When will I run my last Comrades? This is a good question.This ultra marathon is almost 90 km long and takes

everything out of your body.  It does not matter if you run 5h30 minutes or 11h59 minutes (maximum time is 12h00), it is a tough day.

Bruce Fordyce

Bruce Fordyce won this race nine times. He last completed  Comrades a few years ago (2012 in 8h06), but it may not be his last one. He may still come back to do one final one even though he is suffering with an injury. I managed 11 h 59 m 16 seconds in 2016, but would like to get at least another 3 medals to have my permanent number with Comrades. I do not know how long the body will still be able to continue. The wonder,however,  is that people of almost any age could start and finish the Comrades.

The last Mile

When you run the last mile or so to the finish of the Comrades you have spectators all around you. They cheer you on and motivate you to finish. “It is not far now, you can make it”. If they are close enough and the security will allow for it they will give you a high five to say well done. Sometimes they spur you on, “you have to run now, otherwise you will just miss it.”

 

When you run into the stadium where the finish is, you see scores of people clapping, watching and shouting. They have done the race in the past or they are just ardent supporters wanting to get everybody home. It is such a relief when you are on this last stretch and you know that you are going to make it. You can see the finish line and it is often then that tears would run to my eyes. So it is a combination of thankfulness and relief, but this deep emotion seems to flood me every time when I finish the race.

My last Comrades

One day when I run my last race here on earth I am sure that I will see a whole pavilion of supporters cheering me on, saying, “run, Hansie, run. You are almost there.” In that crowd will be a number of my ancestors cheering me on, but there will also be the famous ones like Dawid, Abraham, Moses and scores of other soldiers of faith. The emotion here will be inexplicable, I am sure!

I know that I will see the finish and that I will get my medal, a medal that will never fade or get old. I will not have a DNF (race term for did not finish) and will receive my reward for a race run well. . My running will not stop with my last race and I believe that I will continue running.

Running in heaven

There will be so many new places to explore and to walk is a little bit too slow, but running will be great. There I will run without getting tired. I would run from place to place to explore or from gate to gate to welcome other runners who have completed the race. We will just have one running club, probably not called “hell’s angels”! “Speed angels”may be an apt name or one of those combination of names with a runner or two involved in the committee.  The prophet Elijah who ran 19 miles after he said it is going to rain after a drought and after performing miracles will serve here.

My big wish

My big wish though is that I will see many of my running mates up there (well, I say up there, not sure exactly where it will be). Of course I also expect our parkrun friends and participants from all over the world. Would it not be great to talk to all of the champions and ex champions there? We would still run many ultras without the constraints of injuries or illness.

My last Comrades will surely lead me to my best effortless Ultra Marathons! See you there!