Louise runs for her green number
Local runner Louise Hucklesby will run her 20th Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
COMRADES fever is sweeping through the country as runners like Glenwood’s Louise Hucklesby prepare to take on the legendary Comrades challenge which this year sees thousands start in Durban and make their way to Pietermaritzburg in the 20th Comrades marathon on Sunday.
Louise, who is looking forward to the run, said she is proud to be taking part in the Sunflower Fund’s 56Miles4Marrow Comrades Campaign.
Her running career started in 1994 when she joined Stell Running Club just after her daughter’s second birthday.
“I always wanted to run the Comrades Marathon and people would laugh at me when I said it! I did my first Comrades in 1995 and it was great. I achieved a nice time and have never looked back. ” she said.
Louise, whose passion for running and training knows no bounds, said she has become totally involved in the sport. She has run 11 Two Oceans races and said at one stage she was doing nine marathons a year.
“Now I’m older and wiser. My training is just about running with other people and enjoying it. I’m old school. I train six days a week. It’s hugely important to train enough so that you can carry on with your life the day after the Comrades and you’re not totally exhausted by it,” she said.
“Over the last few years I’ve slowed right down but I have trained hard this year. Training consumes you as you have to spend a lot of time on the road. Comrades is a mental thing, it’s all about just getting to the end. You have to train and just enjoy the day. I like to chat and enjoy my run” she said.
Louise is hoping Bruce Fordyce will give her her green number on Sunday when she finishes her race. “I’m looking forward to the aches and pain of my war wounds the next day! I’m definitely going to run the Comrades next year too. I’m 53 now so I don’t have many years left to run” she said.
Stella has 113 runners taking on the Comrades this year and the group has trained well together. “There are a lot of novices which is very good. I wish everyone the best for their run” she said.
