TRAIL RUNNING |
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Some six weeks later she lined up for the start of the 2018 Comrades , determined to enjoy the experience as much as she could . “ I didn ’ t think I would be fast enough to go all the way , but I was determined to get as far as I could . I only just made the cut-off point at Windsor Park , so I knew I probably wouldn ’ t make the next one , but when I got to Pinetown and saw they were packing up the timing mats , I asked them to leave them just a few more seconds , so that I could hear the beep of my timing chip one last time . I then had to climb into the bailer ’ s bus , but I had made it to 67km , my longest run to date , so I was still pleased .” |
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“ I decided not to enter the 2019 Comrades , because I thought I had even less chance of finishing the Up Run , and instead , I went to do the three-day 3 Cranes Trail Run . I actually think trail running has made me even slower , but it is always so scenic and enjoyable . People who run as slowly as I do simply can ’ t understand how others run so fast . I did try track running , and did manage to get a little bit faster , but I could go no faster than 61 minutes for 10km . That ’ s why I think just qualifying for the Comrades is my biggest achievement in running – it still makes me emotional when I think about it now , even more so than actually running the Comrades .”
While the cancerous lump had not affected Harriet ’ s health that much since the diagnosis in 2016 , it did become a problem when the country went into lockdown in March 2020 .
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
While the cancerous lump had not affected Harriet ’ s health that much since the diagnosis in 2016 , it did become a problem when the country went into lockdown in March 2020 . “ I was unable to run for a number of weeks and it affected my health . I got quite sick , and suffered blurry vision as well , so I went for more tests and the doctors found that the cancer had spread to my bones , and there was lump in my head as well . Fortunately , as soon as the hard lockdown ended and I could start exercising again , I started walking four to eight kilometres with my youngest daughter , and that helped me start to feel better . By the time the Comrades Virtual Run happened in June , I was still not feeling ready to run , so I decided to walk the virtual 45km , with my daughter doing the 21km . Three days later I underwent radiation treatment on the lump in my head .”
Harriet ’ s condition continued to improve in the following months , thanks to her strict nutrition and training programmes , and by May this year she was feeling ready to tackle the Pondo Trail Run . Still buzzing form that experience , Harriet decided that she was ready for more running , and since she and Belinda had once again entered the Comrades virtual run , taking place just two weeks after Pondo , she called up her training partner and said she wanted to run it … and this time she wanted to run the full 90km race route from Pietermaritzburg
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Belinda and Harriet , ready to tackle the Comrades route
to Durban ! “ I knew we would not have to make the 12-hour cut-off , meaning I could actually do it , and we could organise our own seconders on the route to look after us , so I said let ’ s go for it .”
Unsurprisingly , it turned out to be a tough day ’ s running . “ I had not actually trained for a 90km road ultra-marathon , because the Pondo is no more than 38km on a day . My longest training run was just 30km . Also I was very tired after Pondo , and had finished the three days with huge blisters under my toenails , so I could no extra training for the 90km . I couldn ’ t even wear closed shoes until just before the virtual run !”
Undaunted , Harriet and Belinda were driven to Maritzburg by family and friends and started their 90km quest in the early morning hours . Harriet says the first 40km were OK , but after that she had to do a lot of walking , and could only run the downhills . More worrying , however was that they still had a way to go when the sun went down , and that part of the run was not at all enjoyable . “ It got scary when it got dark , especially because at times we had no seconding car near us due to running on roads where the car couldn ’ t stay with us , but around 8 o ’ clock that night we finished . It took us 15 and a half hours , so it was a very long , tiring day , but I am so glad I did it , because I just wanted to prove that I can do it .”
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Belinda and Harriet on the last of the Big 5 hills |
READY FOR MORE
With the Comrades now ticked off her ‘ to do list , Harriet says she is ready to focus on other events and running goals . “ Comrades is now done for me , especially since they took another 10 minutes off the qualifying time . I will always support where I can , but I want to do more trail runs now . You get some really stunning events , but they don ’ t have to be three-day events . I will still be running on the road , as well , and I am entered for the Cape Town Marathon in October . I could never do it before because of the costs of travelling to the Cape , but now that my son lives there , I have accommodation . I also booked my flights early , so I got a good rate , too .
“ But overall , I just want to enjoy my running , and it ’ s important to keep running for my health . The cancer is still there , and has now spread to my other breast , but it ’ s under control thanks to my healthy diet and running . I have found that chocolate and sugar actually gives me pain in my bones , so I avoid those , and I now drink oestrogen tablets , to control hormones to prevent further spread of the breast cancer . But basically , I ’ m just eating healthily and exercising .”
To her credit , Harriet has never let her diagnosis hold her back . Instead she says it has given her a new lust for life and sense of adventure . “ This diagnosis has taught me that it ’ s better to start small and do something at 60 %, than never try because you cannot do 100 % right away ,” she says . “ And with my family , community and friends by my side , I celebrate my life by running , making every moment count , and I am extremely grateful for all of life ’ s opportunities . For example , I had the massive privilege recently to run with one of my greatest heroes , Bruce Fordyce , when he came down to Ballito to promote his new book . My friend Barry Holland said I must run with him , and immediately said there would be no point , as I wouldn ’ t be able to keep up , but Bruce has also slowed down over the years and is now running at my pace , so just as with everything I do these days , I made the most of the opportunity !”
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Images : Courtesy Harriet Kruger & Belinda Skinner |