Well done to all who took part in this years comrades. Just getting to the start line is an achievement in itself. This was my second comrades and my first up run, back to back medal was on offer. Last year I had set a goal of sub 11 and came up short with a 11h39, so was pretty disappointed. This year I decided I wasn't going to set to high a goal and just go out for a finish, I would see how I feel as they day went on and run accordingly. The most common peice of advice I got through out the year was to take the first half easy as it would be the toughest Marathon I've ever done, so I set out with that exact plan and managed to get to Drummond in 05h30 still feeling okay. In that time I still hadn't seen my wife and family on the route not once as they had been stuck in traffic. Had managed to borrow a phone from a club mate and spoke to her so I knew their situation. I didn't let it get to me and managed on the water, energade and bananas at the water tables. I knew there were still some nasty climbs coming so stuck to a strategy of running the downs, flats and shuffling walking up the hills. It worked as I got to the top of Pollys still feeling okay and saw that I had about 49min to do the last 7km to squeeze in a sub 11. Ran the whole way with no walking and came in with a 10h53. I couldn't believe it was possible to do a negative split in comrades, but I had done it. The up run definitely doesn't hurt as much as the down, wasn't nearly half as sore as I was last year the day after. Now I wait and see for next year.....
