Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 119, June 2019 | Page 48

‘fartlek’ session of 90km, or until at least their
carbohydrate stores have become depleted and
the runner is left to shuffle their way to the finish...
and then can get caught out in an ill-determined
intermediate cut-off calculated, at very best, on
even splits that are impossible to achieve in the
circumstances.
Times Have Changed
Based on this, two things need to happen: First is a
review of the intermediate cut-off times such that they
make allowance for those who genuinely can make it
in time. This means acknowledging that the best way
to run behind a bus is not to waste energy zig-zagging
or sprinting past, but rather to take an even easier
pace through to the three-quarter distance, and then
hope that an opportunity opens to ease past.
However, clearly by the intermediate cut-off times
being used in Comrades in past years, this is
something I feel the CMA has failed to appreciate.
Unless changes are being made, which I sincerely
hope they are, the slight decrease in qualifying time,
from five hours to 4:50, will have little effect on the
number of runners who qualify, but will continue to
affect many that are being stopped from achieving
their potential by inappropriate cut-off times. For
example, it is well known that Comrades even took
out an entire 12-hour bus at Cato Ridge in a recent Up
Run! Many of those runners would have been able to
complete in time had they been allowed to run their
chosen pace and continue.
Bus Etiquette Needed
Secondly, the evolution of the ‘mass buses’ requires
the introduction of a culture of consideration, and
a set of guidelines that allow for and respect the
wishes of other runners needs to be adopted, so that
buses do not hold up or force others into a set pace
or strategy. For example, a few guidelines that could
prove useful are:
• Buses should be no more than approximately
50 runners in size, and they should not run more
than three abreast.
• Passing the bus by runners from behind should
always be possible, and preferably done on a
specific side that could be made standard to all
events.
• Ensure that there is room down one side of the
bus at all time, and that instead of one massive
bus, there are more buses which could be used
to target say a 20-minute period which would
also allow runners to more easily adapt to
running paces.
• As with track etiquette, where runners shout
“track” in order to get the inside lane for
passing, some form of warning or request could
be made to allow runners to pass through the
bus.
None of these are hard to implement if a culture
of consideration and courtesy is adopted by the
runners and the sport. No-one wants more rules and
refereeing, particularly when for many the objective
is participation, completion and the reward of a
finish! For this reason, the best way forward is the
natural adoption of these simple guidelines and
considerations by the runners themselves. It will take
time to evolve, and perhaps initially it requires the bus
drivers and conductors to initiate the ‘self-policing.’
New Outlook Needed
With the Comrades gearing up for its centenary in
2021, and then its 100 th race in 2025, the numbers
will no doubt continue increasing, as will the delays
and frustrations. Let’s all just take a bit of time and
give lots of consideration to our fellow runners, let’s
make those buses work for us, and let’s all appeal
to Comrades to make logical and compassionate
decisions on the intermediate cut-offs.
Keep in mind that in the very first Comrades, race
organiser Vic Clapham did not disqualify L.E.W.
Pearson, who arrived at the finish 20 minutes after the
gun. No, Clapham acknowledged that he had failed to
earn the silver finisher’s medal, but he had a specially
minted bronze medal that was awarded (the only one)
in recognition of the fact Pearson still finished. Today
it seems race organisers are only too keen to find
ways to stop runners along the route, even if there is
still a chance for them to get to the finish in time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Norrie has represented Scotland, Great Britain and South Africa in ultra-distance running and triathlon, and he is an IAAF-accredited coach
and course measurer. You can read more from him at www.coachnorrie.co.za.
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ISSUE 119 JUNE 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Unfortunately, the basic logic of the issue seems lost
on those setting the cut-offs at Comrades. In 1988,
there were around 10,000 runners on a road that for
around 70km of the 90km distance is only 6.5 metres
wide. Roughly 10% of the field would get a silver
finish, whereas today just 4% will get under a 7:30
finish. The field is now less spread out over the time,
and we are looking at 16,000 runners, who mostly
fill the last hour using the same 6.5m width of road.
The runner flow, like the forced flow of wine or beer,
is forced into a less efficient pattern, and does not
perform to the same dynamics.