It’s the night before Comrades. The Ultimate Human Race. Bib #37312 is scared, but only a fool wouldn’t be scared, and both of us are. Excited, too, though. We’ve talked to various runners and listened to their advice: Mostly, start SLOW! They say that it is easy to get caught up in the excitement, to go out too fast. We must avoid that to finish.
They have “bail busses” which have very beautiful people on them, and the number one temptation we must avoid is getting on one. For one runner, it was the greatest regret of his life. Do not be tempted!
We’ve got a route to the start and are leaving at 3:30am for the 5:30am start. The race is a “gun to gun” and we will lose 4-6 minutes just at the start.
There will be so many people at the first 3 aid stations that we’ve be told to carry our water, and avoid them so that we don’t waste time waiting for the water sachets.
We’ve got our V02 Max, Gu Gel, Salt Tablets, and Motivators all stored and ready to go. I have 2 10.5oz water bottles, and I hope that will get me to the 4th aid station.
The hardest part of the race is the first half. If we can get through that strongly, then the second will go well.
We got our flowers to put on the seat of one of the first runners, to help ensure a good second half of the race
The video camera is fully charged, and ready to go.
For lunch we had Pizza – which was awesome. Dinner is rice. I hope I don’t have to stop during the race for a “boom-boom” – hate to waste the time
Our race strategy is going to be a simple one – we are going to join the start of the 11 hour group, stick with them, and that will give us time to stop and take care of biological needs while we fade in the race to the end of the 11 hour group by the end. 10:59 is the hope – 12 hours is the goal. It gives us some time
The Garmin 310XT is charged and ready – look for a map of the route, the elevation, and my heart rate when I return!
Nat is strong and ready. I’m determined.
The hardest part may be avoiding getting excited and running with the run people, chatting with someone too fast, and keeping to our plan and our pace. We must follow our plan!
The weather tomorrow is expected to be perfect: a high about 68 degrees (20c) and with a slight mist… Perfect weather for running. I have my t-shirts that I’m donating, and my jacket that I am leaving behind once I get warm. The Girl is happy about that – she hates this jacket (I liked it until I get bike grease on it). However, the only concern is near maritzburg, where the temperature by our finish is supposed to be close to 48F (mighty chilly, but perhaps not so much if we are working hard). Discussions are ongoing about whether or not to carry a jacket to the finish (I’m wearing one in the morning).
