CC Comrades Corner - Murray Anderson-Ogle's 2011 Comrades Pt. 7

Murray blogged about his preparation for 2011 Comrades on Runner's World.It was his first and like this year's run also UP. Truly inspirational! We will be posting his blog entries as part of our build up to Comrades 2013.

JUNE 8, 2011

I have wanted to say this for six months: ’I am a Comrade’. Not quite Mao’s last dancer or a Cosatu cheerleader, but rather a Comrades finisher.

What do you say when you have achieved your goal? A goal that took six months of consistent training, missing nights out, early morning wake-up calls, physiotherapy, Friday night television (it’s not so bad) and changing your life for the simple goal of running a footrace?

A footrace that once a year captures the imagination of South African, and the world’s, population. A day when ordinary people accomplish the extraordinary, and forever become part of the Comrades family.

My personal experience of Comrades was that of an intensely personal journey of discovery, through conquering my own limitations and my identity, realising how anything is possible and that you only have to want it. Many self-help gurus, psychologists and charlatans offer advice on how you should change your life. My advice: run Comrades to the best of your ability and at some point along the journey, a few answers will be etched onto your soul.

Comrades is just a day of your life but the journey towards Comrades is the best, worst and most sublime experience of your life. Enjoy the journey, take Al Pacino’s prophetic words into account “on any given Sunday anything can happen”: never is this more pertinent than on Comrades Sunday.

For the past three months, a few of us had worked towards a goal of sub nine-hour finish and a Bill Rowan Medal. I achieved my goal, running an 8.55. Delighted as I was my victory almost felt hollow and bittersweet, as I was the only who achieved our shared goal.

The Tuesday before Comrades, Iain who had coached and led us through the training programme, who was competing in his 20th consecutive Comrades, fell ill. He was admitted to hospital and was released on the Thursday before Comrades. He was granted medical permission to run the race and lined up at the start and for the first 10 km’s our group kept to our schedule of a sub nine-hour.

In the days leading up to the race, my knee had begun to ache. It is something that had bothered me intermittently throughout training. I panicked and panicked hard, and immediately consulted a physiotherapist at the expo. The physio immediately diagnosed it as something to do with my calf tendon. Weird. So I got it strapped and prayed that I would finish. Nothing like entering Comrades and not knowing if you would ever finish. Initially, my knee felt fine but at about 8-10 km and up Cowies it began to hurt: that dull throbbing ache. My plan then was then to look for a first aid stand and get re-strapped, which I did and I took some pain killers for good measure.

Suddenly my race took on a new dimension, and I said to myself “ get to Camperdown” within enough time and you can then walk it, if needs be. Luckily, I am not sure if it was the new strapping or the painkillers, luck or the ghosts of my father and step-father whose footsteps I was retracing (maybe it was they who smiled on me), but as soon as I hit Fields Hill, I was pain free and I stayed that way till the end. Don’t get me wrong – it still hurt, but it was the hurt you expect.

In my haste to reach Camperdown , I dropped my group and never saw them again and for the duration of Comrades, I stuck to my pace chart for an 8:55 finish. Only later in the race did Petro, who was also aiming for her first Bill Rowan, leave Iain, but only at the 25 kilometer. She eventually finished in a time of 9. 18. Iain eventually finished in about 11: 20, his first Vic Clapham medal and according to him he had never worked for any other medal, Silver included. (Iain, forever an optimist, now has the full set of Comrades medals, the most any mortals can achieve in the race).

What I learnt from my experience, for anyone reading this who wants to chase a time, is that you have to be selfish, and all the training in the world can be for naught if it’s not your day. However, watching Iain come in showed me the definition of ‘vasbyt’ and discipline. These are qualities I think I have finally come to understand and even possess, as my own race nearly fell apart on numerous occasions and only my dream propelled me on.

After leaving my crew, I pretty much ran my own race, making new friends, especially one special man called Walter. Walter and I met up somewhere before Little Polly’s and ran together till the end, pacing and motivating each another to the finish line. It’s a funny thing, where with a complete stranger you start choosing your running targets; i.e. run 100 meters and walk ten and anything with a slight rise you walk. And what do you know, we finished with 5 minutes to spare and we both got our Bill Rowan. Walter, I am not sure who you are but thank you. I will always remember you.

As I write this, I have mixed emotions of my experience. It was beautiful, tragic, terrifying and heartbreaking but like anything in life that is worth having it is the only way.

It’s too early to say whether I’ll be back next year, but I take treasured memories home with me. My favourite is probably finding my late father’s plaque at the wall of honour. I had looked for it for a while, and was about to give up; I just was taking a picture when suddenly there it was, almost like it was calling to me.

I know that I will continue to run, but now I want to try some trail running and my next goal is a 43 km trail run. I have been super jealous of the Kaapies and Natalians and how gnarly and fabulous their trail runs seem. Finally there is one in my area called the Num- Num trail run. I cannot wait, even though it will be rough, tough, and cold; it will also be beautiful as it passes through some of the Lowveld Escarpment’s greatest scenery. It’s happening on the 16th of July and I hope to see you there.

Me on tv..

@my dads plaque on comrades @just b4 halfway

Number and club colours- sneaky pain killers top right

Party in the front business at the back. My new hoodie from my mates-how awesome..I am the zebra.

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Part 6 

CC Comrades Corner - The Unogwaja Challenge 2012 Documentary

Hi fellow runners,

I've posted about the Unogwaja Challenge before but here is their documentary that was launched a few days ago. Watch and get excited about their cause and the Comrades Marathon! 

Published on May 16, 2013

This is the documentary of the 2012 Unogwaja Challenge, the second year of this magical journey of the heart inspired by Phil Masterton-Smith's feat of 1933.
The Unogwaja Challenge sees a team of team of 5 individuals push themselves to the limit, both mentally and physically, as they cycle a grueling 1677km from Cape town to Pietermartizburg in just 10 days, followed by running the Comrades Marathon on day 11.

The Unogwaja challenge was initiated to follow the footsteps of Comrades legend Phil Masterton-Smith, who was affectionately known as "Unogwaja" which means 'The Hare' in Zulu. Phil Masterton-Smith was involved in two of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, when in 1930 he narrowly lost to the great Wally Hayward. The following year in 1931, he battled against Noel Burree, and crossed the finish line meters ahead to claim Comrades Victory and become the youngest ever Comrades winner at the age of 19.

In 1933 Masterton-Smith couldn't afford the train fare from Cape Town to run the Comrades, so he cycled over 1700kms from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg, and then competed in the grueling marathon, crossing the line in 10th position.

Tragically Phil Masterton-Smith was killed in action on 5th June 1942 by a mortar bomb, defending the Gazala line during the siege of Tobruk in World War II.

This ultimate story of passion, willpower, courage and determination was mirrored by four young men in 2011, who followed in the footsteps of Phil Masterton-Smith 78 years later. Team Unogwaja succeeded in cycling 1677km's in 10 days from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg, and then running the Comrades Marathon on day 11. The event was extremely successful and attracted substantial media interest. This has secured it as an annual event, currently sponsored by Avis, together with various second-tier sponsors. The Comrades Marathon Association has associated itself with the Unogwaja Challenge, providing all necessary support and endorsement.
For more information on The Unogwaja Challenge, visit www.unogwaja.com

THE STORY BEHIND THE RED SOCKS:

Red Sock Friday, is an initiative created by John McInroy, one of the founders of The Unogwaja Challenge.
Its inspiration comes from a true South African story of courage and friendship:

The story belongs to Sidney Feinson, a South African war veteran. Feinson joined the army in 1941. He was captured during the Battle of Tobruk, along with 97 other South African soldiers, and sent to a prison camp in Italy. After 12 months imprisonment, Feinson and two friends managed to escape with the help of a beautiful young Italian woman and a priest. They made their way to the Swiss border, hiding in homes and churches along the way in order to escape the German troops.
Feinson and his friends decided to make a pact to commemorate lost friends, those who didn't manage to escape, and those who died in battle -- they would wear red socks as a symbol of friendship, unity and remembrance.
It is this story of brotherhood and human connection that initiated the Red Sock Friday movement -- an international phenomenon dedicated to fostering the same spirit Feinson and his friends grew as a tribute to their friends and the journey they all shared.

The phenomenon has taken hold around the world, with 'Red-Sockers' embarking on their own journeys, inspired and passionate about the lives they lead, and collecting their own stories to share with one another. Subscribers to the movement wear their Red Socks every Friday. And at various sporting events, challenges, expeditions, marathons etc, people can be seen wearing their Red Socks.

The Red Sock link to the Unogwaja Challenge is obvious, and makes for an interesting back story.
All of the participants of The Unogwaja Challenge wear their Red Socks for the duration of the event, and provide a recognized platform for other like-minded people around the world.

Courtesy of UnogwajaChallenge Youtube Channel.

Toy Dupper

CC Comrades Corner - Andrew Dollenberg

Words.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

That's all.

Andrew.

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Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Time Trial Results and Statistics

Please visit http://nedbanklvcc.clubtrials.com for comprehensive results and statistics on all our time trials and runners from February 2013 up to date.

Here's an example of what you can see on the site:

Race Report - Selati 2-in-1

In scenes very recently reminicent of Loskop, the lightning and thunder began at just passed midnight Saturday morning. I was still awake and hurriedly added a second skins and proceeded to do what can only be described as an edward scissor hands/project runway late night  styling a rubbish packet to stay dry if necessary. (NB. I have recently taken great emotional strain following an opinion about my Nedbank running shorts and their alleged unfabulosity at Sudwala) . A 5am meeting at spar a few of us departing in an early morning downpour. Things were dark, I was tired and the pending thought of 21kms in sugar cane was not a beacon of appeal.

Upon arrival I was forced to revisit my outlook. There Deon Valks and his Malelane crew had everything  so organised to the point they had even the weather gods hold back the storm to the gorge and Nelspruit  (sorry to all those who chose for whatever reason not to make the trip) but we got a great dry run. Slightly spectacular lightning and some wind but all in all another great Selati. The course had been maintained and with recent harvesting it was more open than usual.  The water points out did themselves and the Selati Hawaiian theme and the Agricultural table at the almost turnaround point was phenomenal.  A reminder of what a privilege it is to run in Africa next to the Kruger.

Race results are as below for the 10km and link for the 21km results follows.

http://www.protime.co.za/race-results/2013-results