My Maiden Comrades Marathon 2016 Finish time 8:55 .....A thread

Build Up.... 2012 After Arriving in Gauteng I joined virgin active Eco Park and I was doing classes ( aerobics I think it's now called Hi-Lo and Kick boxing) In 2013 I saw couple of guys running out if gym during our classes and I was already bored because hey I suffer from ADD

I asked and I was told they running .....I asked if I can join them and the first day came and they were doing 12km Bazalwane I could mot survive it we were told as ladies we can do 8 and we were shown short cut and other gents stayed with us at the back and took us back to gym

Registered and ran 1 ultra as my 1st race 50km City to city I ran sub 7hrs... U suffered from Achilles tendon before we passed midstream because my legs were not used running beyond 18km and I had registered for 50 After few weeks of running.

Joined a club as I needed to have running licence and the running fever waa severe with an injury picked up from my 1st race I never stopped but I kept consulting physio s and I never wanted to rest... I dragged my foot to races ...It was time for a marathon and I entered sabs

Wangibetha Bazalwane uSABS in 2014 ndabuya with 4:51 but I was told this is a great time I even qualify for Comrades- I asked... What is Comrades ....I was informed that only few run it and it's a distance covering 90km in one day... but its very difficult

in 2014 Through treating the injury I fell inlove with exercises I was introduced to strength training I was eventually categorically told to stop running at least 3 months as my injury was now worse I joined the weights gang

I was so comfortable in the strength training that It made my hunger for road dry down and I developed muscles I never thought I possessed...I loved it...

Gained my confidence back and my Biokenitics Told me I can resume running with 4km progress to 8 After 2weeks and 10km only after weeks ..I was relieved I could run again.

Because I am Nomvuzo I don't listen I registered a 10km and Bammm went for 49mins What a disaster .....

comrades 2014 I went to watch ...so I can decide whether To run or Not I travelled to the expo to Feel the spirit. I watched on the side of the road I was at Carto ridge Not the best place to be first time coz ppl pass there already drained and faces looking terrible

2015 I knew I wanted it .... Off course the injury was back because I don't know how to run slow and in moderation and O registered for the marathon most runners tease others about Kaapsehoop.. They said everyone runs a sub 4 there meaning under 4hrs and it's very easy

What a joke.... There is no easy marathon. Distance of 42.2km is as hard as any...regardless of course. I lined up and got myself a 3h58 Boy was a happy It was short lived as banter in my running group was intense imagine a griuobof 58 men and you the only girl

I was told it was only because it is at Kaapse I was determined to prove that I am a legit under 4hrs run. I booked and flew down to Poet Elizabeth to attempt and run under 4 again only to come back with 4:01 having spent all that money Things Esso will make you do

I trained with @Mhandla_B Vongani and Sthe and they were targeting sub 9hrs and I was targeting finish But because they were teaching themselves 6mins per kilo running pace I could run and hold on to them. this was before they became Elite phela

We did so many long runs of different routes over 6mins per kilo to me it was my maximum and they were comfortable Buy every day I pitched for training never missed a day. I wanted comrades. I did all it takes.

They had a planning day and they decided to have a bus of all that are are gunning for 9hrs in that bus.... I was placed on possible sub 11hrs because of my running stats and I asked if I can run with them until half way since I am used to their 6mins per kilo then will negotiate

Race Day Came and I was nervous but very confident. I had my Kaapse one time sub 4 and I lined up. I never was able to hit under 4hrs again ..... But I was very happy

We took off with the bus indeed into Half way ... half way I looked for my support from my family and @TeamVitality walked as I knew that I had 6hrs to run my second half as per my target.

Few Steps uphill I was so comfortable after Drummond that I started my running walk and I seemed to be feeling ok but I remembered that they said walk before the body forces you to walk . .I took my pride walks every 45mins of running

I went up to 65km when I decided to just run....in feel and I started moving... It was then down run in few kms to 70km around Pine Town that decided my Fate....I ran so well that down run all the way to Cowies I did not even see that Cowies I was a woman on a mission to finish

I arrived in Berea and there is last longish steep I was moving...the crowd made the legs not to Feel an't pain I was in the zone. I went up Smith or West am not sure Oh My gosh the Spirit of @ComradesRace was overwhelming at this point so many runners that were chasing

I recall very well passing runners some wearing Seeding A, B some C and others G really ran out of fuel I felt cold in my stomach because after all that fight the legs had just packed up and they were mostly suffering from cramps

I approached the stadium and @Ma1D who had long finished shouted GO GO you are within sub 9 you made Bill Rowan He was so excited clearly I thought uyaphambana there is no way it's still under 9hrs It must be 11hrs and my air fighters left me 2hrs ago and in my head it's 11

Running Blindly not knowing the time of day or your running time nor pace helped in hindsight as my @TomTom died after 43km I had no idea what time I was running. I ran on feel the whole road from half way

Entering the stadium and passing a big bus of sub 9hrs still was no indication that indeed it's under 9 until I saw a clock. My legs could sit go on further the adrenaline rush I felt I crossed that mat.... And My fighters had just also finished....I was so thrilled

Final Time Clocked. 8:55:54 I could not believe the splits. I literally pulled back after my peers left I knew Nje that there is no way I could run 9hrs it was not even in my back of my mind nor a dream as most of the best runners did not have this time.

I was convinced that there is no way a one hit of sub 4 and with all the runners I ran with and some on Facebook I could ever run under 9hrs. The books I read spoke of a comfortable sub 3:30 runner that stands a chance of running under 9hrs

Ultimately what delivered me to the finish line was Training Confidence that I ran sufficiently to be able to finish secondly was the conviction of What I set my mind and Heart to do I finish. Inkani (Stubbornness) in the mix and refusal of failing cocktail also.