As an international runner at Comrades, I received a lot of perks: a non-existent queue to collect my race number and goodie bag, endless enthusiastic cheering on race day, and access to the international tent at the finish on the grass of Kingsmead Stadium. One of the challenges, however, of being an international runner (especially a novice) was that I had no guaranteed on-course support.
While it is certainly possible to survive the entirety of the Comrades run eating and drinking only that which is provided by the 46 refreshment stands and the generosity of the crowds, I wanted the confidence that comes only with knowing that I could have *my* things accessible to me along the course.
How very American, I know!
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Alas, I’d trained for a year and spent a small fortune– and used up a considerable amount of marital goodwill– for my Comrades run. I wanted to control as many of the unknown factors for race day as I could. Given the stomach issues I’d had at the Dallas Marathon and Miracle Match 50K in preparation for Comrades, I knew that having access to my favorite electrolyte drink, Tailwind, and my tried-and-true peanut butter and jelly sandwiches would eliminate the questionable ingestion of the new-to-my-stomach Energade offered on the course.
Comrades Run On-Course Race Support
Enter Bruce Fordyce’s Complete Marathons Race Day Support Marquee service. For the reasonable price of 700 rand (about $42 USD at race time), I could have access to three bags pre-packed with my goodies along the race course. And there would also be private porta potties at these stops.
Done. Deal.
After paying for the service, I was issued three drawstring nylon backpacks (mine to keep after the race) and a paper bracelet with my bag number on it. I was to pack the bags, deliver them back to the booth in the lobby of the Durban Hilton, and then wear the paper bracelet on race day. My bags would then be available to me at the marquees located at roughly 26KM, 45KM, and 67KM. I wish I had known these locations before I took the CMA’s Comrades route bus tour, so I would have a better idea of where I’d find them. But there were big flags and a sizeable marquee with the Complete Marathons logo on them, and those caught my eye.
Update: Bruce Fordyce’s company is no longer offering this marquee service. I suggest you contact your country’s Comrades ambassador to see which vendors are offering Comrades run race-day support. You’ll be glad you did!
Preparing my Drop Bags for the Comrades Run
I definitely do NOT recommend taking up ultrarunning if you don’t like logistics! From determining what I might possibly need and at what point to mixing up Tailwind in the hotel bathroom,
there is a tremendous amount of planning and plotting involved in preparing for a Comrades run. (And we haven’t even touched the concept of race pacing or the months of training!)
What did I pack in the bags to get me from start to finish of my Comrades Run?
I’m glad you asked.
In the first bag, I had:
- bottle of Tailwind
- two pouches of Tailwind powder
- small energy bar & arnica gel (from Expo goody bag)
- lemon Luna bar
- half PB&J sandwich
- three blister band aids
- clip on water spout (not pictured above)
- sunglasses (not pictured above)
- Comrades hat (not pictured above)
What did I use from the first bag?
The bottle of Tailwind, half PB&J, sunglasses, and Comrades hat.
The second marquee was at 47KM, just at the top of Inchanga.
In this second bag I had packed:
- bottle of Tailwind
- two pouches of Tailwind powder
- small energy bar & arnica gel (from Expo goody bag)
- lemon Luna bar
- half PB&J sandwich
- three blister band aids
- small pouch of sunscreen
- roll of SaltStick FastChews
- clean, dry socks
- sponge (not pictured above)
What did I use from the second bag?
The bottle of Tailwind, half PB&J, sunscreen, roll of S-Caps, sponge.
I nearly passed the final marquee because I was so engaged with the excitement of the Nedbank Green Mile.
In my third and final bag I had:
- bottle of Tailwind
- two pouches of Tailwind powder
- small energy bar & arnica gel (from Expo goody bag)
- lemon Luna bar
- half PB&J sandwich
- three blister band aids
- small pouch of sunscreen
- roll of SaltStick FastChews
- clean, dry socks
What did I use from the third bag?
The bottle of Tailwind, half PB&J, and the roll of S-Caps.
While I knew I’d be glad to have my own food and drinks, what I didn’t count on was the friendly help at the marquees, especially when I had a dyslexic moment at the third stop and shouted out the wrong number. They calmly and swiftly figured out what I meant and got me the right bag. And then there was Gill– who I had met when picking up and dropping off my bags pre-race– who gamely and without hesitation slathered my upper body and face with sunscreen at the second stop.
Although I didn’t use many of the items I’d packed, I was grateful to have the items I really needed and wanted. The Tailwind and SaltStick FastChews were critical in maintaining my electrolyte balance and avoiding cramping. I didn’t use the extra Tailwind powder packets because the way water is distributed at Comrades– in small plastic sachets– it would have been difficult to refill my bottles or use my clip on water spout.
It was also well worth the money to have access to clean toilets– and toilet paper– at known places. (I took one final pee break on the side of the road around 15K to go.) Finally, the retrieval of the backpacks (and their contents) was in the Durban Hilton at 9am the morning following the race and was super easy.
I recommend the service without hesitation, and I will use them again when I return to Comrades.
Getting ready for your own Comrades run?
There are recap posts about my 2016 Comrades Down Run race day experience and 2017 Comrades Up Run here on the blog.
