Comrades Supplement Comrades Training and Info Guide, January 2014 | Page 11

been hard, physical running, but now starts the
true mental battle that is the signature tune of
Comrades. Once again, the course undulates
with some very severe hills here, and it just
becomes more difficult the further you go.

up or down. You’ll have to put your head down
and grind out the next 11km. Climb the back
of Inchanga, drop down into Drummond and
immediately start the climb to Alverston.
After Alverston you’ll drop down a little and
then climb to Botha’s Hill. Over the top of
Botha’s Hill, there’ll be a rousing welcome from
the Kearsney Boys before your one last climb
to the top of Hillcrest. By Inchanga, you have
already run a marathon so you’ll need to keep
your head facing these very hard 11km. Adjust
your schedule for the severity of this section,
then concentrate and knock the kilometres off.

SECTION 4:

Images: CMA & Nicole de Villiers

Hillcrest to Pinetown

(53km – 70km)
Here lies your greatest opportunity on the
Down Run – 18km of relatively easy running
with no major hill climbs. However, remember
that you’ve already run a long way and you’ll
be asking your tired legs to perform at their
optimum.

Out of Pinetown it’s the famous Cowies Hill, and
after that they just keep coming: Up Westville,
up 45th Cutting, then the final climb up Mayville
Hill, with some nameless but no less unforgiving
hills in between. It’s daunting, but you can
attack this last 19km with some mind games,
such as telling yourself it’s only a morning run,
or just an 8km time trial. The run to the finish
over the last 3km is mercifully flat. The crowds
will love you and carry you along. Enjoy the
end of a very hard journey. You’ve survived the
Down Run!

The course undulates gently downhill here.
Settle down and run. Feed off the cheering
crowds. If you are racing, it is this section that
sets you up for your time. Only one major
problem exists – the mighty 3.2km downhill run
of Fields Hill. The pounding on Fields can turn
your quads to jelly. It is wise to exercise extreme
caution and take this hill slowly.

SECTION 5:

Pinetown to the Finish

(70km – 89km)
When I say that the race begins in Pinetown,
I don’t say it lightly. The preceding 70km have

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