Comrades 2013

Evening all

Have a 30 miler at the weekend and hope to get pen D sorted. Funny distance so anyone done one. Always try and run a marathon but start walk breaks early in ultras.

4.40 needed so could walk some. Find my natural pace is around 8.45 so was thinking run to 20 then go 9/1 Any views?

I've run an off-road 30 miler on the South Downs... but it was very hilly so I did the usual run the flats and downhills strategy (I was still very slow...).

Thaks SD. As its 3.5 mile loops will pick up my snack/drink each lap and walk until gone I think. Then walk  9/1 from 20. O got target wrong 4.50 needed

No running this weekend but we got a new dog, so the household is now 2Dogs again

Congrats Fido .. hope old dog is happy with new dog!

just lots of short but much faster runs for me!  Trying to get my love for running back after the slog of training for Comrades here in Angola.  Off to Baku for 2 weeks next week, and then volunteering for the Olympics (Velodrome).  After that will start training for a marathon later in the year to see if I can get my C starting pen again.

Excellent Fido! Hope they are gettting on well together.

Off to Stockholm at the weekend to run in the Jubilee Marathon celebrating 100 years since the 1912 Olympic marathon.  I need a test run in my 1912 style gear this week to check it doesn't chafe too much...

Great news Fido .
Finally done some running, 5km's on Sunday (as part of a sprint triathlon), and 5km's just now along the Thames. Absolutely no issues with the knee, so hopefully on the mend. Will concentrate on swimming and cycling this year to keep up the fitness, and just throw in a couple of marathons to keep on track for the 100 . 1st one New Forest, and then Florence.

forgot Kent and Abingdon as well

Evening all

Pen D sorted Saturday with a 4.45 for 30 miles. A lot harder than I would like but carrying a bit of a niggle so job done.

Have fun SD sounds great

Fido You seem to  be sticking around

Douglas - good to hear that your knee is behaving itself.

Martin - nice run!

Got soaked trying out my retro kit this evening - I hope it doesn't rain on Saturday as the shirt and shorts got very wet and heavy!  Mrs SD will probably take photos at the weekend so I'll upload them onto FB...

Hans C - Chester is on Oct 7 and Liverpool on Oct 14 (I think going from memory).  I guess they would still have places at this stage.  Also Preston on Oct 28.  I've done none of them so can't actually recommend one to you.  I'm in Abingdon on Oct 21, but it is full already due to being rather flat and an ideal PB course

What would everyone say with regards to average cost of doing Comrades?

Not thinking of holidaying but perhaps going out the Thursday beforehand and coming back the Tuesday afterwards.

So looking at flights, accommodation, race entry, living expenses whilst out there etc?

Thanks.

Hmm gram. 700-800 for flights etc (depends what you book and when),  accommodation, you could find a dorm room bed in a nice hostel for 15-20 quid per night, a room to yourself 30-something (for both add 1-10 quid per day for buses or taxis), a hotel near the Expo perhaps double that again. So accommodation 150-300 maybe? Food more or less same as it is here. 

So all in all around the thousand quid mark ... ish... 

Gibelas is a nice hostel where a few of us have stayed but it fills up so book early. Sign up for all the airlines' mailing lists and start watching for flight sales. There are cheap airlines that fly from JNB to DUR but again I guess early booking helps. 

 Race entry is $180 iirc. Unless you have contacts in SA and can join a SA running club and get a local address to apply from.  

Hans - Leicester on 7th of October is another option. Reasonably quick course with a bit of a hill to finish. I won't be going back there to defend my 2011 title though as I'll be doing Abingdon on the 21st for a chance at a PB.

After virtually no running in June to follow no running in April and half of May, I am finally gradually starting to build up again having run for the last 2 weeks. I did the JP Morgan Challenge on Thursday. It bucketed down and Battesea Park was excessively muddy. Took me 20:43 for the 5.6km. 43 seconds down on last year in terrible conditions with no speed work for nearly 4 months shows that a good run at Abingdon may still be achievable.