I think I've gone crazy! (Comrades Marathon Edition)

Hello Dear Reader,

Yesterday, my friend Doc called me and asked, "Dude, are you watching tv right now?" to which I replied, "Uhh...no, I'm cleaning my house." In an excited voice, Doc said, "Dude, you're missing out on the Comrades! Come over to my place and watch it with me." Ohhhhh...the Comrades...I totally forgot that it was this weekend! In fact, my friend Morosi and several other people from Lesotho will be participating! Leaving all of my sweeping, clothes washing, and folding behind, I hopped into the shower and rushed over to Doc's place...and......

Oh, you want to know what this whole "Comrades" business is about? Sorry, I forgot that you don't live in South(ern) Africa and are completely unaware of the, arguably, most prestigious long distance race in the whole of Africa...The Comrades (Ultra) Marathon! The Comrades Marathon, 89.96 km (~52 miles) of the most grueling road racing this side of the Mason Dixon Line...oops...mixed up the countries on that one! The race, which has been hosted since the 1920's, is THE race that people work throughout the year to train for. All other races, Two Oceans Marathon included, are mere buildups to the Comrades.

The route runs (no pun intended) between Pietermaritzburg (PM) and Durban, South Africa. Every other year or every two years, the race switches direction. From PM to Durban, the race is primarily down hill as Durban is at sea level. From PM to Durban, well, let's just say that when I drove back to Maseru from Durban this past December, my little front wheel drive car was struggling to make it up the rolling hills! The change in direction is so remarkable that runners have actually specialized their training and skills to run either up or downhill for this specific race.

In order to qualify for a medal, you have to complete the race within 11 hr 59 min 59 sec! My body has never moved for that long...unless it was asleep!

As Doc and I sat on his couch watching the masses fight their way to the top of one hill after the next, something (crazy) grew deep within me...a little spark...a tiny, tiny, tiny question that asked, "Can I bring myself to do something like that?" Watching people of all shapes, sizes and ages run, walk, crawl and even be dragged across the finish line by total strangers, ignited a slight flicker within...can I actually do that? Can I, Dani, who just ran her first marathon after a lifetime on the couch, actually build myself up to running the Comrades Marathon?

That evening, I proclaimed in front of Doc that, next year, I WILL run the Comrades (even though I talked major sh*t about how I'd never be crazy enough to do it). I even called my parental units and my Ethiopian Running Partner to tell them of my idea. All three of them asked, "Why would you want to do that? It just doesn't make any sense." My Ethio Running Partner even said a flat out, "No!", but he softened his stance on the subject, said he'd be my biggest supporter, but still thought I was crazy and didn't see the point.

After talking myself up for the race, via chats with my family, I looked up the training plan for sub 11 hours. The plan says that you have to first run two qualifying marathons sub-5 hours, but ideally I should be able to run a sub-4 hr 25 min. I guess I need to really start working my a$$ off if I plan on doing that...seeing that would mean cutting about 35 minutes off of my GA Marathon time. Oh My!

I still have plenty of time to make up my mind...it's crazy, I know...but just think about it...next year's course will be down hill (not to say easier, but down hill none-the-less)...and...if I actually completed the race, there would really be nothing standing in my way...no mountain high enough, no valley low enough (yes, I know I just borrowed a line from a song, but you get the point). Also, I need to do more research, starting with talking to my friend Morosi...after she's recovered. So while I'm busy making up my mind, let me know what you think! Should I or shouldn't I?



So until next time...one foot in front of the other (I actually heard a commentator from last night say this during the final hours of the race)...keep it movin'!

Yours in (WTH) training,

Dani

Sasol Half Marathon (2hr 18min)

Hello Dear Reader,

You read the title of this post correctly, I ran the Sasol Half Marathon in 2 hours and 18 minutes. If you do the math, that's 7 minutes minutes, yes, 7 minutes off of my time from last Saturday's Ottosdal Draf en Trap! Woohoo!!!

Now that you know the good part, let me rewind and tell you the story from the beginning:

At about 8:00 pm last night, my friend "Doc" and I left Maseru for the tiny town of Vanderbeijlpark, South Africa, which is about 10 minutes away from Sasolburg- the race location. Just getting there was half the fun, because we laughed the whole way! We drove through one small town after the other...streets with potholes the size of swimming pools. An opportunity to pop a tire at every bend. Luckily, there were no mishaps...but almost.

After what seemed to be an endless freaking drive, we arrived at our hotel just after 12:00 am and ca-rashed...just to wake up at 4:30 am and drive to the event.

The race registration area was packed to the rafters as participants scrambled to register and get sorted before start time of 6:00 am. Doc and I both had so much fun, not only laughing at each other, but laughing at all of the funny things we saw (inside joke!). I must say that I had the best time because Doc tagged along (more like me begging him to join in). Having someone to share in the experience made the even that much more special.

At exactly 6:00 am, the marathon, half marathon and 10km event took off. Doc and I started off at a slow and steady pace until about 4km, when I desperately had to use the ladies. You should have see the two of us run across the street to the petrol station. That little, and much needed side tour set both of us back by about 5 minutes. Continuing on at a slow and steady pace, Doc and I mustered along side by side until about the 7th when I noticed that he was starting to slip behind me. At the 8th kilometer, I lost sight of doc and off I went with my jazzy pink iPod as company.

The flat course allowed me to run, and run, and run without walking until I reached a big hill at the 13th kilometer. Once the hill was overcome (about 4 minutes), I ran the entire rest of the way! Wow, I can't believe how quickly I'm improving. I know that I say this all of the time, but I just keep thinking about my inability to run more than 8 minutes at a time last August, to now running almost an entire half marathon...and cutting off 7 minutes of my time from one race to another at that!

When I reached the last 900 meters, I entered the Sasolburg sports stadium and was passed by the 1st place runner of the full marathon. WTH?! How is it that this guy can run a full marathon in a slightly shorter time than I can run a half marathon?! I'm just sayin... Either way, I picked up my pace and blasted through the finish line!

Doc reached the finish line shortly after I did. His personal race recap was nothing less than hilarious! While running, he met and seemed to have extended conversations with several race participants: 1) Doctor who works at the Sasol mines. He went from 85 kg to 91 kg and was on a mission to get in shape; 2) Two guys from the area of Morningside in Johannesburg with hectic accents. When they found out that Doc was from Lesotho and ran the high altitude half marathon, they promised to exchange numbers so that they could participate next year; and 3) An older Indian man who was planning to run the 2011 Comrades Marathon (86km) and has run it 16 times before. (I actually shook hands with the man and wished him the best of luck...like he really needed it).

After shaking the Indian man's hand and walking out of the stadium, Doc and I posed next to the race indication sign...cause I know you would probably want a picture!

Well, that's all I've got for now. I need to rest my weary bones, ice my ankle, and keep a 24/7 watch over my toe (dropped something on my toe earlier this week and looks like the nail will fall off. TMI?)

Anyway, thank you all so much for encouraging me at each and every step. ...and the goodness will continue this upcoming week as I attempt to

focus on running hills...and next Saturday as Doc (pretty please?) and I attempt to run the Crocodilian 32 km (20 miles)!

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep it

movin'!

Yours in (another race) training,

Dani

PS: Check out Couch Potato #2 and his girlfriend Aila!

Bib #80267 and Runner's High

Hello Dear Reader,

This morning, I received my official confirmation of participation in the Two Oceans Half Marathon- Bib # 80267! Even though the half marathon is about two months away and I have about 5 "training races" and THE BIG ONE in between, I'm super jazzed about running the Two Oceans! A great deal of my excitement stems from the fact that several of my good friends, in addition to the larger Maseru running crew, will be running in this race. The fact that the race is over a long weekend in Cape Town is surely a plus. However, the two biggest factors are that 1) I would have completed my goal of running the Publix Georgia Marathon and will be alive and well; and 2) The Two Oceans is a BIG DEAL in South Africa.

For the duration of my long-term relationship with South Africa (about 10 years now), I've come to realize that there are three races that everyone talks about: Comrades Marathon (Durban), Two Oceans Marathon (Cape Town), and the Soweto Marathon (Johannesburg). These races, in my opinion, are deeply interwoven within the cultural fabric of this beautiful country, amongst many other things. I look forward to joining runners from around South Africa, Africa, and the world to take part! At some point within the next two years, I would like to commit myself to running the full marathon (56km/35 miles), which will take me from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean (hence the name of the race). And, as part of my New Year's resolution to run a marathon in a country other than the US, I WILL be running the Soweto Marathon on November 7th, 2011!

On another note, I have to admit that I have not experienced a runner's high in what seems to be a long time! The last time I remember feeling the amazing adrenaline rush that running can bring, was during a run in Zambia...when I encountered three Zebra walking towards me. Who wouldn't get excited to see that?!

Although I was pretty damn geeked to have completed the Ottosdal Draf en Trap with a PR of 2 hr and 25 minutes, I didn't get that very distinct feeling of can't-sit-still/super-productive/alert/motivated/Energizer Bunny/Redbull "it gives you wings" without the Redbull!

This morning, my alarm clock went off at 5:00 am, but I couldn't seem to muster up the energy to get out of bed...it was so comfortable after all! Instead, I decided to check my email and received a message from a friend who left Lesotho six months ago. The email asked, "Are you still running?", that was it! After that, I couldn't continue to lay in bed when I could/should be running. Up and out the door in 10 minutes.

Initially, I was going to follow my regular route around the industrial area, but in a last minute and random decision, I cut across the street to run up a huge hill I've been trying to conquer for a while now. Danielle=1; Hill=0! And I kept running and running until I met up with my regular route. Now,I could have continued with the regular route, but again, in a last minute move, I ran up another hill along side my former stomping ground...the gym. A quick nod in acknowledgement, but continued to run. Finally, I met up with tail end of my regular route, which includes a short, but steep hill. Something within me, however, told me to keep running right up the steep hill that leads to my house. Usually, I fast walk this hill as a cool down of sorts, however this time...I slowed down my pace and...kept running all the way to the top!

Clearly my name is Hillary today, because I was all about those hills!

By the time I finished stretching, that ah-mazing runner's high set in! Thank you G-O-D! Luckily, the high tends to last all day so I'll be on high-drive. So, if you see me smiling with a wild look that says, "I'd rather be running", you'll know the back story!

Well, that's all for now. Wish me luck in tomorrows half race! And as always, you'll be the first one to get the results!

Until next time...one foot in front of the other...keep in movin'!

Yours in training,

Dani