Comrades: seeking No. 80 000
24 March 2005
Nick Bester, for many years one of the leading runners in the Comrades Marathon and the winner in 1991, is on a drive to encourage novices to run the race, which starts in Pietermaritzburg and ends in Durban on Youth Day, 16 June.
It's the 80th running of South Africa's world famous ultra-marathon, and the Comrades Marathon Association is pushing hard to get their race figures up to 16 000; more importantly, they want at least 6 000 novices to participate in this year's event.
The organisers are offering plenty of incentives, including a "Once in a Lifetime" prize for the eighty-thousandth person to complete the distance since 1921: a cheque for R80 000.
'It's a special race'
Bester is one of many leading icons of ultra-marathon running assisting the organisation in encouraging novices to
participate.
"It's a special race, more special this year because we celebrate the 80th year of its existence", Bester said. "Hence we are encouraging both novices and seasoned runners to participate."
The 44-year-old Bester, who heads up the Harmony Gold team, said he will be in the field for the 2005 race. "How could I ever miss such a huge one? The 80th running of the Comrades comes once in a lifetime. I want to be a part of it, and so should every South African.
"It's the race that's most talked about in road running circles throughout the world", he said.
Like former New York Marathon champion Willie Mtolo, Bester does not believe Comrades is too difficult a race for the average runner to tackle. He says it's all in the mind, and that once a runner is on the road everything else is forgotten as the huge crowd takes over to encourage the runner to get to the finish.
'Cameraderie, banter, tears of joy'
"It's an amazing
race", Bester said. "The atmosphere, the camaraderie, the banter, and the tears of joy at the end of it, is all part of this well-planned run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
"Participating in the Comrades may sound daunting, but once you've run one you then want to give it another go just to say to friends that you've done the race in both directions."
Bester ran his first Comrades when he was 24 years old, and to date has run the world famous race 15 times.
"Give it a go", he urged novices. "I'm going to be there, and so will some of the legends of this race, and we will carry you through to the destination."
Big 80th race incentives
Plenty of incentives are on offer for participants in Comrades 2005 - besides the R80 000 "Once in a Lifetime Prize".
The 8 000th Green Number, which is awarded to runners who complete 10 Comrades Marathons, will also be awarded this year, and that person will receive an R8 000 cash prize.
Imperial Car Rental will also award R8 000 to the 80th finisher.
Prize money is up by 33 percent, with the men's and women's winners set to pocket R200 000 each, which is R25 000 up on 2004.
A Super Club Team Competition has also been introduced to differentiate between amateur and professional outfits. The traditional Gunga Din team prize will in future only be available to amateur teams.
Young Runners' Competition
There will also be a Young Runners' Competition, which will focus on athletes under 25 years of age. R10 000 will be up for grabs for the first young runner home, with R5 000 for second place and R2 500 for third.
In addition, there will be three Incentive Hotspots along the route, sponsored by Pick 'n Pay. The first will be at the highest point of the course, Umlaas Road, approximately 25 kilometres from the start. The second will be at the halfway mark, and the third at the top of Cowies Hill.
The first
runner, male or female, to pass through the hot spots will win the money, providing they go on to finish the race.
A Back-to-Back medal will be awarded to all runners who complete the up and down runs in 2004 and 2005. Any runner who has previously run back-to-back races will also be able to purchase a medal.
There will be subtle change to the 80th race medals, with the 2005 date bar designating the 80th celebrations. There will also be a special commemorative ribbon. The medal will, however, remain essentially the same as it has over the last 80 years.
Putting the runners first
"We are putting Comrades back on track, putting the runners first, going back to basics in this wonderful race", said Comrades Marathon Association acting CEO Cheryl Winn.
"Comrades is The Ultimate Human Race. It's South Africa's Everest, and it presents a unique and seriously aspirational challenge, but one which is absolutely achievable for anyone
prepared to make a serious commitment.
"At least once in a lifetime every able-bodied South African should be part of this unique event."
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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