My Bucket List / Fitness Goals
Run The Comrades Marathon
Still to do
What it is
The world’s oldest and biggest ultramarathon, first run in 1921. The course of around 90 km runs between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, alternating each year between the ‘up’ run and the ‘down’ run, and finishers must beat a 12-hour cut-off.
How to do it
Enter online when entries open, usually in the second half of the year before. You need to run a qualifying marathon within the time limit before the race.
Top tip
Train for the downhills as well as the hills. The big descents destroy your quads, especially on a down run.
Why it’s on my list
I’ve run ultras such as the Thames Path 100 km, Rat Race’s The Wall and London to Brighton, so Comrades is the classic one still missing. It would also tick off Africa for my marathon on every continent.