The Comrades Marathon Start: What to expect in Durban for the up run
In the build up to the 2014 Comrades Marathon we did a series of podcasts talking through the Comrades Marathon down run route including the start, the first half and the second half. Those three podcasts were probably the most popular that we did in the build up to the 2014 Comrades Marathon down run.
Many people have asked us to do the same for the Comrades up run but sooner than we did in the build up for the down run. So here they are.
Today we look at the Comrades Marathon start for the up run in Durban, as it is very different to the Comrades Marathon start of the down run in Pietermaritzburg.
Lindsey Parry: From the word go it is different to the Comrades Marathon start of the down run. It is much easier to get into Durban so there are many more options for you to get to the start. There is also certainly a lot more accommodation available in Durban and also accommodation that is close enough to the start that you can actually walk there.
When you are moving towards the Comrades Marathon start in Durban, even though you go through some areas that traditionally wouldn’t be the safest to walk through in the dark, the atmosphere is quite festive. There are lots of runners and it is not as dark as Pietermaritzburg because there are just that many more shops, car dealerships and hotels lining the streets for the walk to the Comrades Marathon start.
The actual Comrades Marathon start is very similar
Once you actually get to the actual Comrades Marathon start the similarities start to creep up. At the start you still have the tog bag trucks and the long queues for the toilets. The very bright lights and the music playing and you get that whole rock concerty feel, the same as you do on the down run.
It is equally important on the up run to get yourself there early enough to give yourself enough time to be able to use the bathroom, get your tog bag onto the truck and to get yourself into your pen so that you don’t lose your hard earned seeding by having to start right at the back.
The streets are much wider in Durban than in Pietermaritzburg and this is quite important. That means you don’t have to be nearly as anxious about how long it is going to take you to cross the start line as it does in Pietermaritzburg. That is because you start on a main road, which is really nice and wide and then you spill straight onto the highway.
From that point of view, right at the back, you’re probably looking at about a 6 minute period to cross the start line as opposed to an 8 – 10 minute delay in Pietermaritzburg.
Comrades Marathon start traditions
The traditions are still there. You have VIP hospitality suite with all the famous people watching everybody at the start. You have music playing. You’ll hear Shoshaloza and Chariots of Fire. You will sing the national anthem. You will really get that sense of occasion. You will get the sense of playing a rugby test match for your country at a packed Newlands or Kings Park. This is your test match. It is a great atmosphere at the start.
Then the gun goes and as I said the anxiety level is much lower. The downside of crossing the start line and spilling onto the highway so quickly is that the first few refreshment tables are absolute chaos. There are just so many people trying to get across to something to drink. We’ll talk about the route profile in the next podcast but you literally start running up hill straight away. That means the field starts to spread out immediately and it makes it a lot more comfortable to run from the 5 to 7km mark.
Brad Brown: Just to add something in there to. Even though it is also a 5:30am start, Durban is a lot more temperate than Pietermaritzburg. Although you still need warm stuff it is not nearly as cold as at the Comrades Marathon start of the down run.
Lindsey Parry: Absolutely. Your average starting temperature on the down run is 4 degrees Celsius while your average Comrades Marathon start temperature on the up run is probably closer to 11 or 12 degrees. It is much warmer which means you only need one layer of extra clothing as opposed to a full blown tracksuit.
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We have put together our list of Comrades Marathon resources that we think everyone should know about. NB: Click on this link to order your free copy. Info at bottom of the article.
The Ultimate Comrades Marathon Resource Guide is a great starting point if you are just getting going on your Comrades Marathon journey as well as a fantastic companion if you are an experienced Comrades Marathon runner.
This Comrades Marathon resource covers everything from training, nutrition, injury prevention and treatment to the Comrades Marathon route and what to expect on Comrades Marathon race day.
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