1. Be careful at the start. Lots of black refuse bags, bottles etc. lying around. 2. The start will take long - don't stress about it. It takes a good 5 kilometers for the field to open up a bit. Take it all in, it gives me goosebumps every year to see the sea of runners around me. Appreciate the supporters at the start, they are there at 5:30, in the dark supporting us. 3. Run the first half conservatively - Add 20 to 30 seconds to your training pace, not your race pace. The second half can be easily 40 to 60 seconds slower than your training pace, depending on how you feel. You start running with your head from Pinetown, I normally tell myself it is only a half marathon to go. Just keep moving forward no matter what. Drink beer if you have to but don't stop moving. Before you know it you have 15km left, then 10 and then you hit the magical single digits. Stick to your run/walk strategy here, even better if you can run with another runner to keep each other motivated. 4. Remember to stick to your nutrition strategy. 5. DON'T walk every water point - 46 water stations x 30 seconds = 23 MINUTES. And that excludes the hill walking... My plan is to (try) and run 10kms and walk 2 minutes in the first half, but that is a very optimistic plan. 6. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT try ANYTHING new on race day. No new shorts, running belt, sports bra, or any new bars, gels, rehydration etc. My running mate got given a bottle of USN rehydration last year. He has never used it before and he started puking there and then and it didn't stop to the finish. I ran with new Falke socks and got a bad blood blister. Brude Fordyce beliefs that you need to do a long run with your full kit and all your food. 7. Don't eat anything new on the road - Yes there are lots of support on the road, and they all want to help the runners. If you haven't eaten potatoes at a race don't try it out at Comrades. 8. Take tissues with - to wipe the tears at the the start and finish... especially the finish. 9. As mentioned before don't think of it as 90km - it is 9 runs of 10km or 7 runs of 15km. 10. When you hit the grass sprint like you are Wayde... well I always try to do it, I am sure I am not doing it as elegantly as Wayde. It is the best feeling in the world when you hit the grass. I guess I can go on and on, you got me all excited now!! One last thing, make sure you have dinner ready for Sunday night, wherever you stay. You are to buggered to stop anywhere for food. I always struggle to swallow so I get myself some Woolies soup or pasta.
