AS I embark on my journey towards the Ultimate Human Race, the Comrades Marathon, every step becomes a testament to dedication, perseverance, and the power of disciplined training.
Having had the opportunity of being at the starting line eight times already, gives me the sense of pride that as a young South African I could be part of one of the world's greatest sporting events.
With each sunrise, my preparation for this gruelling ultra-marathon unfolds; blending rigorous training sessions with meticulous attention to nutrition, and meal preparation.
A typical day in the week kicks-off with an early start; usually waking up before the sun rises to gear up for a run. This happens before many people start their day’s activities.
My training regimen is a carefully crafted tapestry by specialists within this field; one being my biokineticist and chiropractor, of long runs, speed work, and strength training, all aimed at building the endurance necessary to conquer the high mileage on race day.
The early mornings often find me navigating the undulating terrain of Chatsworth; the hills becoming my allies as I push my limits, mentally and physically. Fortunately, these mornings are never alone on the roads as I share this time with fellow colleagues and family training together.
In the evenings, I return home after a normal day at the office to spend time logging and reading my day's training activities from my runner’s journal, which keeps all my statistics and general information of each run, so I can be ready to recover and prepare for the next challenge.
Long runs form the cornerstone of my training, gradually increasing in distance to acclimate my body to the demands of race day. These sessions are not just about physical exertion; they are opportunities to cultivate mental fortitude, to confront doubts and push through barriers.
These happen mostly over the weekend with the first part of our Saturday mornings given to high mileage runs. These runs range from an easy 15 to 20km run to 25 to 30km of higher mileage every weekend. Our Sundays are generally recovering runs depending if there is not a half or full marathon race planned for that day.
The aim is to accomplish a marathon a month.
Speed work injects intensity into my training, refining my pace and agility. Whether it is interval training on the track or tempo runs through the neighbourhood streets, each session hones my ability to sustain effort over the course's varied terrain.
Coached by our very own club members with years of experience, this training usually happens within the walls and confines of the local Chatsworth Stadium. Pushing us to our limits in what we know and understand in the local runner’s lingo as the 4-4-2 or 400m and 200m splits, we are pushed to our limits to meet our milestones.
Our 4km time trials on Tuesday afternoons, timed and monitored by our club coaching team, allows me to challenge my individual times from my last successful run.
Strength training is the backbone of my preparation, ensuring that my body can withstand the demands of the marathon's gruelling distance. From core exercise to resistance training, each session fortifies my muscles, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing performance.
Our club, Love2Run Athletics Club, is fortunate to have our own biokineticist, who puts us through our paces every Monday evening at the Nelson Mandela Youth Centre auditorium. With a class of around 15 dedicated trainees, he guides each session focusing on the fundamental parts of building upper body and core strength to support our running programmes.
But training alone isn’t enough.
Nutrition emerges as a cornerstone of my preparation, fuelling my body for optimal performance and efficient recovery. My diet becomes a carefully calibrated blend of carbohydrates, protein, and essential nutrients, tailored to support the demands of endurance training.
Meal preparation becomes a ritual, as I craft balanced meals that sustain me through long runs and aid in post-workout recovery. Living in an Indian community can really be a challenging task to discipline yourself with all the wonderful culinary dishes prepared in our homes.
Breakfast comprising cereals and high protein foods like eggs and chicken, benefits us in preparing our bodies. Carbohydrate drinks and a simple slice of peanut butter bread a few days before preparing for a marathon helps the body store the necessities needed for race day.
To culminate all the training, diet, exercise routines, my gear that I use on race day adds to my success. Comfortable shoes are the main priority, together with my club running kit, a runner's belt around my waist to carry my supplements, some pain killers and salt to ward off cramps and fatigue, as I break through every kilometre towards the finish line.
A light breathable runner cap or peak helps keep the sun's rays off my face and cools me down as my body heats up with every stride.
As race day draws near, every aspect of my preparation converges into a singular focus: To stand at the starting line of the Comrades Marathon, ready to embrace the challenge ahead.
And as I reflect on the countless miles, the early mornings, and the moments of doubt overcome, I know that my journey towards Comrades has been more than a physical feat. It is a testament to the power of dedication, discipline, and the unwavering spirit of a runner.
I count it a blessing from God to be a part of such an exciting, intense, yet rewarding event and I would encourage anyone to push their bodies and challenge their minds to be at the start line one day.
Yours in Running
Clinton Phillip, 49, Chairperson of Love2Run Athletics Club