The Climax
I was able to see the stadium from the last flyover and looked at my Garmin …it was 9 Hrs. and 50 minutes and somebody shouted at me ..if you have to do sub 10 then you have to do these last 2 kilometers within 10 minutes …Gosh I just pulled last stock of fiber in my body and pressed myself ..lets give a try Sagar ..lets try !!!!!!
Brief about me
I am an amateur runner who joined Team Motiv8 in 2020 just after completing a full marathon at TMM 2020 (4.30 Hrs. – Courtesy: Google Coaching). I still remember the conversation with coach Atul over the phone while he asked about my goals and I answered like any other ordinary runner Sub 4 – FM, Sub 1.50 HM, Sub 50 -10K. And I still remember coach Atul’s answer: Come and meet me at CC and lets see what you have got.
So far it’s been a wonderful journey of running for me and I enjoyed every bit of it at fullest. More than my running stats, I celebrated myself with an improvement as an individual becoming more disciplined, more committed to promises you make to yourself and an urge for doing better every time in any given situation on the field, at work and personal life.
I already told this to coach when he asked me about my experience of running Comrades and it was very simple … I just thanked him to help me becoming a better version of me and so do I thank each team member of Team Motiv8 who helped me and inspired me in this journey.
Comrades 2023 training:
For those who may not know, I trained twice for this race. I did complete training for Comrades 2022 but could not go to SA due to work commitment at the very last moment. Since the last two years, work life has been become crazy after COVID -19. Hence Comrades 2023 was an unfinished business for me and made sure there are no breaches this time. I applied for leave the day I booked my travel tickets 3 months before the travel date. This time I wanted to give 100% for training and luckily with god’s grace things went as planned except for little adjustments in my last long run. I must thank Amol for his company for his company during all runs on Thursdays and Sundays.
Unlike last year’s long runs, this time it was little different as team members were bit scattered on paces and eventually, I ran my ghat repeats alone except last one in which Kavitha gave me company for last 20 kms. This long run was a game changer for me which gave me extra confidence where I was able to go little strong in last 20 Km with Kavitha’s help. Here it important to appreciate all the support team for their unconditional support and encouragement during the long runs which was confidence base building for race day.
Travel, Exhibition visit and Rest
Travel went smooth and we landed safely at Durban on June 7th, 2023. Amol and I walked to the exhibition center for collection of race kit and within 2 hours, we came back to the hotel. Here I would like to share that we made sure not wasting any time at exhibition than necessary and went straight to the hotel. We made sure that we take complete rest until race day except a short shakeout run on Friday. No site seeing, no shopping and no roaming outside. I think that was another factor to made us feel that we have enough of rest before race. One feel good factor.
Race Day
We got up at 12 AM in the morning and started getting ready for travel as we had to catch a bus from exhibition center to start line at PeterMaritzburg. Hotel arranged breakfast at 1.00AM for Comrade runners and we had hand full of carbs for the breakfast that included potatoes, bread, and butter with black coffee. We carried some dry fruits with us and had hand full of same before heading for the race. It was cold when we got down from the bus. Although we carried layers of T shirts still it was cold for me (maybe it was around 4 degree that day as I heard from fellow runners). Still we were firm and got into our designated seedings making our way through crowd in D seeding.
Race started little crowded and we could see first kilometer board 87 Km to go after 10 minutes. While we made way through 5Km it was already 40 Minutes on Garmin. As race progresses, me and Amol made sure that we hover around 6.50 to 7 average pace on our Garmin. While we approach kilometer 30 we were around 6.50 average pace on our Garmin. Now when rolling course started taking a toll on us, we still managed to hover over our target average pace up to 45K. while we were running steadily and enjoying the race , it was always on back of mind that I need to go steady up 65K and was keeping 10.30 hour bus in my vicinity all along. After 65K mark , with feel of my body that I can target 10 Hrs. finish and started building up some pressure on myself to push the paddle without getting panicked. It was my day and things started working well for me to increase my pace steadily up to 70 Km mark at 8 hours elapsed time on my Garmin. I did the math quickly and just figured out it is 18 Km to go in 2 Hours and felt little positive that I can actually do this now if manage to keep my pace steady. All those calculations just vanished, and I started running with all my heart and best of luck as could. While I entered Durban city, I was still on time and could feel that I can get there withing 10 Hrs. Unfortunately, I missed last 4 kilometer marks/signs and was just on my own until I could see the stadium and hear the crowds. I lost few seconds on two flyovers before getting to the road for stadium. I again looked at Garmin and it was 9 Hours 50 Minutes and shouted last 2 Kilometers …Please refer to Climax at the start
I did not dare to look at the watch after that and pulled every drop of energy in my body while approaching the stadium. When I entered stadium , I felt like I was sprinting and could not soak the atmosphere as I was aiming for something special sub 10 finish. On the last turn when I was able to see the finish line and the clock , it was already 10 Hours 00 Minutes and 50 Second where I know that I missed sub 10 but still I went cruising towards finish line and kept walking towards medal counter. It was 10 Hour 1 Minute and 06 seconds finish for All OF US (me, my coach, support team and all Team Motiv8 members) and felt relieved that yes, Comrades race is done. I felt so happy about myself and thanked god for witnessing myself at finish line.
As unlike other races, it was my day. Things worked in my favor at each stage of race and I thanked coach Atul for a great training plan, our support team, my well-wishers, and myself for believing in me. This is one of the best race I ran in my life where I could pull out myself to go beyond the boundaries of pain and stress of mind and eventually felt that I won the battle in my head although muscles were resisting me. Luckily, I was called by Shaun Pollock for a short interview after I cross the line, which made me feel a little more happy after a big race.
Bottom Line
Comrades is not a race. Its not a destination. It is a journey of hard work, dedication, consistency, determination, efforts, the support of team mates, sacrifices, pains, injuries and lastly the payoff when you find yourself at the finish line. This race taught me many things and I want to be there at Comrade 2024 to witness this journey again and grab my back-to-back medal.
Statistics
