Fordyce motivates Bulithando parkrunners ahead of Comrades Marathon
Fordyce says he wanted to give the runners tips on how to prepare in the last week before the race.
KwaThema – Bulithando parkrunners were visited by nine-time Comrades Marathon winner and Parkrun CEO Bruce Fordyce a week shy of the Comrades Marathon.
Fordyce was at the weekly run to motivate runners before they take on the 89km ultramarathon on Sunday.
Fordyce says he wanted to give the runners tips on how to prepare in the last week before the race.
“If I was running next Sunday, I would do a very slow 15km on Sunday, 10km on Monday, eight on Tuesday, five on Wednesday and nothing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday,” he says.
He says this is because the race is close and the only result of running too much at this stage would be ruining their preparation so far.
Also read: Locals called to join Bulithando parkrun
The 30-times Comrades runner also warned runners not to spend too much time at the Comrades Marathon Expo before the race.
“When you go to the Expo, go in, pick up your number and get out of there as soon as possible because you can go in there and spend hours walking around which will tire out your legs,” he warns.
He also warned the runners to not take any new concoctions or products they have never used before.
“The golden rule is nothing new on race day,” he says. One other tip he gave was for the infamous Polly Shortts hill.
According to Fordyce, runners will definitely walk the hill.
“There is one problem with Polly Shortts. There is a TV camera, and you have told all your friends and family that you are running the Comrades but they can clearly see you are walking it,” he laughs.
Also read: Inviting locals for a wellness day
He continues to say: “So if you see the camera pointing at you and there is a red light flashing, the whole world is watching you.
“So no matter what you do, run and if you want to look good say to everyone walking around you, ‘come on! We can do this’,” he concludes.
Bulithando Parkrun run director Nelisa Motsepa, who will be running her second Comrades Marathon, thanked Fordyce for his attendance and advice.
