Comrades runner – now seconder – shares tips ahead of this year’s marathon
Hayley Cairns will be supporting her husband, Michael, who will be running his first Comrades Marathon this year.
DURBAN North resident Hayley Cairns is making the transition from Comrades Marathon runner to Comrades seconder for this year’s Up Run.
The DHS Old Boys runner, who has completed two Comrades Marathons (winning two bronze medals), will be supporting her husband, Michael, who, this year, will be doing his first-ever.
Michael, who plays the bagpipes to encourage runners at different points of the route, has been a spectator and seconder for many years.
“We had the conversation about the role reversals last year, and I was happy to do that because, while I enjoy the training aspect leading up to marathon day, I tend to not enjoy marathon day as much. Michael and I entered this year’s Two Oceans Marathon together, and that’s actually where he qualified.
“Looking ahead to this year’s Comrades Marathon, I would be more apprehensive if I was seconding alone, but I’ll have my brother and his girlfriend alongside me. That will make a huge difference as it takes a bit of pressure off, but of course, we will also be checking the route to pick out the best spots.
Hayley’s tips for race day:
What advice can you offer for seconders?
“While I haven’t done a lot of seconding, I think I’ve learned a few things in a short space of time. I would say to always have a backup plan. If you are planning on supporting your loved one at various spots along the route, ensure you have a backup plan. If you miss each other on the route, don’t stress and move on to the next stop or a secondary stop you’d agreed upon. The Comrades Marathon App is also incredibly handy to keep track of the people you are supporting.
What do you carry in your seconder bag?
“I will carry a mixture of things, from energy sachets to soft drinks to energy drinks. Michael likes the purple Powerade, so I’ll carry a few of those. Carry what your loved one likes and then carry a surplus of them. I like to have a cooler box with a variety of items. It also comes in handy if a runner is struggling and you have something they like with you. Also to have a few band-aids on hand.”
What shouldn’t you shout out to runners on the route?
“Probably shouting ‘You’re nearly there’. Particularly when the runner is nowhere near the end. Having run the Comrades, the vibe and energy you feed off from the crowd does spur you on, but I’ve heard ‘You’re nearly there’ a few times, even at the beginning of the marathon.”
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok
