By Bruce Fordyce
After dropping out of the 1977 Boston marathon 4 time winner Bill Rodgers declared;
“The marathon can always humble you”
The Comrades marathon certainly humbled many runners last Sunday. The race was particularly harsh on the outspoken and arrogant this year. Runners are normally fairly restrained and modest when predicting performance. Not generally for us the Mohammed Ali style;
“I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was”
But this year the race was littered with Mohammed Alis and they all bombed as badly as some of Ali’s opponents or as Bill Rodgers in the 1977 Boston.
The first of the arrogant ones was Gert Thys who astonished us by predicting that he would break 5 hours for the distance and slash 20 minutes off an already very speedy record. A week later Kingsmead still awaits his arrival at the finish line.
The second was defending champion Stephen Muzhingi who spray- painted the words; “Stephen Muzhingi 4 time Comrades champion “on the side of his car before the race. He also rashly declared that he would be the first male athlete since 1975 to win the Two Oceans and Comrades in the same year. At least he finished, unlike Thys, and in his defense I believe most of his “Mohammed Ali” marketing was the boastful handiwork of his manager/coach, Cliff Chinsammy
Next to grab the loud hailer was record holder Leonid Shvetsov who declared that he had travelled from Russia to win only the giant Gold medallion for first place and wasn’t interested in the pathetic small gold medals given to the riff-raff finishing from second to tenth. He also declared that Stephen Muzhinghi hadn’t beaten him in former Comrades but that he had beaten himself’ He beat Stephen this year but unfortunately allowed 5 runners ahead of him to prevent his even having a sniff of the medallion.
Mea maxima culpa. Having missed a silver medal by a few seconds last year I told everyone who would listen that it was a certainty on the “faster” down run. After 29 Comrades I still hadn’t learnt that nothing except pain is a certainty at the Comrades. I was plodding pathetically up 45th Cutting when the silver cut-off gun was fired.
So we all need to remember. Arrogance is a punishable offence at Comrades and it is the meek who shall inherit the rewards our great race has to offer.
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I reckon many runners were cursing at the ice cold strong wind blowing that morning. Definitely not record-breaking conditions…..
The first 35km wasn’t pleasant weather.
True that,I felt cold that it took me 60km before I Started sweating,I had fun though/
Amen, especially the bit about pain being the only certainty…
You might have plodded up 45th Cutting, but you did it with style and dignitary. In private, before the race, within my Australian contingent, there were those who trained for Comrades with respect, and those who treated it as ‘just another race’.
In the International Tent at the finish, I was 100% correct, those who trained with respect for the Comrades all had smiles, and those who treated Comrades as ‘just another race’ paid the price.
Comrades is like a lover. Treat your lover with respect, and your lover will bless you with happiness, disrespect your lover, and only pain will result.
Well spoken Bruce.
I thought this was a particularly tough run this year. Try as I might, I still haven’t figured out why???
The weather was not particularly cold or bad (compared to other years), there was no rain and the sun was not exceptionally punishing….. so who knows?
Maybe barometric pressure or the stars’ juxtaposition, or the energies…. who knows?
But what is gratifying for us mere mortals (whether cocky or not, well trained or not….) is to know that even legends like you, Bruce, can have a bad day and still struggles somewhere on the road.
It does make us feel not quite so useless and puny!
Thanks for this post!
Well spoke Bruce, especially the part about arrogance being a punishable offence. LOL indeed. I think i was extremely cold on the day especially the wind was quite strong especially after so many people had already gotten rid of their sweaters. I held on to mind until i was fully convinced that the sun is really out & its not going anywhere.
I agree with Bruce. This was my second run and a back to back. This year humbled me.
Last year i ran an 8:54 and this year a 9:12. I am not so sure what happened, but i was probably way too quick out the start( 10 mins ahead of schedule at camperdown) and then by 14 k’s to go the 9 hr bus caught me and flattened me. I was left trailing in its wake like a discared chappie wrapper.
I think I suffered from a bit of arrogance and at about halfway, i thought well definitely an 830 -845 and then, you know the wheels fell off.
The next day at our post run breakfast, one of our runners who pulled out due to injury before the start (Brave man for not running and making the right decision) made the observation that perhaps the elite men pulled the rest of the field along a bit quick in the beginning.
Anyway, comrades is done, I am not sure if ill be back, but hey you never know.
I think i was in roughly the same shape, i had a faster qualifier(320 as opposed to a 330) same race as last year. Maybe, i didnt do enough hard running, or maybe being a lowveld runner i am used to climbing and not going downhill.
I’m humbled if I can run a consistent 10km … am just in awe of Comrades runners as it is. You’re all champions. :)
I find it strange that when runners like Gert start making excuses, blood sugar ect ect, hello Comrades is about managing yourself the whole way, that is what experience is called for, I can predict if he does the same next year the result will be the same, but Gert do us a favour and complete the race that is what Comrades is about. Even i beat you ha
wow,I can’t believe I beat Gert too.lol.9h40 is not bad for a novice isn’t it?
Already ahead of my 11h30 pace chart all I kept thinking was Bruce saying “when u feel like surging, go slower, you will pay for a speedy first half” Not wanting to blow my race with such a rookie mistake that is exactly what I did. So I missed a bronze by 2mins but I felt fantastic, my legs were back to normal in 48hrs and can’t wait for next year. Maybe next year I will be a little more ‘arrogant’ and keep a 11hr pace chart with me. Lol
Sorry Donna,
missing a bronze by 2 mins must have been abit peeving. I was also a rookie at this years race, I had no plan whatsoever but I was convinced I would get a bronze for my troubles. 10 K’s into the race I came up with a flash of genius, I met with the Sub 11 Hour bus and I realised that the best way to guarantee my Bronze is to make sure I keep the Sub-11 bus downwind where they can follow my farts. And I made sure I was always 1 Km ahead of the Sub-11 bus throughout the race …….. It worked like a charm. Got a 10hr 49 min Bronze for my troubles.
Hope to see you at the up run in 2013.
I agree with Bruce’s post above … the Comrades is like a lover … one I have plenty of respect for. I went in as a novice with the idea that I would simply finish it. I wasn’t telling everyone who asked what time I was aiming for because I had no clue what the race would deal out to me on the day … I can confidently say that I enjoyed every single minute of it, even the tough times but this race was between me and the road and I had nothing to prove. I ran it and enjoyed it and finished it with 20 minutes to spare. Better yet, I loved my race so much that I’m willing to give it another try next year, and not to better my time, simply because of the experience, because of the determination I found within myself and the pride I can wear now knowing that I’m not champion gold medal winner, I’m simply A COMRADE!!
I have very little time for arrogance…. If you ARE good, then people WILL know it, start telling every one how good you are,and all respect for you is gone!. I hope Gert comes back next year, and I’m sure he will, but, Mr. Thys, eat a large chunk of “humble pie” and treat the Comrades Route with the respect it deserves. Is it true that 1 of “The I’m Going to Win Boyz” had to have his car doors resprayed on Monday? Why I ask is that I heard this person had his “2012 Win” painted on the car the week before the race. What a prat!!!!!
If Comrades is like a lover, then it needs to be seen as a lover in a long-term relationship, and not a one-night stand. Maybe it is even the type of relationship that leads to a diamond wedding anniversary. There are times when it delights and fires up passions … and there are the times when it depletes, infuriates, irritates and maddens. But if your commitment to this long-term relationship waivers & falters, you will regret it. For most of us back-of-pack runners, it’s the longest day of the annual running calendar, and so much can happen (and does happen) in that 10, 11 or 12 hour race. I am constantly humbled by all manner of races and running, and I am even more constantly humbled by people who achieve greatness in the face of adversity and challenges that I have never had to face.
Comrades is the pefect metaphor for many things in life; and perhaps with 12000-odd people at the start, “winning” is not the important thing – just finishing an 89.28km event is an achievement that only a small proportion of humanity can ever claim as an accolade.
speaking of the Australian contingent – there are a few who could well heed these words. As Steve Jones once said – you are only as good as your last hamstring injury.
This was my first comrades and as much as Bruce Fordyce says “you are not a true comrade, till you ran both ways.” I dont think i will make it back, the pain and suffering i endured on that day i have never felt in my 27 years of being on earth. I had the luxury of speaking to Ludwick of Friday, before his flight at the JHB airport and all i can say is:well deserved and would want to live to see another South Africa dominance of the comrades race. To you Mr Fordyce, Suikerbos is where i am coming…
Too true Bruce! After my first Comrades this year I now know how much respect this race deserves. I didn’t go into it arrogant, but rather scared, nervous and excited. It was truly one of the hardest days of my life. But I can’t wait to do it again next year. Thanks for all your wise and inspirational words!
@Bruce – there were only 4 runners in front of Leonid Shvetsov, and If I’m correct, Leonid stated that he wanted to beat Stephen.
Bruce Fordyce, ” I’m going for my sub 7:30…blah blah….” came in almost 40min later. So take a sip of your own article “medicine”
Christo you probably did not read the whole article, Bruce admitted in the last paragraph that he also had to eat humble pie……..
Great article Bruce; so true about the great Race.
Thanks to you for 29 years of Comrades history; I will never forget you in Wits colours wearing a black armband: it was the1st time in my life I asked myself the difficult questions about the future South Africa I wanted to live in.
I listed to Tim Noakes talk about Comrades 2 weeks before Comrades: “If you don’t run negative splits, you’re having a bad Comrades”. His next sentence was the clincher: “So take it really easy in the1st half; and remember the 2nd half of the Down run starts at the Kearsney College gates” said the esteemed and experienced Professor that night.
I lost my running partner in the darkness of 2nd water table, thought that she was behind me, so ran very slowly until I located her at Cato Ridge. It was a blessing in disguise, as I ran my 1st negative splits Comrades in 7 finishes.
Now how do I encode this patience into my Comrades race running “genes”?
In my humble opinion, everyone who finishes the “Ultimate Human Race” is a winner.
Still the master, articulating as only he can. Great piece.
Bruce, you have the undying respect of countless runners and followers.
Hi there Mr Citizen. Congrats on your time.
An excellent insighful commentary from one who even at his peak exuded modesty…the hallmark of a true champion.
It was my first time as a spectator at the race, as my husband was doing his first Comrades. A man who didn’t disappoint, was the eventual winner, Ludwick Mamabolo. On the Friday before comrades, we were at the OR Thambo airport in Jhb, on our way down to Durban. We were both wearing Comrades shirts, that our running club has made for runners and supporters. Ludwick came up to us, introduced himself,shook our hands and proudly said: “my name is Ludwick Mamabolo, and this year I’m winning Comrades! No more Muzhingi!” We were totally blown away by his comment! We chatted to him again while boarding, and when we got off the plane, wished him luck!! My husband told him, that if he wins, we want his signature. I was almost in tears when I heard that he had won!!! And when I met my husband next to the road at the bottom of Fields Hill, and gave him the good news, he couldn’t believe it!! Wish I could contact Ludwick, tell him well done, and get his signature on my comrades shirt! Should’ve gotten it at the airport… :)
Interesting article Bruce. Reading this and the comments below I would say the general theme is don’t be arrogant in a race like Comrades. Yet the ‘arrogant’ had a profound impact on the race. Gert’s early pace changed the way most of the top runners raced. And yes his race plan didn’t work for him. But don’t write him off just yet.
I am currently following another long distance sport ‘saga’ – that of Ironman where Lance Armstrong is preparing to win the big one – Hawaii. There is a monumental ‘Ali’ type fight going on between him and another competitor Chris McCormack (Macca). If you read Macca’s book ‘I am here to win’ you’d say he is the ultimate arrogant competitor. Just Google Macca & Armstrong and you’ll see a news article a few weeks ago where he had a full on go at Lance in the press. His goal to get Lance to react and race Macca’s race. Arrogant? Absolutely!! Will he succeed? Time will tell. When Macca first went to Hawaii he shot his mouth of way worse than Gert at Comrades and he was humbled just like Gert DNF. It took Macca 6 times to win and he is now a 2x champ coming back for no 3.
My point is: The arrogant approach seen at Comrades this year has not been seen before and it doesn’t sit well with the majority of us. We may not think it is appropriate – but it is definitely a tool that a wiley competitor can use to unsettle his competition – as Gert showed us and as the pre race favourites showed us in their performances. Could be an interesting few years at Comrades…
Bruce see you at the Park Run soon.
Very amusing that people would run their mouths like they did. But in all fairness to Gert, everybody was taken by it. The top guys actually believed it and that’s why they followed him and were duly burnt. Not as much as him, but burnt non the less. A question to Bruce if you will care to reply on your post. Why in heaven’s name would you advise beginners to follow the yellow number? Horrible advice I thought before the race and it was confirmed on the day. Those were the blokes who struggled the most. I saw 2 ladies vomit, including one going up Cowies. Another dude vomited meters later up the same hill. Both yellow numbers. The guy with the yellow numbers gets distracted, doesn’t concentrate, and is just too overly happy. Bad advice. But then, you never had to run behind someone in your early days, so I’ll forgive you
It`s one of the achievements of running, that even the slowest one (often me) is a hero. Beeing faster means only suffering less. Nothing to be proud on.
The good old story of counting chickens before they hatch.
Well done to everyone who participated. Running is an amazing sport and an amazing ability to humble us all.
It is with great respect and admiration that I salute every Comrades finisher. Hope to do it in 2 years. Did only some 1/2 marathons yet.
I am a cyclist that became addicted to running
You do yourself a disservice, Bruce.
From my perspective – which is after 18 Comrades – you have always respected your competitors and the course.
If the 2012 race was indeed the end of your Comrades ‘life’, consider it a life well lived. Respect!
ps – @Christopher – I think you need a hug.
Haha, two Bruce’s hugging each other? I’m not so sure about that…my second name is Bruce ;)
doing my 14th comrades this year i did the complete opposite this year and gave it too much respect!!! a bit of arrogance can help as long as you dont overdo it . comrades is and always will be one of the best teachers in the whole world. lessons learnt this year will hopefully be remembwerd next year . with any luck we can find the balance batween arrogance and respect !!
yea Mike, took me 15 for my memory to tell me that the pain would be the same again but what a race, the best for sure. Well done to all.
I think you are a bit of a twat!!!!
The Comrades(MY FIRST),I learnt not to underestimate other runners and never worry about those who pass you and have a stragety to beat the tough times on the road,I though jellyfeet but I got stronger when reached Pinetown,and I ran uphill and walked downhill,it worked wonders,the purpose was just to finish in 11:59:59 but I made 9h40 as I have to help the ‘THUYSES’ of the Comrades along the way.
Arrogance maybe, but I suspect a dodgy diet championed by Tim Noakes which is great for losing weight, not so great for endurance events. I think Fordyce was capable of a silver this year; the diet did him in.