Comrades 2018 – by Oly Diko (13233)
Preparation for the Comrades Marathon can be long and gruelling, it needs commitment and discipline. The long-awaited day came on the 10 June 2018.
The day before my running Club (Chillie Runners) had organized a 5km shake out run at the Promenade, followed by breakfast and a photoshoot of all the Comrades runners. I was there in my beautiful club colours and tracksuit.
In the afternoon there was a Pasta Party hosted for all supporters and runners. I couldn’t make it, as a novice I felt the need to be in my own space and face my fears and be mentally prepared for what was going to be the longest endurance event I have ever taken part in.
I woke up at 02h00 am on the 10/06/2018 and took a hot shower (I always take a hot shower before marathons and ultras, it just makes me feel awake and fresh), got dressed as I had prepared everything the night before.
I needed to be ready by 03h00 as Mr. X was picking us up from my place and taking us to the start. After getting dressed I went to the kitchen and had left over pap from the previous night’s dinner and sweet potato, I also had scrambled egg white (for protein intake). To drink I had water with Rehidrat Sport (for my electrolytes intake). I took some of the water with me to the start, carried on drinking before the race started. Next pit stop was the loo unfortunately non came out and that alone raised a bit of a concern (talking from previous experiences).
Departure was set for 03:00 and for some reason we ended up leaving at 03h30 (we had a mini photoshoot with Mpho & Sibu while waiting). Mr. X was driving all 5 of us (a big shout out to him for this tremendous effort) to the start myself (13233), Sibu (15027), Mpho (21205), Bra Dog (30187) and Dr. B (31467). We had a jam driving up to PMB playing TKZ (Halloween) album, dancing and singing along to Mambotjie and the other songs.
I also remember dancing to Mzekezeke in the midst of the traffic just after Ashburton. We got to the venue (PMB) at exactly 05h00 then made our way to the seeding pans, on our way to the starting point we met up with a teammate Thula (24865), I then suggested a loo pit stop but Dr. B and Thula would hear none of it, they said there’s no time for that. Soon after that we bumped into Nate (26047), Siya (59290) and Simo (58117), what a pleasant surprise as we are all friends, and have a Whataspp group started by Nate (Izinja zami) more over we all train together but today we are in different batches. We exchanged good wishes and went our separate ways. Myself, Dr. B and Thula are in the same seeding pan (C batch) so we make our way. Dr. B is just panicking he wants to push to the front soo bad, he really wants this Bill Rowan (07h30- 9h00 finishing time).
At the seeding pan we see familiar faces and we share hugs, handshakes, and an odd selfie here and there. I remember taking a pic with Skhomo (15744), it’s a cold morning however not as freezing as we predicted it to be, I even left my blanket that I bought at Pep in Mr X’s car as we only had 30mins waiting time which was not too bad.
Its now 20 minutes to the gun, the whole crowd starts singing the national anthem followed by Shosholoza, then the spine chilling traditional Comrades song (Chariots of fire) plays and then reality kicks in.. this ish is getting real! Emotions are evoked and everyone starts switching on their watches, throwing blankets and loose over garments over the fence. The cock crow and followed by the gun .. off we go !!!!
It literally took me 3 minutes to get to the starting matt (it takes up to 9 minutes for H batch), we’re lucky we start moving. I no longer see Dr B and Thula, the plan was never to run with them anyway (I don’t want to die mina) as I’m shuffling through, you get amazed by the supporters on the side of the road ( mind you they woke up early to be there too) and as cold and dark as it was, the ambiance was amazing though, back to the race…
I then asked myself what have I gotten myself into?!! Anyway I paced myself towards PMB N3 highway. At this current moment I’m not spotting any familiar faces, then the voice inside says “focus and run your race at your own pace don’t let the C batch crowd pull you inâ€. The crowd starts spreading out the street, lights are starting to be fewer and it’s getting darker. I’m running alone and then I spot Linda Mabika (23002), I shout “Linda, you’re so sneaky why didn’t you say you running again this year?! (mind you we talking about a lady that has a back to back medal under her name) I pass Linda slowly and I’m shuffling up the hill and I spot familiar strides, its actually (Noloyiso Skiti 16251) “ Nolo , Nolo.. she then responded cold I then said it’s me Oly, she said “hey Mr.D, andikuboni kaloku†she then wished me well and as I was introducing myself to Nolo another runner heard my name and shouted “Hey Ollie’s†I responded who is this ?!
It’s me Simo….oh its Simo Masondo (12792), my fellow Chillie Runner “ohhh hey Masondo wasicashela wena, we missed youâ€. Well wishes were exchanged off he went. (I can’t keep up with his pace) Ngizosha mfana, Masondo yinja yeGame.
Back to the race .. “let me remain focused, my race was planned and time target was setâ€. I need to be in Mabhida at 16h00, before the lights are on, that’s my personal target. I never told anyone (10h30 is my time and I know I’m capable of it). Having ran the first 56km of the route as a training run in 06h20, I know I can run the last 34km in 4h10 on tired legs.
One thing about running it teaches you a lot about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses.. I’m diverting now, back to the race.. now I’m passing the first water station… I remember reading Coach Norrie’s post saying, “try avoid first three water stations, they will be packedâ€, I run past and then I see a kilometer marker (87km to go) … kwashuba !!!! I don’t need water yet, I hydrated enough, so far so good.
We have now passed two water stations and are 8 km into it approaching Polly Shorts, I spot Njabulo Ndlela (17182), another chillie runner, he was happy to see me, he literally turned back to greet me, wow ! Who does that ? He has 4 Comrades medals, now pacing for his 5th, “Bye Mr Ndlela ungaqedi i Coke ngiyezaâ€.
More runners pass by, I’m so wary of starting fast, I don’t mind them, let them go. Sohlangana e Cowies Hill bafana bami. That’s my confidence builder talking, second half I need to be strong.
We are now descending Polly Shorts, here goes Siya Mfingwana (59290), Sam Mbhele (14456) and Malcolm Bhengu (15827 ) shortly they are followed by Nate Ngcobo (26047), Mdresh Ndlovu (22444) and Jomo Khumalo (20249). All my friends, not worried they are all chasing Sub10hours, let them go.
I have met up with Zinyuse (53917) from Kokstad, he is telling me how he got cut off at the same spot we are running last year on the uprun, the guy has 4 DNFs (did not finish), he really needs this medal, great guy, great runner too. I ran the Deloitte Challenge with him earlier in the year. I asked him to take me through his race plan, we adjusted his times slightly, I am telling him my plan too, “I need to be in Pinetown in 8hrs (at the very latest)â€, I say. Lets go……he stops for a leak I don’t wait, I move. Comrades, I read, you just have to keep moving, no stopping, no gimmicks, keep moving, the clock is ticking. We have passed Ashburton and Little Pollys.
I can now feel that I will need a loo soon, I can’t disturb my rhythm, I’m getting warm, I’m shuffling through approaching Lion Park, besides I don’t even have a tissue paper, My gosh, this running thing is such an admin.
I am now climbing and here comes Simo Shange (58117), he is running for his yellow number (running his 9th comrades), he says lets shuffle together, we shuffle for 500metres together and then I realise our paces are not in sync, not today. I have ran marathons, training runs and even Chatsworth Ultra with him but today, he is one notch up, “ Simo, vaya bra yami†I tell him. I’ve been experiencing sharp pain on the underside of my left foot for about a kilometer now, I keep ignoring it, I pass the Lion Park mat (01h51), my target time was 01h45 so I’m 6 minutes late, I don’t mind, I have ran this route on Beloved Long Runs route tester, I know I can make up some time between Lion Park and Cato Ridge. The atmosphere is electric at Lion Park, wow, I’m now really running the Comrades Marathon, it dawns on me.
I’m now on 73km to go, meaning just finished 17km and my pain is getting worse, its got a needles effect, its unbearable. Could this be it ? I cant carry on like this ? I’m going to have to bail out of this race ? Why though ? I’m now feeling disgruntled, excitement is over, I just wanna cry. Let me run to Camperdown, I’m anyway going to see a friend there, Wongile. Let me see how I will feel when I get to him, and take it from there.
I have all my intended splits in my head. I have to be at 21km at 02h20, I pass 21km in 02h28, I’m now 8mins late, I get to 24km and I see Wongile. He gives me something to drink, I tell him that my left foot recurring injury is back again, and I also need the toilet, I desperately need some pain tablets. My exact words to him are “I’m in deep shit, let me goâ€. A middle aged white lady seating next to Wongile, says to me “forget the pain and focusâ€. I shuffle through Camperdown, in my head, I decide let me run to Thozi Mazibuko in Cato Ridge, he might assist me. I need to drop my pace, the pain is sharp. I’m running and walking the hills outside Camperdown.
72 km to go, now I can’t hold the urge for the loo anymore, let me find a bush, I will use my gloves as tissue. I have no option. I find a bush, in and out, I’m back on the road, a sub10h00 bus passes me whilst I’m still trying to find my rhythm. Cato Ridge (30km) I’m here, Maqhoboza, Mr X and Thozi are here, time is 03h38, was suppose to be here 03h25. I’m 13mins late, the loo break and walking those hills has costed me more time.
I tell them, the only place I can get pills is at my family support table in Hillcrest, I’m in trouble, they offer me refreshments, Thozi gives me a nice spray and rub, I have no option now, I must run the next 26km in pain to get to Hillcrest where I can get some pain tablets. Maqhoboza offers me tablets that are in his car, they belong to Thulani Makhathini, I refuse kindly (no new thing on race day, I think). I carry on with my run.
In my head, I tell myself, let me adjust my target, run to finish sub12hours, I cant make 10h30, not feeling like this. Not running like this. I can’t even make sub11hours. No ways.
Descending Harrison flats, I’m feeling rejuvenated, I’m no longer walking a lot, we turn to pass the school for the Deaf, in my head I know the monster Inchanga is coming, I must not be carried away, I’m shuffling alone all this time. I spot a Manoni guy that we’ve been passing each other back and forth for a while now, his name is Ayanda and he is running with a lady called Daisy, they both have a number of medals. I remember just thinking this guy must be from Umtata or Port Elizabeth from his accent, he is shouting “Daze, flats and downs, flats and downs†in a Model C accent. Basically saying to this Daisy lady, lets run flats and downs and not waste time on them. I thought to myself, Mr Model C has a point…..let me stick to that plan too, it might take me to my tablets in Hillcrest.
Samkelo Sithole (26675) of Team Vitality KZN and his friend Thula fly past me, he remarks “masambe Mr Dikoâ€. We always tease one another in a very friendly way, great guy, he is going for his back to back. He seems too strong for me to hold on to them. I let them go. I stop momentarily on the side to fix my socks, I think I smeared a lot of Vaseline on my toes, now my foot slips to the front and makes me very uncomfy. Fix that, tie back my shoes and lets move. Samkelo is long gone, I’m surrounded by unfamiliar faces. I push nonetheless.
Run and walk up Inchanga, a long dreadful climb it is, I eventually summit, got some water on the table on top, theres a 3 km descent, I stick to Mr Model C plan ‘ I pace up to the halfway mark, I got to Drummond and I spotted Mpho (21205) and Khululekani Shabalala, we cross the mat (05h23). The original plan was crossing at 05h00. I’m 23mins late now, I don’t mind, the plan has now been adjusted.
I walk up on the other side of Drummond, I’m now halfway. I meet Samkelo Sithole again, I don’t know where I passed them, they are also shocked that I caught up to them, they carry on ahead of me. I run/walk up pass the wall of honour takes me pass the official halfway mark 45.092km. I walk past a long queue at Arthur’s seat, people leaving flowers and bowing down. A lady remarks to me, “leave a flower for Arthur or your race will be bad†and I think inside, it can never get worse that this ma’am. Besides, do you know that David Gatebe smashed the downrun record without even blinking passing Arthur’s seat ? I was tempted to ask her. I move nonetheless, in my head I know the next mission is climbing up Alverstone to the other side of Phezulu.
On my Alverstone climb, in comes Wanda Mtshali (21792) from behind, I know he is chasing his friends ooSamkelo, I tell him, they are about 500m ahead he can still catch them. He says no he will stay with me, we run/walk Alverstone and on the otherside of the hill we pace down, we are now approaching Pot & kettle, Wanda is too tall and I can feel his strides dragging me, I tell him to go ahead and catch his friends, leave me to shuffle alone. He would hear none of it, I insist, he moves along. I know he is chasing a Bronze, he got a Bronze in 2017 on his first Comrades. Pot & Kettle, I see a couple of familiar faces, and I see my team’s support Table (Chillie runners) I wasn’t expecting them, I knew they were going to be in Bothas Hill but we are 2km before Bothas Hill. They are soo excited to see me. Sino gives me a spray and gentle rub, Vusi offers me something to drink and marshmallows, Nhlanhla is in awe that I’m smiling and looking strong, he is taking lots of pics, I take a group photo with them and Linda (who is the Club’s chairperson) runs with me and wishes me well. I carry on with my solo journey.
Up Bothas Hill, I walk the gentle incline I meet up with Andile Madlala (6904), he is also suffering from something, I think its cramps, he is not slowing down. He is moving. His friend Dumisani Zungu passed me about 2km behind, he is ahead, I tell him, we chat for a few and split. I pick up a credit card that seems to have been dropped by a runner, it’s a FNB premier bank card with a surname (Motsepe). Flip !! Could this be Patrice Motsepe’s card ?? hahahahaha !! I look for a Marshal to give it to, I eventually give it to a middle aged gentlemen sitting down on a camp chair to hand it to a marshall when he sees one. I meet my fellow club mate, lady Zimasa Hene (19715) and her running partner, she is asking me if I will see my son in Kearsney, we are now approaching the crowds gathered by Kearsney gate, I tell her my son is not at school, I will see him in Hillcrest. They are playing nice music at Kearnsey, I’m tempted to dance. I don’t wanna cramp. Let me not be excited, let me be composed and keep moving, I look around to see any of my son’s friends, I see no one familiar, I carry on with the duo, we have now started descending Bothas Hill approaching Hillcrest, my medication is 3km away, I pick up a flag from the corner of Bothas Hill from the Charity I am running for (Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust), 3km from here, they will be gathered there. I walk up Heartbreak hill just past Kassier Road, I’m now officially in Hillcrest, I have let Zimasa and her friend go, they are looking strong, everytime I pace up, my foot reminds me, who is boss. I see Mdladla, I also see Dr Mhlungu by Caltex garage in Hillcrest, familiar faces light up my face, I pass KFC and I see Bandile Xaba, she screams, she’s a great friend too. I get to Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust and they are soo excited, the support is just electric and amazing, I leave the flag and head to family’s seconding spot which is 200m away from them. I demand a camp chair. I have never experienced such torture in my life.
Familiar faces and the pain…
My kids, my sisters, my staff, everyone is there, they are taking pics and videos, excited and proud. I take off my shoes, take some pain tablets, I ask Phumelele to massage my feet. I’m having a ham sandwich and drinking lucozade, all these activities are happening concurrently. No time to waste. The 11h30 bus passes by as I’m still having my lunch. I’m frustrated. I don’t want that bus to be ahead of me. I notice Lusapho Njenge (25271) also passing. Now I’m gonna suffer from indigestion, why is everyone passing, I am not chewing properly. Andile (10052) and Ayanda Mbele (19429) also pass by, I quickly tied up my shoe laces, hugged my boys and took off. Now no more excuses, I ate, I got the tablets, Mabhida….ndiyeza !!!
I pass the Winston Park mat at 07h18, the initial target was 06h30. I am now officially 48mins behind my target time. I can feel the pain subsiding, I’m shuffling down Firestation hill making my way to the M13, I catch up to the brothers Ayanda and Andile near Kloof Spar, we run together past the Coca Cola Mile in Kloof, we see on the screen runners entering Mabhida, now I am more certain in my mind that, Mabhida is where I will be in a couple of hours. Ayanda, says I must go ahead, they will catch up with me, Andile is suffering, he is recovering from a plantar injury. I keep moving. I run down Fields Hill, I run pass Mr Model C, he is still very chirpy, he is telling the lady he’s running with â€Smile & Wave†in his accent. As I enter Pinetown, plenty of familiar faces in Pinetown, Luthando Mondliwa, Sakhile Mhlonishwa, Tina Maholwana, and a host of others, they all greet take pics. I feel good. I’m smiling and waving, no stopping, I keep moving.
I also see Kgomotso and Vuyo, they are all offering, “need anything ?†no I’m good, thanks. I pass the Pinetown cut off in 08h45. I was suppose to be there at 08h00, remember me telling Zinyuse this at Pollyshorts ? I’m now 45mins behind. I don’t care, “Complete NOT Compete“. That’s my motto. I see Gareth Rankin, a great friend and my former running partner, he took a break after 2 comrades. He says “Oly, you got this, just keep movingâ€.
I get to 70km at the bottom of Cowies Hill at the Chillie Runners second last support table. They are excited to see me, I ask for marhewu, for the first time in this race, now I’m drinking marhewu and I ask for water, I take the bottle of water with me. Leave them after a few chuckles and jokes. I have 20km left and 03h10. I keep moving…..
A Stranger and a camp chair
300m away from the Chillie runners table up Cowies Hill, I see a lady standing next to an empty camp chair, supporting, I ask her if I can seat on her chair, she has no issues, I sit down, untie my shoes, fix my socks once more. Tie back my shoes and shuffle up Cowies. Run-walk strategy takes me to the top of Cowies, I start running down on the other side, even though the pain is still not too bad, its has subsided, I still feel like I have a blister or my underside is swollen. We join the M13 highway, I spot a medical tent, I go in, take off my shoes and socks, I ask them for a gentle massage under my feet. A very friendly lady comes and gives me a gentle massage with what feels like a cooling gel or Anica oil. Its soo soothing, it feels amazing. They ask me for my personal details, as I’m putting my shoes back on, name, surname etc. I see Ayanda and Andile once again pass the medical tent, this time I’m not panicking like in Hillcrest, let them go. I take a satchet of water and leave the medical tent.
At this time, I run parallel to a lady wearing a red outfit, she looks defeated, I read her name tag, Zonke (40066), she’s running for her back to back medal. I greet her and say “Zonke, we are almost in Mabhida, lets run smart, lets goâ€. We run together the M13 in Westville, run walk the uphills by Blair Atholl until we got to 45th cutting, another Chillie Runners support table. The last one. We were once again met with such enthusiasm and excitement. Given Powerade and water. We moved quickly, 500m from there I met again my friend Wongile (who met me in Camperdown). He gave me Lucozade, and I kept moving. Met up with Pushe Yende (21765), who I also run with, asked to join me and Zonke. A big bus (11h45) passed us as we are approaching the last cut off matt. We pass that one at 10h36. We now have 1h24 to run 9km. I tell them to relax, we will finish comfortably, let that bus go. We don’t need it in front of us in close proximity. Lets walk up the steep hill to join the N3 freeway.
We meet again...
We joined the N3 and ran down, saw Thozi Mazibuko again (he was at Cato Ridge rubbing me down) and saw Baphumze who was excited to see me again. We are strong with the two ladies, we are moving. Oyama Makalima (21840) from EL flies past us, we are focused. We walk up the Tollgate Bridge hill. On top we keep running. We get to the 6km board and we have 1h05 to run 6km. We run-walk the last hill that had Jetline photographers, grab water on top at the water station.
Now we have 5km to run. We keep running. We keep passing everyone that was passing us earlier. People are finished, are defeated, we still have something in the tank. We turn at the robot pass the old stadium, about 3km to go now, I tell them we can still do 11h45. Lets just run, we pass the 11h45 big bus that passed us at the 45th cutting mat, we pass Oyama Makalima and a host of other people that were passing us. Pushe is flying ahead of me, Zonke is behind me, she is defeated but is running and walking. We get into Mabhida, run into the tunnel, the lights, the atmosphere is electric, running on the grass feels like a dream. I cross the mat in 11h47. Its done. Asijikanga !!!! Stop the watch. Medal at hand………..woww!
09 June 2019, going for my back to back !!!!! See you on the road. LOVE