Comrades Marathon Tips: 23 lessons from a first time finisher to help you conquer the Up Run

Рет қаралды 1,514

Күн бұрын

Running your first Comrades Marathon Up run is a bit daunting. But getting to that finish line is the best feeling. Luckily, there are some things you can do to stack the odds in your favour. After successfully surviving my first Comrades ultra Up run a few weeks back, I thought I'd share a few things I learned along the way. After all, the best person to offer advice on how to do something is the person who's only just done it. Hit play for my fresh-take Comrades Marathon tips on how to conquer the Up run...
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 - Intro
1:26 - What is the Comrades Marathon
2:32 - Tip 1: Shake it out at the North Beach parkrun
3:31 - Tip 2: Handling the early start
4:21 - Tip 3: Don't chase sleep
5:09 - Tip 4: The start toilet situation
5:44 - Tip 5: Get to your pen early
6:14 - Tip 6: Layer up
6:52 - Tip 7: Remember it's gun time
7:21 - Tip 8: How to stay hydrated
8:15 - Tip 9: How to fuel the Comrades
9:31 - Tip 10 - Run like a coward
10:20 - Tip 11 - Forget the watch, run on feel
11:22 - Tip 12 - The first half flies by
11:41 - Tip 13 - Should you catch a pace bus?
12:20 - Tip 14 - Only run what's right in front of you
13:15 - Tip 15 - The crowd know the hills
13:37 - Tip 16 - The race starts with 30km to go
14:10 - Tip 17 - Don't fear Polly Shorts
14:42 - Tip 18 - Polly's is not the last hill
15:06 - Tip 19 - Use the camaraderie for strength
15:48 - Tip 20 - Learn the Comrades number code
16:35 - Tip 21 - Get more support
17:17 - Tip 22 - The finish might get wobbly
17:50 - Tip 23 - Open your heart
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Пікірлер: 48

@jjndz3782 10 күн бұрын

The support is just something else in comrades. I ran my first comrades this year.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Well done on getting your first done!

@aslam7952 9 күн бұрын

Well done! Congrats! I also ran Two Oceans Marathon for the first time this year expecting an atmosphere better than Comrades as it is billed the world's most beautiful marathon, but I was not convinced. The middle kilometres is probably the most scenic of any marathon in the world, but it's a close second to the Comrades Marathon in all other aspects. Finding a race that replicates the Comrades experience without big lotteries or qualifying requirements is proving to be a challenge. The Great Ethiopian Run looks good but it's only 10km.

@Shwabz_Glide 10 күн бұрын

Nice summary of comrades . I also did my back to back this year . I’m going back again next year. I think you should come back for the silver medal attempt 😅

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Thanks and congrats on your Back to Back. I think maybe now I have some more experience the Silver seems more 'possible'. Though it'd be a huge challenge. But maybe we'll give it a go!

@harrybateman7130 10 күн бұрын

A great video. I am from SA and have my green number. Always remember that it is not a race, but a journey! Enjoy every minute of it! Anybody can do this phenominal run with the correct training and should definitely try it. It will humble you, but you will learn things about yourself on the run that you did not know about yourself, and you will be a better person for it! Keep on running and remember to enjoy it, because you are able to do so!

@Manvmiles 9 күн бұрын

Congrats on getting to Green. Incredible achievement. And great advice.

@shadow4184 10 күн бұрын

Great summary, thanks Kieran - always enjoy your videos. This was my 7th Comrades (3rd Up Run) and really enjoyed it. I would add to make sure you have a warm change of clothes for the end in your drop bag. PMB for the up run can get really cold especially when the sun goes down.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Thanks and congrats on No7. That green number is in sight now! That’s a great tip too. Thanks for sharing.

@aslam7952 10 күн бұрын

Tip 24: Avoid running along the cat eyes (road studs). Tip 25: Never say never again after crossing the finish.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Like these! Good advice. Second one for 👌

@pauldbeer 2 күн бұрын

Well Done! This is just one magical race! Your tips are clearly from good experience. As said in comments on you're previous videos, I've completed 11 of these magnificent races, and had tears of overwhelming emotion finishing each and every one, but on my tenth broke down and sobbed on my knees at the end. In contrast, on my 11th I just enjoyed the atmosphere for the last time. What an experience and what a race?! Well done again... Tell the world of this awesome race...

@colsmcdowell 8 күн бұрын

My dad ran 12 Comrades and my brother about 10, and is trying to talk me into doing it in a couple of years' time!! Your video is very convincing. I grew up supporting my dad every year from a young age and every time I hear Chariots of Fire I get tears in my eyes!

@Manvmiles 4 күн бұрын

Ah you should do to! Sounds like you’d have a lot of experience to help you.

@thamilawrence8468 10 күн бұрын

Comrades is really huge and has enabled us to meet.😂 Great video and we are back on the road..Hope to see you again next year.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

I hope to be back!

@MikeSmuts 10 күн бұрын

Fellow Comrades runner from Cape Town. I second all of your tips. NB to be in the moment and take it all in. It's a unique and special experience. Just lining up at the start is a privilege.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

It’s such a privilege. And though there are many time goals, I feel like Comrades is about much more.

@MikeSmuts 10 күн бұрын

@@Manvmiles yup. I ran extremely conservatively this year as I hadn't fully recovered from bronchitis by race day. Finished in 11:45. I have to say that it was much tougher than my previous race, which I ran nearly 90 minute faster. The runners who come in close to cut-off spend so much more time on their feet and out in the elements. It all adds up.

@MikeSmuts 10 күн бұрын

Having said that, while I'll be 55 by race day in 2025 I'm hoping to dip under 9 hours.

@zaheer.malek5 10 күн бұрын

I ran my first one this year, i was told at the end of my race by someone that helped me throughout my training, the comardes marathon isnt about those trying to win it but rather all the rest of us helping each other the supporters

@Manvmiles 9 күн бұрын

It’s a great way to look at it. Congrats on your first comrades as well!

@zaheer.malek5 6 күн бұрын

@@Manvmiles thank you... an amazing experience

@Ninja-Cake 10 күн бұрын

As a fellow runner I second everything you have said in this video, and being int he same boat as you this year doing my back to back this year, congrats and my biggest advise or tip is start like a coward and finish like a hero and dont overthink the race, if you have put in the training and have a game plan for race day you will finish, just trust and believe in yourself and forever bask in the joy of getting that medal and story to carry with you for life.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

100%. I think everyone can achieve it.

@skobodabaws8946 10 күн бұрын

we ate em hills champ , it was my 1st but enjoyable ,every moment of it , I had mad fun ,no pressure at all , just cruising !

@Manvmiles 9 күн бұрын

We certainly did! Well done on your happy race 👍💪

@JohnBirtchetSharpe 10 күн бұрын

You had me brought in with the Water with added penicillin. Post saved and downloaded ✌

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

You’ll love this race!

@jonathanwatkins447 10 күн бұрын

Awesome video. Great tips.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Thanks. Hopefully useful for people 👍

@mokgadimmolai3685 9 күн бұрын

Thank you for sharing awesome video as always 🙌🏽

@Manvmiles 4 күн бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

@jjndz3782 10 күн бұрын

You just reminded me of my mistake. I ran my first half very fast and my second half wasn't so great.

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Oh sorry!!😂

@jjndz3782 10 күн бұрын

@@Manvmiles yeah lesson learnt

@bev9708 10 күн бұрын

Truly fascinating Kieran, awesome video, thanks so much!! Normally I’m sure I would find it really inspirational as well, however I’m feeling a bit chastened after my 50k last weekend, definitely feeling rather "brought back down to Earth"!! I realize now just how much work I still have to do!!🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ OK so 5h03, not a total failure by any means but 10min outside my goal and I’m pretty disappointed in myself. I very quickly realized that I had not had nearly enough rest and recovery beforehand , had been feeling pretty damn invincible having already done this year a 51k trail, 1 road and 2 trail marathons plus three 24k-28k trail races, all with a lot of elevation gain … so in my cockiness I totally botched my taper, thinking I could just power through !! Well, I guess we all bite off a bit more than we can chew sometimes, hopefully lesson learned on that front!!!🤦🏻‍♀️🤞🏻🤷🏻‍♀️

@Manvmiles 10 күн бұрын

Don't be disappointed. 10 mins off goal time is nothing and the real bonus here is that the race has offered up valuable insight for next time. And for the time after that. It's a solid run and you're stronger for it.

@bev9708 10 күн бұрын

@@Manvmiles So true!!! Nothing teaches like experience!! THANKS Kieran!!