultra-marathoners.

Fordyce proved that he could compete internationally too, winning the London to Brighton Marathon three times in succession, in the process setting a world 50-mile record.
Forty-third, third, second ...

Fordyce first entered the Comrades Marathon as a university student in 1977, placing forty-third out of the 1 678 runners in the field that day. It was the middle year of three consecutive victories for Alan Robb.

Two years later, in 1979, Piet Vorster won the up run, but Fordyce was now well in the picture, moving into the top three for the first time, less than a minute behind second-placed Johnny Halberstadt.

In 1980, Alan Robb was again number one, but Fordyce had risen to second place, primed to challenge for the title the following year - though he nearly didn't enter.
Critic of apartheid

An outspoken critic of apartheid, Fordyce and a number of other athletes decided to boycott the 1981 event when organisers announced that they would associate it with the 20th anniversary of the Republic of South Africa.

Ultimately, though, Fordyce ran, wearing a black armband to signal his protest - and destroyed the opposition, crossing the line in a sensational 5:37:28, nearly 10 minutes clear of second-placed Johnny Halberstadt.

In the same year, Fordyce won the 55-mile (88.5-kilometre) London to Brighton Marathon, then regarded as the world's premier ultra-marathon, in a time of 5:12.32.

Fordyce's win kept up a rich South African tradition of competing in, and winning, the English ultra. Previous winners included a number of men synonymous with the Comrades - greats of the event such as Arthur Newton, Jackie Meckler and Wally Hayward.

In the Comrades down run in 1982, Fordyce dominated again, taking victory in 05:34:22, well clear of Alan Robb's 05:41:26. He also completed the Comrades-London to Brighton double, winning it for the second year in succession.
Capturing the imagination

With Fordyce to the fore, the Comrades captured the imagination of the South African public. Race entries skyrocketed, and it became a popular pursuit to line the road and cheer the runners on the public holiday when the race was held.

The sight of the slightly built blond-haired student, upping the pace through the second half of the race, dropping rivals like flies while giving them a word or two of encouragement as he passed them, thrilled the public. A national hero had been born.

In 1980, the Comrades field had been just under 4 000 strong. By the end of the decade, with Fordyce entrenched in the public's imagination, the number of race finishers had grown to over 10 000.
World record

It was one-way traffic in 1983, with Fordyce racing away from the field to take the up run in an astonishing 5:30:12. Runner-up Gordon Shaw finished more than 15 minutes later.

Fordyce won the London to Brighton Marathon for the third time in a row in 1983, in the course of which he set a world record for 50 miles (80.45 kilometres), cementing his reputation as the finest ultra-marathon athlete in the world.

In 1984, Fordyce notched up his fourth Comrades on the trot, completing the Pietermaritzburg to Durban down run in a splendid 5:27:18.

In the same year he set a United States all-comers record in the 50 mile, clocking a ridiculous 4:50:51 in Chicago.

In 1985 it was the Bruce Fordyce show again as he fought off a brave challenge from Hoseah Tjale to capture a fifth Comrades title in 5:37.01.
Comrades records

In 1986, Fordyce, chased by Rand Athletics Club teammate Bob De La Motte, cracked the down run record, turning in a time of 5:24:07. Credit, too, to De La Motte, who clocked 5:26:12.

In 1987, De La Motte and Hoseah Tjale were left chasing Fordyce into Pietermaritzburg as he won the up run in 5:37:01.

In 1988, for the first time, the Comrades had more than 10 000 finishers, but the race result didn't differ. Fordyce claimed his eighth in a row, in an up run record of 5:27:42. Runner-up Mark Page finished more than 10 minutes behind him.

The following year, Fordyce sat out the race, and Sam Tshabalala became the first black winner of the event, in 5:35:01, some way off the standards Fordyce had established for the down run.

Fordyce was back in 1990, once more producing a comfortable victory, his 5:40:25 almost five minutes faster than second-placed Hoseah Tjale.

The year 1991 signalled the end of an era as Fordyce was beaten for the first time in over a decade, with Nick Bester taking the line honours.

That was the last of Fordyce's Comrades victories. Not only had he completely dominated the decade of the 1980s, but also, largely thanks to him, the field had grown from under 4 000 finishers in 1980 to 10 273 when he won the event for the last time.
Bruce Fordyce today

Nowadays, Fordyce is often seen at endurance events such as the Comrades and the 120-kilometre Dusi Canoe Marathon, participating to raise money for charity.

He has written a book, "The Marathon Runners' Handbook", and had a book written about him, John Cameron-Dow's "Bruce Fordyce: Comrades King", and has become a sought-after motivational speaker.

He has also used the profile he established as a sporting hero to give back to South Africans in his role as CEO of The Sports Trust, an independent body established in 1995 to fund sports development in the country.

Year Race No First Name Surname Finish Pos Finish Time

2011 55925 Stephen Muzhingi 1 5:42 (First African / Black man to win the Up run)
2010 55925 Stephen Muzhingi 1 5:29
2009 55925 Stephen Muzhingi 1 5:23:27 Second fastest time for down run
2008 49670 Leonid Shvetsov 1 5:24:47 - Record for up run
2007 49670 Leonid Shvetsov 1 5:20:41 - Record for Down run
2006 49673 Oleg Kharitonov 1 5:35:19
2005 51570 Sipho Ngomane 1 5:27:11
2004 39358 Vladimir Kotov 1 5:31:22
2003 14084 Fusi Nhlapo 1 5:28:53
2002 39358 Vladimir Kotov 1 5:30:59
2001 35782 Andrew Kelehe 1 5:25:51
2000 39358 Vladimir Kotov 1 5:25:33
1999 4889 Jaroslaw Janicki 1 5:30:11
1998 4673 Dmitri Grishine 1 5:26:25
1997 1741 Charl Mattheus 1 5:28:37
1996 4673 Dmitri Grishine 1 5:29:33
1995 6845 Shaun Meiklejohn 1 5:34:02 - First Local PMB Man to win
1994 5802 Alberto Salazar 1 5:38:39 - First and only USA NAtional to win
1993 1907 Charly Doll 1 5:39:41
1992 7532 Jetman Mosotho 1 5:46:11
1991 13617 Nick Bester 1 5:40:53
1990 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:40:25
1989 6051 Samuel Tshabalala 1 5:35:51 - First African / Black man to win
1988 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:27:42
1987 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:37:01
1986 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:24:07
1985 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:27:18
1983 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:30:12
1982 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:34:22
1981 2403 Bruce Fordyce 1 5:37:28
1980 1704 Alan Robb 1 5:38:25
1979 1834 Piet Vorster 1 5:45:02
1978 1704 Alan Robb 1 5:29:14
1977 1704 Alan Robb 1 5:47:00
1976 1704 Alan Robb 1 5:40:43
1975 417 Derek Preiss 1 5:53:00
1974 417 Derek Preiss 1 6:02:49
1973 475 Dave Levick 1 5:39:09
1972 307 Mick Orton 1 5:48:57
1971 303 Dave Bagshaw 1 5:47:06
1970 303 Dave Bagshaw 1 5:51:27
1969 303 Dave Bagshaw 1 5:45:35
1968 9 Jackie Mekler 1 6:01:11
1967 168 Manie Kuhn 1 5:54:10
1966 62 Tommy Malone 1 6:14:07
1965 300 Bernard Gomersall 1 5:51:09
1964 9 Jackie Mekler 1 6:09:54
1963 9 Jackie Mekler 1 5:51:20
1962 300 John Smith 1 5:57:05
1961 184 George Claassen 1 6:07:07
1960 9 Jackie Mekler 1 5:56:32
1959 17 Trevor Allen 1 6:28:11
1958 9 Jackie Mekler 1 6:26:26
1957 19 Mercer Davies 1 6:13:55
1956 5 Gerald Walsh 1 6:33:35
1955 5 Gerald Walsh 1 6:06:32
1954 2 Wally Hayward 1 6:12:55
1953 2 Wally Hayward 1 5:52:30
1952 17 Trevor Allen 1 7:00:02
1951 2 Wally Hayward 1 6:14:08
1950 2 Wally Hayward 1 6:46:25
1949 7 Reg Allison 1 6:23:21
1948 15 William Savage 1 7:13:52
1947 41 Hardy Ballington 1 6:41:05
1946 44 Bill Cochrane 1 7:02:40
1940 67 Allen Boyce 1 6:39:23
1939 92 Johnny Coleman 1 6:22:05
1938 41 Hardy Ballington 1 6:32:26
1937 92 Johnny Coleman 1 6:23:11
1936 41 Hardy Ballington 1 6:46:14
1935 44 Bill Cochrane 1 6:30:05
1934 41 Hardy Ballington 1 7:09:03
1933 41 Hardy Ballington 1 6:50:37
1932 15 William Savage 1 7:41:58
1931 45 Phil Masterton-Smith 1 7:16:30

Stephen Muzhingi became the first black man to win the "Up Run" in 2011, as well as the first man since Bruce Fordyce to win 3 in a row.

Stephen has also set the second fastest time in the Comrades History.

More information on Stephen can be found at www.squidoo.com/stephen-muzhingi

or

Www,facbook..com/ stephenmuzhingi

Comrades Marathon : Event Statistics average per annum based on a field size of 15 000 runners

2022 46 Refreshment Tables - Every 2 to 3 km

2022 1350 litres of Cola (2011 saw Pepsi introduced as as sponsors for the first time)

2022 350,000 Bottles Energade

2022 1,100,000 sachets of water

2022 5000 sachets of Mageu

2022 5,4 tons of bananas

2022 448 pockets of oranges

2022 1 ton of Chocolates

2022 2 tons of baby potatoes

2022 400kgs biscuits

2022 400,000 plastic bottles

2022 2500 litter bins

2022 750 tubes of Deep Heat

2022 16 Netcare 911 ambulances equipped with satellite tracking

2022 6 Netcare 911 rapid response vehicles with advanced life support paramedics

2022 4 Netcare 911 motorbikes (quads) with paramedics

2022 1 dedicated helicopter

2022 1 standby helicopter

2022 8 medical first aid stations on route staffed by professional nurses and paramedical staff. These stations incorporate diabetic stations where blood sugar levels can be tested.

2022 8 physio stations on route staffed by qualified physios and 3rd year physio students

2022 medical tent at the finish staffed by 40 doctors and 20 nurses, including a 2-bed fully equipped ICU-type resuscitation unit an emergency resuscitation unit at the finish line

2022 St John's Ambulance tent at the finish to attend to minor discomforts, provide rub downs, strapping and massages

2022 Physio tent at the finish

2022 Public first aid tent

The start for the up run is at sea level in the centre of the harbour city of Durban, and finishes in Pietermaritzburg at an altitude of 650 m. On the way runners encounter 5 major hills, popularly known as the "Big Five" which are briefly described in the following narrative, interspersed with other landmarks and points of interest.

Almost directly from the start outside the Durban Post Office, the ascent to Pietermaritzburg begins with a steady climb up Berea Road to the summit at Tollgate, where today there is neither toll nor gate. After a brief descent another climb takes the runners to 45th Cutting, so named after the British 45th Regiment of Foot ( Sherwood Foresters ) who constructed the cutting while stationed in Natal from 1843 to 1859. The first of the "Big Five" Cowies Hill is the next landmark of note.

COWIES HILL

Coming up from Durban, Cowies is encountered approximately 14 km from the start and is a moderately difficult climb rising about 137 m in the space of 1,5 km. Although this does not sound too difficult an obstacle so early in the race, the preceding 14 km is a relentless ascent, to an altitude of nearly 300 m at Westville, which warrants its inclusion in the "Big Five".

FIELDS HILL

After the descent from Cowies Hill and the easy flat section of Pinetown's Old Main Road, this hill (namely after an early pioneer) is approximately 22km from Durban and rises some 213m over a distance of 3km. It offers a foretaste of things to come.

BOTHA'S HILL

After breasting the crest of Field's Hill some respite is offered by an undulating but reasonably flat section to the village of Hillcrest. After a short descent from Hillcrest, Botha's Hill offers another challenge with a somewhat lesser altitude rise of some ± 150 m, and covering a distance of 2,4 km, but is nevertheless taxing. At the top of this hill lies a landmark well known to all veteran Comrades runners in the form of the boys of Kearsney College who have gathered in numbers outside the famous school's gates since the beginning of Comrade's long history, providing much appreciated support to the weary runners. Their vociferous and enthusiastic support together with refreshments and any other assistance needed has helped lift the flagging spirit of many a runner and encapsulates the school motto Carpe Diem.

In the 7 km stretch from the top of Botha's to the halfway mark, there is a fairly steep but short descent known as Alverstone, which is recognisable by the radio and TV transmitting mast clearly visible on the left.

At the end of the flat section after the sharp descent, runners encounter the Wall of Honour on the right hand side of the road, overlooking the Valley of 1000 Hills. This wall was created as a permanent landmark to honour the achievements of runners who have completed the epic journey between the two cities.

Just round the corner, through the cutting is Arthur's Seat a niche cut into the cutting wall, which legend tells us was the spot where the famous Arthur Newton, 5 times winner of the 1920's, used to sit for a breather while out running. Today runners are urged to pay homage to Mr. Newton with a greeting and a flower, which legend has it, ensures a great second half of the race.

A couple of 100 metres beyond this lies Drummond which marks halfway, and is immediately followed by the fourth "Big Five" hill, Inchanga.

INCHANGA

Immediately after reaching the welcome milestone of the halfway mark, runners are confronted with this monster. It winds relentlessly for 2,5 km and also rises some 150 m in altitude, but at this stage of the race seems far more difficult than the preceding hills.

The descent of some 2 km is more gentle and is a welcome relief. The bottom of the Inchanga descent is marked by Mayats Store on the right.

The route now follows a generally flat and slightly undulating landscape through the tiny villages of Cato Ridge and Camperdown and passing the Ethembeni School for Handicapped Children who line the route with enthusiastic support for the runners. Harrison Flats lies just before Cato Ridge and is an uninspiring flat section of approx 2,5 km, which to the leg-weary runner seems endless.

Approximately 19 km from Pietermaritzburg is the highest point on the route ( 870 m) at a point known as Umlaas Road. This point is unremarkable as is not reached by any noticeable hill, and is largely unnoticed by most runners. A landmark is a concrete water tower which is visible on the other side of the freeway which passes near the route on the right at that point.

POLLY SHORTTS

This is the ultimate in heartbreak hills. It lies in wait 80 km away from Durban and is often the make or break point for even the top contenders. The climb is 1,8 km in length with the summit at an altitude of 737 m, (a rise of nearly 100 m) and while this is 133 m less than the highest point on the course, it is a formidable obstacle to any runner with two back-to-back standard marathons behind him. A kind of rule of thumb, is that if you get to the top of Pollys in first place you should win the race. No-one has ever lost a race once they got to the top of Pollys in first place.

From here there is about 8km to the finish on an undulating but predominantly down hill. There arae two small climbs but with the crowd support and every runner in the back of his mind as do not get overtaken, on their mind, one tends to forget the pain in the body at this point.

For both the up and the down run it is important to note the dramatic physical variations in the Drummond to Durban stretch. In the down run this is the second half of the race. The first half can be deceptive and many runners will wonder if this is indeed a down run. The Pietermaritzburg to Drummond section does not have nearly the physical variation as the second half. Both Pietermaritzburg and Drummond lie roughly at the same height above sea level and the highest point of the course, Umlaas Road, is a mere 170 m above Pietermaritzburg. By contrast, the variation in height over the second half of the course is 650 m. This variation is dramatic and, as any seasoned campaigner will testify, it is the damage done to tired legs that makes up the physical challenge of the down run.

The Comrades route is best described by the "Big Five" hills. The order of these hills on the down run is: Polly Shortts, Inchanga, Botha's Hill, Fields Hill and, finally, Cowie's Hill. Three of these hills are found in the second half. From the top of Botha's Hill to the base of Cowie's Hill there is a drop of over 500 m in just 22 km. Here is the challenge of the down run. Foolhardy exuberance here will be paid for many times over on the final run into Durban.

The start is always a festive occasion, with the blaring music in the foreground and the incessant chattering of a thousand mynah birds in the background, punctuated by the "Chariots of Fire" theme and the Max Trimbourn cock-crow as five thirty draws near. A cannon shot, a big cheer and the flood of humanity surges forward. It takes about seven minutes to clear the field from the start.

First down the dip past Alexander Park and then into the dark suburbs of Pietermaritzburg towards Polly Shortts. A mere 8 km into the race, this hill hardly features on the down run. From this high ground runners can gaze out as the first rays of sunlight reflect off the mists in the distant valleys. Here there is always talk of last year's run, and how this hill, this stern tester of both great and average runners, provided trial and tribulation.

In the morning chill the local farmers are braaiing as we run past waving, still with much energy. The sun is now up and there are cows and horses grazing in the fields. The road ahead undulates into little hollows, but the climb is gentle and Ashburton is not far off. And so we hustle through the ample drinks tables at Mpushini and cut under the N3 at the Lion Park turnoff. Here there is public parking and the crowd is huge and the mood festive. By now there is more space between runners as we climb in the direction of colorful hot air balloons and Umlaas Road, the highest point of the race.

Here we run with the N3 on our left to Camperdown. We are in chicken-farm country as we head towards the delightful village filled to capacity with cheering spectators, runners and the smell of breakfast-braais. Now approaching the 60 km-to-go marker board, we enter Cato Ridge. The Cato Ridge Hotel cuts steep black-and-white angles against the sky as we descend to the underpass, which takes us back onto the northern part of the N3. Harrison Flats must be taken with caution, a seemingly barren stretch between the undulating grassland behind and the Valley of a Thousand Hills ahead.

And so onto Inchanga. The "graveyard" of running behind us, we encounter a tunnel of cheering school children from the Ethembeni Home. This is a place to reflect, for these children are leaning on crutches or are in wheelchairs. The noise and the excitement is tangible as runners pass through this celebration. Many runners find great mental and spiritual upliftment here.
Inchanga is a notorious hill, and the slow climb past Byat's Store, no longer standing but acknowledged as a landmark, is hard. By now the sun is sitting high and the day is getting hot. Two steepish climbs wait up Inchanga Bank, then the descent into Drummond. Here one can see the highway far below, with Drummond in the distance, and hear the cacophony of sound as spectators revel in the festivities in the small town.

Here, at the halfway mark, the Valley of a Thousand Hills spreads out majestically to the north. There is a festive swirl of sound, smell and colour that passes all too quickly, for now the climb out of Drummond to Botha's Hill is hard. Before reaching the village, there is Arthur's Seat, legendary spot where it is believed the ghost of Greatheart Newton himself sits on Comrades day and greets each runner on the way to Durban. There is the Comrades Wall of Honor, the Alverstone Tower and the sweeping descent past the Rob Roy Hotel. This is the most scenic part of the Comrades Marathon, and a good time to savour the moment.

Near the top of Botha's Hill is Kearsney College. Here well-groomed, uniformed lads from the college line the road. Somewhat more restrained than the children at Ethembeni, it is still a warm welcome as the downhill running begins in earnest. The downhill run of Botha's is jarring and is difficult at times. Onward to Hillcrest.

As we enter Hillcrest, we see large country homes that hug the hillsides - in stark contrast to the rural Zulu huts that dotted the mountainous valley a few kilometers back. Hillcrest is a popular place for spectators and there are big crowds on both sides of the road. The distance begins to tell and, with 30 km to go, the pleasant tree-lined road is very welcome. We run past lovely homes with lush subtropical gardens and neat lawns.

The way forward from here is downhill, and I am reminded of the words of Tim Noakes: "It is here, in the sudden solitude of the quiet lane that meanders gracefully through Emberton and Gillits that, for me, the Comrades Marathon really begins. No longer do I progress on my own terms - the hopes and confidence stored in my training now vanish before the reality. The course, which has been held at bay for 57 km, is now running me. Around me, I know that each runner is engaged in the same battle. In common suffering, we are alone to find our individual solutions.

"So despite the internal mutiny of an exhausted body, as I approach Kloof Station, my mind is still in control. But whatever mental reserves I retain, I know they are inadequate for the sight that now confronts me. From Kloof Station, at the top of Fields Hill, the Comrades plays the most evil trick. Experience tells me not to look, that should I, for one second, divert my eyes from the road, I will most likely not finish. But I have no discipline and I see laid before me the final, infinite 25 km that separates me from Durban and the finish at the old Kingsmead Cricket Ground.

"In each race I have learned the desire to quit comes but once. It is a coward that once beaten does not return. But as I begin the descent of Fields Hill, even this knowledge is of no assistance. It is here on this major descent, that I am joined by the final tormentor. The continual jarring of sharp descents form Inchanga, Botha's Hill and Hillcrest has taken its toll on my quadriceps and every step now sends an ever more painful shock down each thigh. Were the human brain able to recall the pain of Fields Hill, no one would run the down Comrades twice.

"This then is the point each runner, from the first to the last, must pass if he is to arrive in Durban on his own feet. It is here, stripped of any of society's false privileges, that he finds no hiding place, no shelter of convenience. Face to face with himself he must look deep inside." "These miles," wrote George Sheehan, "will challenge everything he holds dear, his value system, his lifestyle. They will ask nothing less than his view of the universe."

Through Pinetown there are many wounded walkers who underestimated the damage that the Fields Hill gradient can render after covering a punishing 75 km. The dense crowds in Pinetown urge us onto Cowies Hill. Runners have locked into themselves at this point, fortifying their minds to carrying exhausted bodies the last 18 km to Durban.

The last part of the journey is run on the highway. The pull up to Tollgate, the last of the testers before the run into Durban, is exhausting. But with Durban in full view the race is almost at an end. Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead is not far off now. A large crowd shouts approval from a pub on the left. There are few walkers now. Suddenly there is the Old Fort Road and the stadium. The noise inside is deafening, the energy of the crowd wild and joyful and each of us feeds of the raw energy it presents.

Later I join my friend Tim Noakes as he reflects: "I know why this is all necessary," he says "what common bond unites all Comrades runners. It is the need to look for the mountains in life. Skill, you see, is not our requirement, nor has your race got anything to do with winning or losing. These are the spoils of other lesser games, unable to transport you to the places we have been."

To summarise: the Comrades course is characterised by five major hills, known as the "Big Five". Each presents the runner with a unique challenge. The following description of the Big 5 explains each. The down run contains some uphill running, therefore the climb to descent ratio is also given. This is the amount of climbing you must negotiate before the steep run down. The real factor on the down run is the descent/damage factor. This ratio is a function of the length of hill, the steepness of the hill and the distance from the start. As mentioned above, Fields Hills stands like a colossus on the course.

THE BIG FIVE : THE DOWN RUN

POLLY SHORTTS
The start in Pietermaritzburg is in the center of town outside the picturesque red brick City Hall at an altitude of approximately 650m. After an initial gentle downhill from the start some moderate climbing is experienced to the top of the notorious Polly Shortts some 7km from the start, which now offers no problem at all to fresh legs. A short but fairly steep climb to Ashburton follows and then the easy desce

1975 was a momentous year in the history of the Comrades Marathon. Apart from this year marking the Golden Jubilee, the 50th running of this world classic long distance race, it was also noteworthy for the introduction of a number of innovations and indeed a substantial character change in the race.

For the first time in its long history the event was officially opened this year to runners of all race groups and to women competitors. Prior to 1975 Natal and South African Athletic Association rules prohibited women competing with men, juniors with seniors and except with government approval, blacks competing with whites. One of the obstacles to opening the race to all runners had been of one of purely organisational consideration and that was the possibility of a huge increase in the number of competitors to unmanageable proportions. The organizers, then the athletic club Collegians Harriers, were mindful of the need to transform the Comrades into a truly international event, attracting runners from all over the world, but were also anxious not to eliminate the real spirit and true meaning of the race and led committee spokesman, Bert Bendzulla to comment This spirit is not to be found among the champions, but among the many hundreds of ordinary people who run not to win, but just to complete, in the allotted time, one of the worlds toughest challenges.
1975 also saw the introduction of a field limit of 1 500 runners (since abandoned) and the necessity for runners to prove qualifying times. Thus it was that after computerised pruning of 1 686 entrants to the required 1 500 there were 18 non-white runners and two women and the fear of a huge influx of runners did not materialise. These two groups of disadvantaged runners are as much pioneers and heroes of the Comrades Marathon as those whose exploits have been sung and documented though the history of the race and their perseverance and courage in competing without any official recognition is deserving of recognition.
Women runners entered the ranks of official status along with the opening of the event to all races in 1975, but here also there had been a handful of women who had tackled the grueling event without recognition. The first was Frances Hayward in 1923. She finished in a time of 11 hr 35 min in 28th position. (In the early days the time limit was 12 hours).
It was not until 1931 that another brave lady made an appearance at the start and that was Geraldine Watson, a Durban schoolteacher. She had done only 6 weeks of training and commented after the race that she had nearly given up at Kloof. She finished in a little over 11 hours. She ran again in 1932 and became the first woman to complete both an up and a down run. Halfway up Polly Shorts she went to her helper and said I feel my toe has come off in my shoe, the only sympathy she got was Well I am not going to take your shoe off so carry on Her finishing time was 11 hr 56 min. In 1933 she ran her 3rd consecutive Comrades, but this year put in 6 months of training and finished in 9 hr 31 min. Geraldine Watson participated in nearly every Comrades Marathon as spectator, competitor, helper and attendant since the 1920s. Sadly she died in 1975, the Golden Jubilee Year which marked the opening of the race to women. She donated the trophy for the last runner to finish, the Geraldine Watson Trophy.

Others who ran in the unofficial years were the well-known ultra distance runner, Mavis Hutchinson, who completed 7 Comrades. She ran for the first time in 1965 and again the following year, becoming the second women after Geraldine Watson to complete an up and a down run. Her first run inspired Maureen Holland who watched her run past in Pinetown, to attempt the race herself in 1966. Maureen went on to run a total of six Comrades and had the distinction of holding the best time for the women runners when in 1971 she completed the course in 8 hr 32 min. When asked what could possibly induce runners like herself to submit to such a grueling test as Comrades without official recognition, she replied that the training was so enjoyable, the people were so nice and that the personal satisfaction of finishing the race was inspiration enough.

Lettie Van Zyl was another who ran unofficially from 1973, and later secured 3 consecutive wins in 1976,77 and 78. Maureen Holland recalls that Lettie was an enthusiastic campaigner for the acceptance of women as official runners and was a great encouragement to others. Lettie presented Maureen with one of her own medals, engraved with Maureens name and 1971 time, a great sporting gesture.
In 1967 while waiting for her husband Tony to finish his training session at Alexandra Park, Elizabeth Cavanagh decided on an impulse to give running a go. She was still in her mid thirties and had never taken part in any sport before. She bought a tracksuit and a pair of Tigers and her running career began. She ran her first Comrades in 1970, finishing with 10 minutes to spare. She ran again in 71, 72, and 73 and in 1975 became the first women in Comrades history to earn a finishers medal. Betty has secured her Green Number by completing 10 Comrades.

Frith Van Der Merwe will have to go down as the best lady athlete as she has held the record for over 20 years now. on only 3 occassions has the sub 6 hour marke been broken by a woman.

Since 2000 the ladies race has been dominated by the Nurgalieva twins from Russia asnd they dont seem to be threatened at any stage and look set to dominate for years to come.

Year Race No. First Name Last Name Up/Down Time

2011 19987 Elena Nurgalieva U 6:24:11
2010 19987 Elena Nurgalieva D 6:13:04
2009 19988 OLESYA NURGALIEVA D 6:12:12
2008 19987 ELENA NURGALIEVA U 6:14:37
2007 19988 OLESYA NURGALIEVA D 6:10:11
2006 19987 ELENA NURGALIEVA U 6:09:24
2005 19986 Tatiana Zhirkova D 5:58:50
2004 19987 Elena Nurgalieva U 6:11:15
2003 19987 Elena Nurgalieva D 6:07:46
2002 4104 Maria Bak U 6:14:21
2001 27860 Elvira Kolpakova D 6:13:53
2000 4104 Maria Bak U 6:15:35
1999 39345 Birgit Lennartz D 6:31
1998 1089 Rae Bisschoff U 6:38
1997 4248 Ann Trason D 5:58
1996 4248 Ann Trason U 6:12
1995 4104 Maria Bak D 6:22
1994 1483 Valentina Liakhova U 6:41
1993 5701 Tilda Tearle D 7:12
1992 18365 Frances Van Blerk U 6:51
1991 6792 Frith Van Der Merwe D 6:08
1990 21252 Naidene Stewart U 7:02
1989 6792 Frith Van Der Merwe D 5:54
1988 6792 Frith Van Der Merwe U 6:32
1987 6511 Helen Lucre U 6:48
1986 6511 Helen Lucre D 6:55
1985 6511 Helen Lucre U 6:53
1984 9365 Lindsay Weight D 6:46
1983 9365 Lindsay Weight U 7:12
1982 3060 Cheryl Winn D 7:04
1981 5731 Isavel Roche-Kelly U 6:44
1980 5731 Isavel Roche-Kelly D 7:18
1979 2696 Jan Mallen U 8:22
1978 663 Lettie Van Zyl D 8:25
1977 663 Lettie Van Zyl U 8:58
1976 663 Lettie Van Zyl D 9:05
1975 Elizabeth Cavanagh U 10:08

Given the political climate of South Africa in the early years Black and white people were not allowed to compete in the samae race. But in 1975 this changed and the race was then open to all.

The first unofficial black runner to run the Comrades Marathon was one Robert Mtshali, who ran in 1935 completing the race in the creditable time of 9 hr 30 min. Councillor V.L.Shearer gave him a small presentation. Others were to follow, but not for many years. Just prior to World War 2 a separate event known as the Suncrush Marathon, was organised exclusively for black runners, but the allure was still to run the Comrades Marathon.

Zwelitshe Gono was one such athlete who started running Comrades before the days of official recognition, and despite now being the proud holder of 23 official Comrades medals, and Double Green Number, is largely unknown. He has among his 23 medals, 12 silvers, and is still a staunch Comrades runner. Well known among local Pietermaritzburg runners is Simon Mkhize, another who started running Comrades with great enthusiasm in the unofficial era and who now also carries his number in perpetuity with 15 medals to his credit, including 3 silvers. Simon seems to have retired from long distance running in recent years having last run Comrades in 1993.

The first black runner to win an official Comrades Marathon medal was Vincent Rakabaele, who in 1975 finished in 20th position in a time of 6 hr 27 min. He ran again in 1976 and 1975 finishing 4th and 8th and sparking speculation as to whether he would be the first black winner of the race, but this was not to be.

It was Sam Tshabalala who ran into the history books in 1989 when he won the down run in a time of 5 hr 35min 51 sec. This time would have secured him further wins in subsequent years, but this was sadly not to be. Sam was seriously injured in a motor accident in 1991. After the most remarkable and courageous fight-back Sam returned to again attempt Comrades in 1992, when he finished in the excellent time of 6 hr 23 min to secure a silver medal. He has continued running, achieving another 3 silver medals and is always greeted with a rousing welcome at the finish. In March of 1998 Sam was awarded the prestigious Platinum Medal by the Comrades Marathon Association in recognition of his contribution to the Comrades Marathon.

Another black winner was to follow in 1992 when Jetman Msutu was declared the winner after he had finished second to Charl Mattheus who was unfortunately disqualified.

Perhaps the best remembered of the emerging black runners was Hoseah Tjale, affectionately known in the running world as Hoss. In the 1980 event, after having run conservatively in the first half thus conserving his strength for the closing stages, he was leading the race at a crucial stage and looked a possible first black winner. He eventually finished 6th. In the next few years Hoss provided Comrades King Bruce Fordyce with possibly the stiffest challenge from any black runner, scoring two 2nd and two 3rd places. He completed a total of 13 Comrades with 9 golds and 4 silvers, a truly sterling performance.

Since these early days athletes such as Andrew Kelehe, Fusi Nhlapo, Willie Mtolo, Bongmusa Mthembu, Petros Sosibo, Mncedisi Mkhize, Gift Kelehe, Peter Muthubi, Stephen Muzhingi have all featured exeptionally well, if not won the Comrades Marathon. Since 2000 a black athlete has won the Comrades on no less than 6 occassions. All other winners were from outside of Africa.

The Comrades Marathon is an exceptional challenge just to complete, never mind winning the race. However, for many runners the greatest challenge is just to get to the starting line. Annually hundreds of runners are denied the opportunity to run this epic race because they simply can't afford to. The cost of travelling to Durban or Pietermaritzburg and the additional funds required for accommodation and food is beyond the reach of many an aspiring Comrades runner.

Through this project the CMA provides accommodation and food to between six and eight hundred athletes in Pietermaritzburg. These athletes are provided with two nights' accommodation where each is provided with a blanket as well as a foam mattress for a comfortable night's rest. Additionally these athletes are provided with carbo-meals, fruits and soup. Entertainment facilities, including music and a big screen that features video screenings of previous Comrades Marathons are also provided for the runners to get them motivated for the 'Ultimate Human Race'.

The CMA receives financial contributions from some of its sponsors to sustain the project, while some sponsors donate products for the underprivileged runners. The CMA has forged closer working relations with the various provincial sports departments in order to increase support for underprivileged runners throughout South Africa. These provincial sports departments each provide a sixty seater bus to transport their underprivileged Comrades athletes to Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The CMA has every intention to intensify this campaign over the next few years in order to get all the provincial governments to support their runners with transport expenses.

The Comrades Marathon prides itself in being a truly South African sports event, fostering diversity and promoting gender equality. Through its comprehensive charity drive and social responsibility programmes the organisation is acutely aware of the critical challenges facing South African society at this juncture in our history.

The CMA is rolling out a programme of International Ambassadors who are runners or ex-runners with the passion for Comrades, who represent CMA in their country. Ultimately, the CMA will try to have an Ambassador in every country, but at the moment there are Ambassadors in 8 countries. Mark Bloomfield (USA) and Bruce Hargreaves (Australia) have been with the Programme for a while now, and are a tremendous asset to the CMA.

What do Ambassadors do?

All the Ambassadors are volunteers, and they liaise with both existing Comrades runners in their region and the CMA. With the Comrades family spread through a wide range of cultural and ethnic groups around the world, they also give the CMA an insight as to how their area perceives Comrades. One of the highest priorities the CMA has is to ensure all runners, both South African and International enjoy their Comrades experience, so feel frewe to sign the Comment section asnd we will make sure that the CMA ereceives your comment

Should you know somebody in your country (even yourself) who has the passion for Comrades and is prepared to spend some time talking Comrades to runners in their country, let the nearest Ambassador to you know and their name will be put forward to the CMA.

There are currently ambassadors in

Mark Bloomfield USA uscomradesamb@gmail.com

Bruce Hargreaves Australia digger@ozemail.com.au

Marie Barreau France mie_josee@yahoo.fr

Nato Amaral Brazil nato.spfc@gmail.com

Sandy Kondo Japan sandykondo@hotmail.com

Amit Sheth India amitsheth@yahoo.com

Andrea Moritz Canada andrea.moritz@rogers.com

Klaus Neumann Germany Neumann.KL@t-online.de

Hans Koeleman Netherlands slowdawgs@hotmail.com

Don Mellor Scotland donpmellor@btinternet.com

Christian Madsen Scandinavia ultraruncom@gmail.com

Nicholas Strachan Dubai mogul61@hotmail.co.uk

David Marsh United Kingdom david.marsh@mail.com

Tiago Dionisio Portugal tiagobossadionisio@gmail.com