Comrades Marathon 2011 – The Final Week – Bonitas Comrades Marathon Expo – 2011 KwaZulu-Natal Youth Run – TRACK YOUR RUNNER

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
– Steve Prefontaine, an American middle and long-distance runner. Prefontaine once held the American record in the seven distance track events from the 2,000 meters to the 10,000 meters.

The Comrades Marathon is here! With only one more week to go, we at the Comrades Marathon Association, hope that everyone who will take to the tarmac from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is ready to tackle the 86,96 kilometers. The finish venue at the Pietermaritzburg Cricket Oval has begun its transformation for the race. Tents, marquees, barriers and other structures are being erected and will be finished in the next couple of days.

Bonitas Comrades Marathon Expo

The Bonitas Comrades Expo and registration will take place three days prior to race day, namely:

at the Durban Exhibition Centre and Comrades House in Pietermaritzburg. Runners are encouraged to register early.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to catch the Idols contestants and their live performance at the 2011 Bonitas Comrades Marathon Experience. Former Idols Graeme Watkins, Bongi Mthombeni, Boki Ntsime and Adeline Mocke will be the musical superstars who will perform at the 2011 Comrades Marathon Expo and Race Day in support of the Pink Drive Charity.

• May 27, Friday: 17:00 – 18:00 / 18:30 at Bonitas Comrades Expo.
• May 28, Saturday: 12:00 – 13:00 at Bonitas Comrades Expo.
• May 29, Sunday at the Finish line.

Entrance to the Bonitas Comrades Marathon Expo is free of charge.

The Final Week

by Lindsey Parry – Comrades Coach

Its all about the R's: Rest and Recover

Do as little as possible over the next week. You can run 20-30 minutes easy, 2-3 times during the week so you don't feel as if you are doing nothing and becoming unfit. Adjust your eating – people shove in vast amounts of carbohydrates in the last few days but do not take into account the reduced energy requirement caused by the taper. This means that excess carbs will be stored as fat and some people will put on 3 kilograms in the last week!

Lastly, stay well hydrated in the week leading up to the event, ensuring you drink enough. See you at the finish line!

2011 KwaZulu-Natal Youth Run

The KwaZulu-Natal Youth Run will once again be run on the 28th May 2011, as a prelude to the Comrades Marathon. The race is being co-ordinated by KZNA in collaboration with the CMA and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation. The event, which starts and finishes in Hoy Park on Sylevster Ntuli Road, is a 5 and 10km race, consisting of a route which is fast, flat, safe and secure.

Entries will be accepted up to Wednesday, 25 May 2011 at the KwaZulu-Natal Athletics office, Kings Park Athletic Stadium, 41 Walter Gilbert Road, Durban between 08h00 and 16h00. Entries will also be taken at Bonitas Comrades Expo on Thursday, 26 May 2011 and Friday, 27 May 2011 between 09h00 and 19h00.

For further information please contact the KwaZulu-Natal Athletics +27(0)31 3129374.

TRACK YOUR RUNNER

AMABEADIBEADI WIN-A-CAR

Nedbank Spectator Point

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New Sponsorship

Facebook

You can now follow the Comrades Marathon on the official Facebook. Once you logged onto your page please click on the following link to join the group https://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=126170206312.

CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK

The Mr Price Heroes Facebook application allows the Mr Price Heroes site to update users' Facebook news pages with their race results as soon as the results are uploaded. Thus, as and when the runner crosses the ChampionChip mats along the route a message will be posted to the runners' own facebook page stating that the runners has crossed the mat at that time.

Should you have a Facebook page and wish for these updates to appear on your page, please follow the following the links below: If you are not a Mr Price Heroes member, please visit www.mrpriceheroes.co.za and create a profile. Once your profile has been created, you can then follow the steps below to authorize the applicaiton. If you are already a Mr Price Heroes member, please follow the steps below: You have to allow the Mr Price Heroes Facebook application access to your profile. To allow access, you must go to the profile page, click on the Facebook tab, and click the Connect button. Once authorized, you can customize the messages that will appear on Facebook by selecting your publishing options.

Yours in running,

Comrades Marathon Association

Tel: +27(0)33 897 8650
Fax: +27(0)33 897 8660
info@comrades.com
www.comrades.com