Well done! Various UTMB events once my niggles are done. You could consider the Mac Mac Ultra in South Africa as well. I have done the 46km twice and will be flying down again next year :)
Hi James. Rene from South Africa 🇿🇦. Congratulations to you on completing Comrades. It was my 1st Comrades last month. As I entered Kingsmead, I cried like an absolute baby. This race has changed my life. I have learnt more about myself. I hope to see you for the back to back next year? Oddly enough, seems like another down run. Well done champ. Love the raw emotion. Completing this race is a great achievement. Hope you wearing your Comrades shirt and cap with pride in the UK.
He wore his shirt on his run this morning and is never far from his medal! He could be tempted to come back and do it all over again, as that atmosphere is very addictive isn’t it?? How you feeling after it? Still on a high from it??
As someone who great up in Durban, Comrades Marathon is in our blood. As kids we used to camp on the side of the road the night before - the atmosphere is just insane! My granddad has his green number (completed 10x), it is definitely on my bucket list and 4 years until the 100th edition - I definitely want to do it.
As a South African, my mother ran Conrades and we grew up with it every year on the 16th June (Youth Day). Although its no longer on Youth Day, it is an EPIC and amazing part of South African culture. I did my first "up run" in 2015, a week after my 30th birthday. One of the best, happiest days of my life. And one of the best YEARS, spent preparing and qualifying. It was a year of meeting fellow runners getting their LSD's in on the weekend, many in old Comrades and Two Oceans and Om Die Dam t-shirts and hats whilst knowing our common purpose. The annual running calendar revovlves around a build up to Comrades in June and I have NEVER felt such a beautiful emotional, spiritual kind of euphoria and comfort about the connectedness, resilience and fundamental goodness of humankind as I felt when on my Comrades journey. Its not just the day of that's magic. When you decide to commit to Comrades in a given year, you start to recognise runners in your area and at races and you can nod, smile and wave, knowing you are having having similar daydream and will line up at the the place come May/June. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Two Oceans Ultra next? and of course Comrades needs to be done at LEAST twice, so you can do an "up" and a "down"
After running my first marathon I always get a bit emotional watching other people finishing a long distance race, but this one made my tears turn into rivers streaming out of my eyes! Well done, James!!! You’re awesome, strong AF and a huge inspiration!
Been watching this video for months and cried many times over the months. It gave me the courage to sign up for Comrades 2024. As a South African I owe myself this. Thank you for an inspiring video.
Good luck! My brother is doing his first Comrades in 2024. He goes every year and the support and enthusiasm for the runners is mostly what made him want to experience it himself.
As a South African, I would like to say that we know how to bring the vibe! 🥳 Any race in SA we know how to bring the party or like we say the gees, even on trails. Whoop whoop! Major congrats on finishing!
What an incredible achievement James and what an epic video! As a South African expat, a Durbanite in fact, and someone who has run this beautiful race four times, your video had me wailing ugly tears 😭😭😭. I have run many beautiful races across the globe, but none really compare to the Comrades, because of its traditions and because the entire community participates in their masses - not merely the running fraternity as is the case with many other races. James, just a heads-up, it only counts if you get a back2back medal, so you'll have to return next year 😂 😉I also recommend doing the Two Oceans Ultramarathon in the Western Cape of South Africa. It too is epic and mind-blowingly beautiful. Thanks again for an incredible video, it was so so good to relive my treasured memories of sharing this grueling beautiful race with dear family and friends, some who have since departed.
James, you are an absolute hero. To have the courage to do this and complete it after your heartbreaking cut off before! My heart was in my mouth. So happy to see you make it! You are an inspiration!🎉🎉🎉
man, that finish line is crazy, even in a video you can tell that the atmosphere is incredible! thankyou for sharing, thankyou for being so raw and honest, i love that you guys don't shy away from showing how tough running can be...most of all massive congratulations for achieving something so amazing and i can only imagine how good that post-run beer tasted 🍻
Would love to see more videos like this please TRC 🙏🏻 Awesome effort James! Never really considered running an ultra, but sharing in your experience and feeling your emotion is truly inspirational ❤
Try finishing Comrades without crying. All the months of hard work goes through your mind as you enter the finish stadium. The most incredible feeling ever.
I am going next year You made me cry at the end, I now know that I am going to do this race next year. My bucket list is the Comrades Marathon, Om Die Dam Marathon, and The Two Oceans Marathon all in South Africa. Hope to see you at one of them, once again Congratulations on completing The Ultimate Human race
Congrats James ! I was a novice this year as well - Beating my dads first ever time of 7:52 (1973) with my 7:45:45. He holds the record for most runs with 49 medals after this year, all consecutive as well. (Barry Holland 916). We are all with him next year for the big 50! You should definitely come back and run the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon 56km and maybe something like Ultra Trail Cape Town or Ultra Trail Drakensberg
That is AMAZING what an incredible amount of medals! If we come back to run the up we will have to get a run in an hear all the amazing stories about the 50 years of running the race. The Two Oceans looks amazing, have you done it?
James, you’re a f**king machine! I love watching your videos - your bravery, your openness and damn right damned honesty where others would bluff or blag. I love it. And having learned your story via the Running Channel and your own Instagram, I’ve even more respect! As we say in my adoptive Portugal, FORÇA PÁ!
@@runningchannel to be honest I found them equally hard. One would think running downhill for the past 30 kmWould be great but my legs were so trashed at that time that it no was really hard, especially with the camber in the road. Then the up year, we’ll at least you are on fresh legs for those first k’s. My times were both about 10.5 hrs. Those hills….I hadn’t run anything that hilly prior to the race. I must admit that when I took the bus tour I was pretty scared…not even sure I could do it! I did this race for my 50th birthday and only went back the second year so I could get the special medal😀
You have to do the two oceans ultramarathon in Cape Town and the Soweto marathon in Johannesburg. I think you would enjoy Soweto marathon due to how hilly it is and it is 1500m above sea level.
Sitting at the office trying to control emotions. Have been running for a few years now and my first marathon attempt was halted by covid. Got back into it slowly and set marathon goals which I achieved. My next goal is and was only supposed to be the Two Oceans ultra next year and i had been hesitant to set the comrades as a goal as my girlfriend & seconder has had traumatic experiences watching her dad fail twice. This very moment, watching this video, may be the day I decide to commit and tackle the comrades. Inspired!
Absolutely amazing. Well done. This is the reason I go back every year. I am the lady who drives the 12hr bus. You captured it beautifully. You are a rock star. See you back next year
Yes, write it down and plan it - week by week and month by month - you need one HILL training session per week (Quality) where you choose a hill close to where you live and only about 250m to 300m long with a reasonable gradient and then you sprint that HILL for all you are worth - start with 1 rep in week one and add 1 rep per week until you hit 10 reps - this is your most important training session - more important than any qualifying marathon or LSD workout - then you ALSO need one TRACK or FARTLEK session per week (also QUALITY) where you do 200m to 400m sprints - again start with 1 rep adding one per week until you get to 10 reps - these two sessions will catapult your training and running to levels never imagined - these two sessions need to be at least two to three days apart for recovery purposes - last TIP - don't race any marathon or qualifying race before Comrades - it will chew up too much stored energy and stored emotional energy which will bite you big time in Comrades - qualifying marathon should be run as slowly as possible to conserve your physical, emotional and spiritual energy - I can't tell you how many athletes (dreaming of Comrades) burn't up all their reserves in the last 3 to 4 months before Comrades and get to Comrades on TIRED legs and emotional and SPIRITUAL lows - and don't run any distances longer than 30km's for two months before Comrades and give yourself two weeks of taper before the big day - ENJOY...
@@roblouw3038 Wow ! Thank you so much for this 🙏🏽🙏🏽 I’m definitely printing this out and placing it on my desk to see it week in , week out , day in , day out.
Congratulations!! What an awesome achievement. I grew up there and it was always a special occasion and I always felt so bad when they slammed shut the gate at the end. A beautiful but very divided country and this event is one of the few things that bring everyone together for a short while. But again, massive congratulations on finishing this!
Congratulations what an achievement. The crowds looked absolutely amazing. Sat here in front of my laptop with sore legs after the Cannock 50km, your right don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it, especially yourself. 🎉 👏
It was very tough, but a hell of an achievement. I think it would be a good challenge for TRC. It is extremely hilly very challenging on both body and mind.
Congratulations James! This is definitely one of the most brutal yet beautiful races in the world. We hope to see you back in SA next year for your back-to-back! 🥳
If you want a good metaphor for what South Africa is like as a country Comrades is it. Hard and brutal but beautiful with open and resilient people. well done. Doing it next year.
There is a saying that goes something like this.. " Once you finish the Comrades Marathon, you will never be the same person and nothing can defeat you in life " ... now that you finished your 1st, you have to go back to get your back to back medal..
Good running and some classy blubbing at the end. I was blubbing with you. Bucket races!? London marathon, full-stop! I'm in the ballot for the third time! Failing that? I'm tempted by the Hong Kong marathon. HK is a second home-town, of sorts.
OMgoodness!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉 well done james! I love watching ones like this as the journey is just so emotional 🤣. I think I shed a tear too. Can’t imagine running this distance but take my hat off to those who do. So inspiring. 🎉
3-time finisher here, it's an epic race that has an atmosphere like no other. Beautiful KZN scenery, lovely people. Phenomenal race. Glad to hear your perspective of how your day went, thoroughly enjoyed mine this year!
Thank you James, it was so special to share this experience with you- both Michele and I were in there at various points! Thank you for recording the day and bringing back to life the senses and emotions we all went thorough in that journey. May our paths cross again on another adventure!
Thank you for sharing this! I think the emotion you show is SO recognisable for other runners so thanks for just showing it. I've lived in SA for over 6 years now and always said there's no way I'm doing Comrades, but I think next year might be the year. So if you come back, hope to see you there!
@@runningchannel I’m just working on my path towards my first marathon, so I’m not well versed in all of the potential runs available. But a team wide obstacle type run could be a fun watch. I know there are Spartan Races and Tough Mudders on our side of the pond. Perhaps there’s an event like that you could all do together, or even individually, if that’s not content you’ve already created.
I did my first comrades this year too at 26 years old. And let me tell you! Everything you said about comrades is the honest truth! I found i different strength I never knew I had
I always have massive respect for anyone who ATTEMPTS this race, let alone finish it within the time limit. This race does humble you to tears, nothing wrong with that. Congratulations!
Well done james, so glad the running channel sent you out here to do the most amazing race in the world. Your channel would not have been complete without it! I also have some teary eyed photos from the finish line, it was so amazing!
I hope you didnt use the Apple watch ultra. You did the review last year shortly after comrades and it was amusing that there was only 20% left on the battery after only 50km. My Fenix 6 did comrades and was still on 50% at the end.
Congrats on this amazing achievement, I ran my first comrades this year also and it is so hard to put into words, the greatest GOAL any runner can achieve - "Start like a coward, finish like a HERO" (bruce fordyce)
Well done James!!! that is phenomenal!! what an effort. So glad you enjoyed your time inSouth Africa... come back for the back to back medal next year!
@@runningchannel Did a 10k treadmill session first thing this morning and at 6pm will head out with Bess, the mad German Pointer... for a 10k trail run. Working towards a 50k Dartmoor run later this year (alone)
Congrats on this and (I think....) on the Bourton HIlly Half more recently (if it was you I was on the water / medals at the end and spotted your comrades T--shirt)
Ahhww James, it was a pleasure having you in South Africa. Next time come for Two Oceans Ultra Marathon as Celtic Harriers we'd love to see you and just connect
