WHERE IT ALL STARTED- OCTOBER 2011
It all started in October 2011 when Sandra Groening registered me to take part in this event.. & that was the beginning of a 7 months of grueling training for this 89.28km race. Characterized by taking part in the Soweto Marathon, Pnp marathon, Vaal Marathon, The Long Tom Marathon & long run training ended with a long run from Oshoek to Manzini on the 1st of May 2012. After that it was just shorter distances to relax our muscles in readiness for the COMRADES.
EMOTIONS
I was scared, anxious, excited, horrified but tried to keep positive. I'm not sure i slept on that night before the race, it just felt like i was half awake for most of the night. In the morning we went to the starting point, i was all by myself amongst other 18000 people.
AT THE START
Then the national anthem was played, followed by the shosholoza song followed by the Chariots of fire...This was the scariest moment & the longest moment spent being terrified with people next to me who were clearly novices too, shedding a tear or two, while i tried to keep calm.Apparently those songs r always played in that order every year at the comrades start. Then the gun went off & i had 11hrs 47minutes & 34seconds of what will remain the greatest memory in my running times..I will forever cherish this, the pains, the aches, the injuries, the tears.
THE INJURY
At around the 70km mark, i suffered an injury on my right knee & was in tears, stopped for a short massage & kept going & had to kip reminding myself that there shall be no stopping until the finish line. The pain spread to my thigh & lower part of the leg, i decided to join the 12hr bus & told myself i'm not letting go of that bus until the end..a stranger approached me, asked me, "r u ok?" as he saw me limping & i said yep i'm fine, just the knew, & he gave me painkillers, i drank 2 of them, i'm not even sure they worked coz the pain just kept pounding.
THE HIGHLIGHT
The highlight of this race was just 2kms before reaching the finishing point, as we entered the stadium, the group decided we sing the Shosholoza song, we sang, we smiled, we waved, we did the victory dance & waved, while our bus leader one Thulani Zwane led us into the stadium...that guy made dreams of many novices from all around the world come true....a stranger to us all in true comradeship spirit....At that point my husband had no idea where i was as they failed to trace me on the road, they even searched the ambulances just to find out if i got injured but didn't find me. So he decided to wait for me at the stadium while crossing his fingers to the 12hr cutoff....When we ran to the finish, u wdn't have been able to tell that i was injured, i was close to tears, i was completely finished inside.......
This is my experience of my first Comrades Marathon..During the race i cursed & cursed & cursed & vowed to never do this again & as i experience the pains & aches right now i smile & wonder if indeed i will never do this again.......
To SANDRA GROENING who is my friend, sister mother, mentor, coach,everything, u're too special to me my friend. To have put up with me & got me to successfully run the Comrades, i will forever dedicate this achievement to you.
To my team, VVO & Mark, i love you guys...
To the Golden Foot Club, it all started with you guys...
To my HUSBAND....No words can describe how thankful i am to God for blessing me with a husband as supportive as you.....I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH....*tears*
To the non runners & all those who do not understand what the fuss is all about....ur discouraging words, ur constant nagging and ridicule, that's what instilled the stubbornness in me. U will never know the joys of running especially in a team unless u try it...
& This marks the end of my running season for 2012.
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