THE ROUTE
Prepare for the Big 5
There are now 12 runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 40 times or more, and all are considered experts on all things Comrades. Not surprising after running the roads between Durban and Pietermaritzburg so many times! And one of the most experienced in this elite group is Barry Holland, currently on 44 medals, along with Louis Massyn, just one behind all-time leader Dave Rogers’ 45 medals. So who better to tell you about the Big 5 hills of the Comrades Up Run( and some of the other ones, too) than one of the biggest of the Big 40s?
There’ s a famous saying that goes something like this:“ I’ ve doen it so often that I know it like the back of my hand.” Well, that would be an appropriate way of describing Barry Holland’ s intimate knowledge of the Comrades route. Having run it 44 consecutive years, driven it countless times more over the years, coached hundreds of fellow runners to their first Comrades medals, and even written a book about it, he obviously knows a thing or two about how best to approach the route. Take it away, Barry!
SECTION 3
HILLCREST TO TOP OF INCHANGA( 34KM – 46KM)
LET’ S TALK SECTIONS, PEOPLE
To plan your race, it helps to break the course into sections. This sorts out time splits, knowing where you should be by when. It is also helps psychologically, because these sections break the course into manageable chunks— it’ s easier to get your head around an 18km section than the whole of the 89km course. You will also run sections differently, putting your foot down in some to gain some time in the bag, while in others you may be best served by caution and just grinding it out.
SECTION 1:
START TO TOP OF FIELDS HILL( 0KM – 24KM)
The start of the Up Run is a monster. You are climbing virtually from the gun. Up Berea Road, up Blackhill to 45th Cutting, up the highway to Westville, up Cowies Hill( first of the Big 5) and finally the longest hill on the Comrades course, and second of the Big 5, the mighty 3.2km Fields Hill. You need to start the Up Run slowly. Be very cautious until the top of Fields Hill. Obviously, you cannot fall too far behind schedule, but only the reckless and the foolhardy will attempt to get ahead of schedule. As you begin the ascent of the mountain that is Fields, the sun will peak over the horizon. Let it warm your heart, because there is so much more to come.
SECTION 2
TOP OF FIELDS HILL TO HILLCREST( 24KM – 33KM)
After what you’ ve encountered over the first 24km of the Up Run, the trip to Hillcrest offers an opportunity to relax a little and regain some time. Don’ t be fooled, however, because you are still climbing steadily, though there are no major hills here. Get into a good rhythm and soon the kilometres will be slipping by. I believe that on Comrades day you must take every opportunity where you find it, and this is certainly a section where the course gives a little back.
This section is very hard and you need to grind it out. From the dip after Hillcrest you climb Botha’ s Hill, third of the Big 5. The Kearsney schoolboys are at the top, helping to pull you up the final stretch, and then you drop down past the Rob Roy and climb again to Alverston. Drop down into Drummond and don’ t forget to say hello to Arthur Newton at Arthur’ s Seat. After the halfway mark at Drummond, you face one of the most revered hills in world road racing, the mighty Inchanga, fourth of the Big 5 hills. It’ s a beast. Look out for the painting on the rock of the little Indian man. He is the emblem of the Natal Canoe Club. When you see him, you’ ll know you are not far from the top of Inchanga. That will mean you’ ve ground out a very tough section. The first half of the Up Run is certainly one of the toughest standard marathons in the country, so be generally cautious. A reckless first half is something you’ ll regret later.
SECTION 4
TOP OF INCHANGA TO UMLAAS ROAD( 46KM – 69KM)
This section again offers some respite after the tortuous first half of the race. Apart from the little horror just outside Camperdown, there are no serious hills in this section. However, it’ s the hills with no names that often bite with the sharpest teeth. This is still the Up Run, so please don’ t start
Images: Courtesy CMA
18 Comrades Training & Information Guide 2017