Author: SPStriders

Follow The Comrades Marathon Action Live This Sunday!

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In what may be an all time first, I am going to give live updates from the Comrades Marathon this Sunday. This will help to make the experience more interactive for people in Australia following the race.

Keep tuned to this website from 1:25pm this Sunday afternoon, 15 June, for live voice updates. When I say live, there is a 10 minute delay from recording to it being posted automatically on the site.

Whilst you are listening to my reports, you can locate me on a live map by going to the Comrades Website, clicking on ‘Results’ and typing in my race number: 9810.

You will be able to compare my reports to where I am on the map. Feel free to leave comments on the blog as well, and I’ll log on as soon as I get back to my accommodation at the finish line.

The Road To Comrades – Part 2

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I’m counting down the hours rather than the days now.  I leave on Thursday and arrive in south Africa on Friday morning.  I should be arriving at the Comrades Expo at about lunchtime.

The hairs all over my body stand on end whenever I enter the Expo.  I remember the first time being very emotional.  You can almost slice the atmosphere in there and bottle it. There is an air of anticipation in the air and you are surrounded by thousands of people in peak physical condition. Continue reading “The Road To Comrades – Part 2” →

More Results From Doomben

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Jenny Cawood punched out another speedy Half not long after the Brisbane Marathon Half, finishing in a great tmie of 1:40 at Doomben, placing 6th in her category.  Jon Brown continued his solid consistency with a 1:44, 29th in his category.  Brianna Moss has been selected to represent Metropolitan North at the State X Country Champs in Rocky in July which is an awesome achievement.  We wish you well Brianna and hope you can run with wings on your feet!

The Road To Comrades

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It’s hard to believe I’m running in this years Comrades Marathon.  Firstly, in January I didn’t expect that I would be able to run again, and feared that my running days had come to an end.  That was thanks a debilitating achilles tendinopathy which left me hobbling like a very old man as I got out of bed in the morning.  Walking to the kitchen to have breakfast was a challenge enough without thinking of running. Continue reading “The Road To Comrades” →

Early Birds Cross The Line Early

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Two of Striders ‘early birds’, Julie Turner and Wendy Clarke from the early morning group placed in the top ten at the Doomben Hlaf 10km. In a keenly contested tussle between the cousins, Julie pipped Wendy at the post crossing in 42:24 to Wendy’s 42:48.

Julie was placed 4th in the women’s top ten and Wendy 6th. Julie placed 6th at the Brisbane Marathon 10km, in a large and competitive field, and Wendy placed 13th in the Half, which had plenty of elite female competitors including a former World Triathlon Champion. Congrats to you both and for showing the men a clean pair of heels!

There’s No Doubting Thomas

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Thomas Donnet is one of Striders inspirational club members.  He only took up running 3 years ago.  He now regularly comes first in his age group in races in SE QLD.  He races in the 65 -70year age category!!!

Tom holds down 2 jobs and manages to get all his runs in either early or late.  He switched to the 10km this year for the first time since starting running 3 years ago and he has gone from strength to strength.  His finishing time at the Doomben Half 10km was 48:12, which won him first place in his age group and beat a majority of the field as well.

Tom is perfect evidence that it is never too late to start running, and never too late to improve and never too late to achieve things in life.  Congratulations Tom, you deserve all your running successes!