Category: Articles

  • Inspired

    The hardest week Four out of seven days run, 47 km done, and all okay. The next 42 km I’ll run Saturday as if they will take me across halfway on race-day; take the run up from Kirstenbosch to Constantia Nek as if its the big Inchanga Bank. Run up Suiberbossie, take the long down…

  • Comrades 1967

    Notes from the 1967 Comrades: Another record of 600 entrants; threats from traffic authorities to stop the race because of congestion. The winner, Manie Kuhn crosses the line 12 inches (maybe 30 cm) in front of Tommy Malone collapsing and lunging; there was no finish tape or line, just a post, until at last minute…

  • Boston bombs

    If I thought about it, getting ready to run this morning would have been a grind. But as I stepped out the door, something strong surged in me. On the ups on the way home it surged again and again. I got home to the news of the Boston marathon blast. The fun went out…

  • Mind matters

    As I go out now to get more miles in my legs, my mind turns to the Big Day. The good thing is that the agony comes later in the run. I’ll start happy. Let the hanging-in creep up, take over the closer to the end the better. After Polly Shorrts is okay. Please!

  • Harder miles

    If it wasn’t for the Comrades urge, I would have stayed in bed. Wind chilled the dark cold. Bed felt good. The roads loudly called me out to accumulate more miles.  Before even 1 km it was all okay. I could have gone on but I ran till I was pumped, flirted with the pre-dawn,…

  • Two Oceans Marathon 2013 – after the run

    Two Oceans 2013 – the experience As always being part of a great event is enriching. Two Oceans has the great South African ultra razzmatazz: big field of runners, screeching loudspeakers,  anticipation, seeing old friends – always a treat at the start, during the run and after; the count down, squash up of bodies in…

  • Carbo-loading practice

    Tapering, carbo-loading practice Got the taper and carbo-loading, such as it is, going for Two Oceans on Saturday. Not so much to perform there, but just practicing for the taper and carbo-loading before Comrades which is still a couple months away. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s no good just sitting or lying around…

  • Last long run coming

    Two Oceans Marathon Two Ocean’s marathon coming up soon, less than two weeks. The last extra-long run  preparing for Comrades. Two Oceans Marathon – 56 km of Cape Town. Some race it. So it’s a challenge even though any distance, even 100 metres can be a challenge too. But I’m not worried. It’s a test…

  • Vic Clapham

    A Vic Clapham -Tribute Image posted by Jon Clapham on Facebook ComradesMarathon 2013-03-15  

  • Not just running

                I like the way running regular routes makes them richer, makes me feel part of them; how other the buildings, roads, street lights, weeds, people use the same space; how we share what we are, what we do, where we do it.