[GaRebelRunner]

I know it's early planning for the 2008 Comrades in South Africa but it's too late to register for this years race (June 17). The 2008 race will be a "up" race meaning significant uphills (at least 5 that make Boston's heartbreak hill look flat) and you have 12 hours in which to complete the race. If you reach the finish at 12:00:01 you receive a handshake from the RD, but no metal, times or anything else. The 2009 race will be a "down" race. There are special awards for those who complete back to back comrades.<br><br>
I've never been to South Africa and this sounds like as good of a reason as any other to go. Anyone else mildly interested in running this one in 2008?

 

[merigayle]

i'd love to go, but i ain't flying that far for a race <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> I will barely even fly, period. I would love to do Marathon De Sables in Morocco, but it is $3000+ just for the ground stuff, not including air! ACK.

 

[GaRebelRunner]

I know someone who ran the Marathon de Sables in 2003. He practiced by running 20 plus mile runs on a treadmill in the summer in a heated room to simulate weather conditions. He ran 18 miles from his house to the start of the Atlanta Marathon that year and ran the marathon in just a little over 3 hours.<br><br>
Several of us in Atlanta tracked him while he was over there. He did finish in the upper half but I've never heard him talk about the experience since. At one time during the race he was suffering from severe dehydration and "borrowed" some water from another racer because his had run out. He had to be careful they penalize you for things like that in the race.

 

[merigayle]

Oh, i will say that Desert Rats is in my future. If i do not get into WS100 next year via their lottery, that will be my goal race. I have also looked at purchasing a sauna. We are going to move in the fall, so once we move i will buy one. I need to do heat training one way or another, whether it is for RATS or WS. At RATS there is a required amount of stuff you need to carry with you are all times. Similar idea to MDS, stage race thru the desert, but in Utah, not Africa <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[merigayle]

There is a bit in this month's Runners World on training for Comrades.

 

[GaRebelRunner]

The owners of the firm I work for were quite pleased when I told them I was contemplating Comrades next year. The husband ran Pike's Peak in 1985 and has been very supportive of my runs.<br><br>
I downloaded a training schedule off the Comrades website and have to see what Runner's World has in it this month.<br><br>
Looks like I'll be doing two marathons and 3 ultras in preparation for June. But it should keep me busy. I'll work on a detailed training schedule this week and post it in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Tim]

I'll go if I can get a corporate sponsor.<br><br>
Keep us posted on your training.

 

[merigayle]

I can't even get myself to sit on a plane to go to Hawaii, let alone South Africa. I just finished the article in RW and it was pretty good. Amby Burfoot (or what ever his name is) wrote about his race. Never mentioned if he had run a 50 miler before or not.<br><br>
GA- are you going to come up for the JFK50? Last year a ton of us all met up- me, movingon, roots, hippo, deturtle, and more!<br>
Would be a good first 50 miler.

 

[roots]

Good stuff, GRR.<br><br>
Regarding your training, is the above talking about training for an event this June, or is this your plan for Comrades '08?<br><br>
Wasn't sure if I had my head in the sand and didn't know if you had some big ultra planning this June, or not.<br><br>
I don't know when, but Comrades and Spartathon are both on my list of dream race destinations.<br><br>
Enjoy.

 

[GaRebelRunner]

I'll be training for June, 2008. The 2007 race is closed.<br><br>
Merigayle - I'll have to think about the JFK50 because I'm running the Richmond Marathon November 10.

 

[merigayle]

hmmm, JFk would be the week after, <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"><br>
Umstead has a 50 Mile option at the end of March.