Here I am, sitting in Durban thinking about running Comrades tomorrow. I am pretty excited and a little nervous. Rolling into Durban, a city of around 3 million, was a major change from our lovely life in the bush. After leaving Kruger, we explored the wetlands along the eastern Elephant Coast. Great birding and beautiful, warm Indian Ocean. Then boom, right into the city. Durban's streets seem too small to hold the mass of humanity spilling off every square inch. Safety becomes a primary concern, and not from a charging buffalo.
Into the race expo, things look pretty familiar. Although products and services are different, the atmosphere is classic large event with a very international feel. Although the vast number of runners are South Africans, runners are here from around the world. There are about 24,000 registrants to run this 56 mile race tomorrow. Can you believe it? We went on the special, international bus tour yesterday to preview the race course. Holy hills! There is not one flat stretch of the course. Alright, it does run through the so-called "Vally of 1,000 Hills." I guess that should be a clue as to the topography. Our guide was quick to point out that most of the hills we were looking at weren't "hills." Those were the "flat" sections. The HILLS have names. And I will learn their names with my feet tomorrow.
I am just about timed out on my session here, so I'm off. Hopefully I will be just about finishing when most of you reading this will be awake tomorrow. You can take a look at the website: www.comrades.com for results. Here's to a great run! Wish luck to our local Kami in her quest to win!
Into the race expo, things look pretty familiar. Although products and services are different, the atmosphere is classic large event with a very international feel. Although the vast number of runners are South Africans, runners are here from around the world. There are about 24,000 registrants to run this 56 mile race tomorrow. Can you believe it? We went on the special, international bus tour yesterday to preview the race course. Holy hills! There is not one flat stretch of the course. Alright, it does run through the so-called "Vally of 1,000 Hills." I guess that should be a clue as to the topography. Our guide was quick to point out that most of the hills we were looking at weren't "hills." Those were the "flat" sections. The HILLS have names. And I will learn their names with my feet tomorrow.
I am just about timed out on my session here, so I'm off. Hopefully I will be just about finishing when most of you reading this will be awake tomorrow. You can take a look at the website: www.comrades.com for results. Here's to a great run! Wish luck to our local Kami in her quest to win!
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