Comrades 09 The Next Aussie Assault? Options

[milov]

Hey all,

First of all well done to all the Australian entrants for the 08 Comrades!

Comrades to me represents one of the great international ultra-marathons. But this one is unique due to the huge number of participants it attracts, its involvement in the political history of South Africa, and the incredibly fast times it produces.

I have given some serious thought into getting myself there one day.

Now with the 08 results coming through, and the buzz levels at a high, it might be time to suggest that we gather a HUGE Australian contingent to tackle the 09 downhill run.

Just like those guys who ran Western States in 07, we could put together some team colours and make an Australian presence stand out in the field.

We will have great incentive to train hard and compete well when we are part of an Australian team, as well as hopefully attract some hefty discounts for travel and accomodation.

Anyhow, I hope others might agree in the potential for this idea.

milov

[Digger]

I know that Bruce Fordyce was pretty impressed with the "Comrades Awareness" in Australia, and that he(With others-Including the CMA), is working on a deal to put together a 2009 Comrades tour group from Australia, which will possibly include a pre-race tour of 4 to 5 days to a Game eserve/National Park, which he will personally lead.

More later as the plan/details unfold, but this looks like a great chance to spend sometime with the Man who has done it all.

[Sportsman]

For me , it's a race I must do sometime.
Next years looks like a good year to do it.

[mosmanmum]

Is this in a year's time? And is 2009 a downhill course? And am I delusional in thinking I might be able to pull this off so soon in my running career?

[Paul Every]

Ooohhh, Mosmanmum!

That is the Dark Side you hear calling.

You know you want to. Be tempted.

[TaffTrail]

Absolutely positively. My only hurdle will be the finances and the convincing of Mrs Taff that this would be a worthwhile use of our currently limited funds (we're planning a trip back to the UK in 2010 which won't count in my favour).

Depending on the details I'll be all for it.

Digger, you seem to be in the know. I'll be watching this space.

[mosmanmum]

Ooohhh, Mosmanmum!

That is the Dark Side you hear calling.

You know you want to. Be tempted.

So, so tempted. All I need to do is talk my running pal into coming along. Oh, and train myself into the ground!

[TaffTrail]

So, so tempted. All I need to do is talk my running pal into coming along. Oh, and train myself into the ground!

Get yourself to GH in the next few months. You'll either love it or hate it, but I'm sure you'll want to do it again!

[brettsrun]

Milov,

On the radar, but all the usual things to consider, time, work, finance. But the big team Aussie Assult format has its attractions for sure.
Also keen to see some Aussie runs get solidly supported and permanently on the calendar.
C2K a high priority,

Brett

[Hamburglar]

A question from a friend of a friend ... How much do you reckon it would cost?

[Brick]

A question from a friend of a friend ... How much do you reckon it would cost?

Good question.

I would be interested but it would need to be on FF Points so need some more work trips before it is possible.
And it would also be a fly in fly out trip because can not afford for the family to go as well just yet.

Brick

[Digger]

If you only want to run comrades, no holiday, just fly in fly out, it can be done for about $3,000-00 to $3,200-00.

Depending on Airfares.

A friend flew out last Thursday, and phoned me from Perth Airport yesterday, so she was in in SA for 5 nights.

Lat time I went, I flew on a Saturday, Raced on Monday and was on the Plane home on Tuesday.(3 Nights).

[Brick]

If you only want to run comrades, no holiday, just fly in fly out, it can be done for about $3,000-00 to $3,200-00.

Depending on Airfares.

A friend flew out last Thursday, and phoned me from Perth Airport yesterday, so she was in in SA for 5 nights.

Lat time I went, I flew on a Saturday, Raced on Monday and was on the Plane home on Tuesday.(3 Nights).

The three nights sounds like me if I have enough FF points by then.

Brick

[mosmanmum]

Get yourself to GH in the next few months. You'll either love it or hate it, but I'm sure you'll want to do it again!

Er, what's GH?? I don't even know what it is and I want to do it!

[Brick]

Er, what's GH?? I don't even know what it is and I want to do it!

Read this

[Colin]

Er, what's GH?? I don't even know what it is and I want to do it!

No need to go down that slippery slope... GH, next thing its GNW, C2K etc until you are all 'acronymed' out , and then you wonder why the heck you can't convert reasonable shape into a good Comrades.

Seriously, its perfectly ok for newbies (and I guess you are not a total newbie) to do Comrades within 12 months. The best advice will be found on the Comrades forums possibly RW (SA) forums and people who have done it. Do the shorter races up to marathons and do the training up to at least 60km (no necessity to do 65-70km more than once).

As for FF and costs, it will take about 80,000 points by Qantas to Jhb, plus a $100 Jhb-Dbn ticket. You can get 3,000 pts/month on ANZ Qantas FF Visa and you are halfway there. Put in a few air trips + car hire etc and you have a ticket within a year.
Accomodation is pretty cheap, so I would be wary of jet lag by flying in on the Friday ...Qantas + Jhb-Dbn gets you there on the same night though (leave Syd 10am and arrive Jhb 4pm local).
The actual cost of these are (booking now) $1950 or (later) about $2100.

Cheaper fares via Singapore, HK, KL etc from about $1,600 but these are two overnight flights (i.e. leave Syd 4pm arrive Jhb 8am local), and I definitely wouldn't recommend unless you don't suffer any jet lag, can sleep on flights and/or have enough time pre race.

For the money though, you would want to combine it with some tourism and is an expensive exercise just for a race.

cheers

This post has been edited by Colin: Jun 19 2008, 11:39 AM

[philk]

hmmm ....I now have enough FF points to get there & am definitley going. Slow Syd mara qualifier in Sep.

Tough decision though. Comrades or Two Oceans. Have done each 3 times. Just love 2 O, but C is something special.

Last did Comrades 15 years ago....of course I now remember only the good bits.

Then there is the small matter of getting the body to cooperate, but I am in for one of these....just which one?

decisions, decisions....no, I won't 'do both' ....probably....

[Brick]

hmmm ....I now have enough FF points to get there & am definitley going. Slow Syd mara qualifier in Sep.

Tough decision though. Comrades or Two Oceans. Have done each 3 times. Just love 2 O, but C is something special.

Last did Comrades 15 years ago....of course I now remember only the good bits.

Then there is the small matter of getting the body to cooperate, but I am in for one of these....just which one?

decisions, decisions....no, I won't 'do both' ....probably....

How far apart are Comrades & Two Oceans?

Oops too far apart Two Oceans 11th April.

This post has been edited by Brick: Jun 19 2008, 12:20 PM

[Tuttle]

Cheaper fares via Singapore, HK, KL etc from about $1,600 but these are two overnight flights (i.e. leave Syd 4pm arrive Jhb 8am local), and I definitely wouldn't recommend unless you don't suffer any jet lag, can sleep on flights and/or have enough time pre race.


cheers

I'd echo that advice. I went via Qantas in 2006 - a tiring flight, no doubt, but manageable; then in 2007 I used my Singapore Airlines points and had to take the '"long way around." The Singapore to J'burg flights were nearly empty - which meant I had plenty of room to sleep across 3 seats - but it is a long haul.

This 2009 Assault sounds interesting . . .

Cheers,
Chris

This post has been edited by Tuttle: Jun 19 2008, 12:47 PM

[TaffTrail]

Er, what's GH?? I don't even know what it is and I want to do it!

Sorry, force of habit. Glasshouse obviously, as Brick's link would suggest. That reminds me, I have new courses to scan and publish.

[butterbean]

I may be deluded but count me in anyway.

I was lucky enough to see Bruce Fordyce at the corporate cup dinner and it sounds amazing. Just to make sure I don't pull out I've already booked into the Melbourne Marathon already as my qualifier.

If there are any training partners in the eastern suburbs come November we should start a group.

... bring on the insanity!

[Action]

hmmm.... tempting... yes, it just might fit.... 6ft PB then Canberra 50k PB then Comrades PB* - noice.

* would be first Comrades, so just gotta finish for that PB.

[Bandanna]

After umm'd and arr'd for many years, I will be a starter in 2009. It's something that needs to be ticked off on the "must do" list.

Bring it on

[hatless]

Hey guys,

The idea of running Comrades is percolating in the back of my mind. If I am going to have a crack at it, I want to be pretty damn sure I am going to finish it.

So the question is, what is the equivalent Comrandes (let's say downhill) time to a 6FT 5:16? I realise that ever answer begins with the word "depends..." and there are obviously cavets etc, but what should I be aiming at?

Thanks for your help,

h.

[Tuttle]

Hey guys,

The idea of running Comrades is percolating in the back of my mind. If I am going to have a crack at it, I want to be pretty damn sure I am going to finish it.

So the question is, what is the equivalent Comrandes (let's say downhill) time to a 6FT 5:16? I realise that ever answer begins with the word "depends..." and there are obviously cavets etc, but what should I be aiming at?

Thanks for your help,

h.

5:10 AT 6FT can equate to 8:56:48 on the Down Run.

This post has been edited by Tuttle: Jun 19 2008, 04:13 PM

[mosmanmum]

Sorry, force of habit. Glasshouse obviously, as Brick's link would suggest. That reminds me, I have new courses to scan and publish.

Checked out the site. Glasshouse looks amazing. Will have to think seriously about all of this. Thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

[Kelvin]

So many positives for me to run there next year (it's a downhill year and approx 50 Miles of road ), but then i look at the date "May 24", i'd be honest and say there are too many runs i always run here between May and Mid June to simply turn my back on them !!!.
I know i miss a few local runs with my July/August (and September) jaunts, but really May is prime Aussie Ultra time and i just don't know whether i'm tempted enough (i know i would love to go through the game parks but i know me i'd be wanting to actually go hiking out there which you can't do legally i assume - i can see the headlines now "Aussie mauled by lion !").
Great idea, but maybe a better one when they go back to normal dates (i say stuff the World Cup and put it back to it's usual date , it could be said i'm no soccer fan !!!),
Kelvin

[Colin]

So many positives for me to run there next year (it's a downhill year and approx 50 Miles of road ), but then i look at the date "May 24", i'd be honest and say there are too many runs i always run here between May and Mid June to simply turn my back on them !!!.
I know i miss a few local runs with my July/August (and September) jaunts, but really May is prime Aussie Ultra time and i just don't know whether i'm tempted enough (i know i would love to go through the game parks but i know me i'd be wanting to actually go hiking out there which you can't do legally i assume - i can see the headlines now "Aussie mauled by lion !").
Great idea, but maybe a better one when they go back to normal dates (i say stuff the World Cup and put it back to it's usual date , it could be said i'm no soccer fan !!!),
Kelvin

Kelvin,

The World Cup is in 2010 not next year.

However, the date for 2009 has been brought back to May 24th ostensibly to be on the same day as the original back in 1921 (also a down run).... the FIFA Confederations Cup is June 14-28.
In 2010 the WC starts on June 11th and Comrades will be on May 30th, because it would just be logistically impossible to have in middle of WC.

Lots of great hiking trails in SA... you can become one of few who have run the Otter Trail on east coast (42km) during on daylight and even fewer to do back to back Otter and Tsitsikama finishing back at start (total 117) in a day. I know someone who did , very, very, very well

Or maybe the Fish River Canyon on west coast or one of many in Easteren Transvaal (or is that now Gauteng?).

But please stay on the 4WD in the game park... we will miss you.

This post has been edited by Colin: Jun 19 2008, 08:27 PM

[Horrie]

This sounds like a must do. To be part of another Aussie Assault would be absolutely awesome. You can count Team Horrie in.

[milov]

Hey Horrie,

when are you guys going to accept that the correct title for your team is 'Team Horriebell' or if you want to get pedantic I would also accept 'Tim Horriebell'

milov

[tim]

Hey Horrie,

when are you guys going to accept that the correct title for your team is 'Team Horriebell' or if you want to get pedantic I would also accept 'Tim Horriebell'

milov

I never thought Horrie needed a team to be Horrible

[Horrie]

You guys are too funny.

I realise that I have to include Tim and BlueBel's names into our team name but I just can't accept being called Tim Horrible.

[Tim 2]

However, the date for 2009 has been brought back to May 24th ostensibly to be on the same day as the original back in 1921 (also a down run).... the FIFA Confederations Cup is June 14-28.

I want to go back.
Not as keen on the down run though.
Hoping to get a start in hardrock (at the mercy of the lottery) so the earlier date will be a bonus so i can get over to colarado to do some reconnaissance and altitude acclimatization for a couple of weeks prior to the start.

Tim

[Paul Every]

Just out of idle curiosity, what sort of marathon/100km form would one have to be in to nab a silver finisher's medallion?

Not that I'm considering it or anything.

[Action]

I want to go back.
...Tim

Damn fine run there Tim. Now you do need a down to match the up!

Interesting idle question there Mr Every....


Hmm... 5 weeks from 6ft to Canberra, then another 5 weeks to Comrades.... perhaps all a bit close together? Or mayhaps a nice 10 week peak period?

[Colin]

Just out of idle curiosity, what sort of marathon/100km form would one have to be in to nab a silver finisher's medallion?

Not that I'm considering it or anything.

Know you are Mr E, know you are.

See my earlier post on Filippo Faralla's splits. He has now done 5 silvers from 5 starts and did 6ft in 4:17 and 4:12 in 2006 and 2007. Hasn't broken 3hrs for mara, probably could marginally though.
For you no faster than a 3:10 marathon would easily convert.

This post has been edited by Colin: Jun 20 2008, 11:19 PM

[1902]

Just out of idle curiosity, what sort of marathon/100km form would one have to be in to nab a silver finisher's medallion?

Marathon time 3:06 using Norrie Williamson formula of 2.42 times marathon time. To be safe I would say 3:00 for men 3:06 for women.

100 km time of better than 8:30 should be there. That is very close to the equivalent pace to a 7:30 Comrades. May be 8:40-8:45 at a pinch.

Comrades might be over a harder terrain than most 100 km road races but 12-13 km less running and the amount of runners around you, make it a much easier race.

[Brick]

Marathon time 3:06 using Norrie Williamson formula of 2.42 times marathon time. To be safe I would say 3:00 for men 3:06 for women.

100 km time of better than 8:30 should be there. That is very close to the equivalent pace to a 7:30 Comrades. May be 8:40-8:45 at a pinch.

Comrades might be over a harder terrain than most 100 km road races but 12-13 km less running and the amount of runners around you, make it a much easier race.

So would be it be best to do the comparson on the Marathon, 6' Track or 100KM run?
I would of thought the 100KM is closer but 6' Track is closer for the hills.

Brick

[milov]

So would be it be best to do the comparson on the Marathon, 6' Track or 100KM run?
I would of thought the 100KM is closer but 6' Track is closer for the hills.

Brick

My plan would be a fast 100km at Caboolture (dusk to dawn) backed up with a fast 6ft. best of both worlds and hopefully I can bring home one of those nice silver medals.

[Colin]

My plan would be a fast 100km at Caboolture (dusk to dawn) backed up with a fast 6ft. best of both worlds and hopefully I can bring home one of those nice silver medals.

6ft (and similar runs) are very poor indicators of any sort of prediction including esp Comrades. As an example, take the times of winners such as Fats and 1902, and no-one would argue that the former is anywhere near the latter over Marathon or a potential Comrades... but look at the 6ft times. 6ft itself doesn't predict well from marathons at all.

A 100km in lead up is also fraught with danger. If you can run a good Comrades (to your ability) after a 100km then you would be one of very few, or if you can run a silver off the back of that you probably are capable of much better in the first case. So if you are marginal, based on a 3:06 benchmark, I'll take a bet on anyone not doing it in the same year as a hard 100km (or 6ft).

..but 1902 is probably in the right ballpark with the equivalent 100km times.

cheers

[Tuttle]

Bump. . .

Who is still contemplating Comrades 2009?

[Brick]

Bump. . .

Who is still contemplating Comrades 2009?

Not looking good for me for 2009, not enough FF miles from work.

[Anth]

Bump. . .

Who is still contemplating Comrades 2009?

I'm seriously seriously considering it. I turn 30 the day before it's run, so it would be the perfect way of bringing up a new decade.

[PiledHigherq]

I'm seriously seriously considering it. I turn 30 the day before it's run, so it would be the perfect way of bringing up a new decade.

I hoping Melbourne will get me an A qualifier and then would be looking towards a silver run, for those wanting to estimate times, Noakes has a lot of tables looking at both training volume and marathon times to give you a good predictor of your potential times.

[1409th]

I'm thinking about going back for a second attempt in 09.

11.53 hours first time so would be aiming for around 10.30 hours this time. I actually bought the 10.30 hours wrist thingy last time and carried it to the finish. Girlfriend's idea to get that one - she said I should be optimistic / positive! I look at it often and smile...

A huge effort to get there with all the training required. Well worth it though - not at the finish when I thought I would be most pleased but months later when what I had done hit me.

We shall see what the coming months hold I guess.

[Brick]

I'm thinking about going back for a second attempt in 09.

11.53 hours first time so would be aiming for around 10.30 hours this time. I actually bought the 10.30 hours wrist thingy last time and carried it to the finish. Girlfriend's idea to get that one - she said I should be optimistic / positive! I look at it often and smile...

A huge effort to get there with all the training required. Well worth it though - not at the finish when I thought I would be most pleased but months later when what I had done hit me.

We shall see what the coming months hold I guess.

Is it an up or down wrist band?
Could you post it so we can see the predicted splits, please.

Brick

[1409th]

Brick - It's a down one - I will fetch it out in the next couple of days and will post the splits.

It would have been really useful to know where I was when I was trying to gauge where I should have been time wise! And I drove the course a couple of days before. I think when I started to realise how far it was I forget to make any reference points!

Thank heavens for the 12 hour pacer. I reckon I (and about 400 other people) stayed with him for about 2 hours at the end. He'd shout something in Africaans (tally ho - perhaps) and we'd all trundle along for maybe 500 metres and when he shouted again we all walked for say 200 metres. If I let him go, I would have been gone for all money, no doubt. Craziest thing ever! He is my hero but I regret I didn't see him afterwards to thank him. But then he probably didn't collapse over the line like me!

[Tim 2]

Maybe.

Definitely in for another up run (hopefully 2010).

Downhills just don't enthuse me quite as much.

Tim

[Digger]

For those who haven't been before, Ive done some editing and loaded up "The Essence of Comrades" to here.

[Digger]

To everybody,

QANTAS has a sale on, and it covers the 'Comrades Period'.

For 2 people travelling together, its about $1,500-00ish RETURN/person. And I haven't seen tickets this cheap for over 10 years.

The Sale ends on Monday 17th November 2008, so if you are going, give a lot of thought to these tickets.

DON'T BOOK ONLINE, because you can only book to J'Berg, and you need to book DURBAN.

So use a travel agent.

I use Harvey World Travel(07 3378 1177 maria.moorooka@harveyworld.com.au, and I'm flying to Durban on the 20th May 2009, returning from Cape Town on the 7th June 2009.

I'm also planning a bit of a private tour after the race, and my preliminary plans are:

 Comrades_2009.xls ( 33K ) Number of downloads: 12


I'm still costing the Land travel and accommodation and will be pleased to take anybody along who wants to share costs etc.(More details later, as this QANTAS Sale has caught me by surprise).

As you can see on my plans, you can do a short tour flying home out of J'Berg on Sunday 31st May 2009, or a longer one with me. If you have more time(and Money), after the 7th June, you can keep on travelling.

If you don't want to tour, and just do the run, fly back out of Durban on or after the 25th May 2009.

We will also have non-runners with us, so you don't have to be a runner to join in.

If you want to be kept informed of my Comrades 2009 plans please email me.

Please forward this onto anybody whom you think would be interested,

And if you have a facebook page, please join our facebook group.(see below)