INSPIRATION
The
Biggest
The world’ s greatest ultra-marathoner – bar none – is Bruce Fordyce. The undisputed king of the road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban won nine Comrades Marathon titles, and crossed the finish line 30 times. His erstwhile training partner, Arnold Geerdts, caught up with Bruce( only in the literary sense) and asked him a few thought-provoking questions.
Bruce became the master of Comrades tactics as he claimed win after win
Celebration
Still known today as the King of the Comrades, Bruce Fordyce won the iconic ultra-marathon an unprecedented nine times between 1981 and 1990, including eight consecutive wins from 1981 to 1988. No other man has won the race more than five times, and only Russian Elena Nurgalieva has come close to matching the Fordyce record, with her eight wins in the women’ s race.
Fordyce made his Comrades debut in 1977, finishing 44th, and he was 14th in 1978. He claimed the third place in 1979, was second in 1980, and then began his remarkable years of dominance in the race. He also broke the Down Run record twice and the Up Run record three times, and his best times were only bettered in 1998( Up Run – 10 years later) and 2007( Down Run – 21 years later).
He missed the Comrades in 1989 after setting the World Record for 100km, but returned in 1990 to claim a ninth win. In subsequent years, he completed the race many more times, eventually hanging up his Comrades shoes in 2012 after earning his Triple Green Number for 30 finishes. In 2011, he introduced parkrun to South Africa, and today there are over 200 different parkrun venues around the country offering free 5km runs on Saturday mornings.
AG: Think back to your first Comrades in 1977, when you finished 44th, and relate how much the race has materially changed since then?
BF: You said the word there: Materially. Comrades has changed massively in the intervening almost 50 years. The size of the race, obviously. Prize money. Water points today, as compared to those days where you could get seconded out of a car driving next to you. And I never saw a female runner that year. Lettie van Zyl won, but I only saw her afterwards. And then of course, the start is so different now. It’ s the most wonderful thing. The anthem was different in’ 77, too, but the in SA
In 1988, Bruce Fordyce won the Comrades for an incredible eighth consecutive year
start has now become a ritual, and just an unbelievable experience. Shosoloza and Chariots of Fire... It’ s stirring, and it’ s a beautiful thing. The tradition is still there, and in that year, Max Trimborn was still alive and he did the cockcrow live, and I’ m grateful that it lives on.
But the most wonderful thing for me about the modern Comrades is the finish. Last year, as we were watching from the television commentary booth right next to the finish line, it was a revelation. The last 15 minutes is just mind-blowing. It’ s not just a race anymore, it’ s a massive celebration. Arnie, it’ s now like Woodstock!( Sidenote: For the younger readers, go Google that, ok?) The reason is, it’ s a race, but it’ s gone beyond it. Far beyond. I think it’ s the biggest celebration in South Africa. There are 20,000-plus spectators packed into the stands, screaming their heads off, and you’ re running up and down, counting the minutes and seconds down on the mic. The lights, the human drama. It’ s extraordinary!
We watched the fight against the common enemy … the clock, and how everyone wants to beat it. Those runners that I saw last year started in the dark and they finished in the dark. From just before the start to the 12-hour gun, you cannot take your eyes off this incredible human drama. Amazing!
AG: Bruce there are obviously a gazillion great moments for you at Comrades, but what would be your absolute all-time highlight?
BF: That’ s tough. If a mother had nine children, that would be like asking her which one is her favourite child, not so? She loves‘ em all. However, I would say my third win in’ 83... But the one that makes me smile the most is 1979, when I came third. That unequivocally told me that I could win. I was right on Johnny Halberstadt’ s shoulder and the late Piet Vorster was just five minutes ahead of us. With the greatest respect to Piet, when I finished, I thought to myself,‘ You’ re a better runner than him.’
Images: Images courtesy Comrades Marathon Museum
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