WAYNE Scott is filled with excitement as he prepares to target Quadruple Green Number status at the Comrades Marathon, putting him on the verge of joining an elite group of runners.

“There are some legendary names on this list, and to have my name among them is unbelievable,” he said.

With 39 Comrades under his belt, his plan this year is to try and focus on starting the run as easy as possible without being too slow.

“This is the time when you need to get yourself mentally prepared for the journey. I had an operation on my heel in November 2025 and have not had an ideal build-up to Comrades.”

The Assagay resident told the Highway Mail that he watched the Comrades Marathon for many years and never had any intention of running, let alone taking on Comrades.

“My brother, Les, started running and was quite good at it, and he convinced me to give it a try. I did not really enjoy training initially, but once we started racing, we realised we were quite decent and improved quickly.

Also read: Pinetown educator laces up for Comrades

“The logical progression was to run Comrades, and I was convinced it would be quite easy because I had been improving with every marathon I ran. On that 31st day of May 1984, Comrades had different ideas and quickly showed me that you are always at the mercy of this race. At the start, I was sure I would run under eight hours, but I ended up finishing in 10 hours and two seconds.”

To prepare for the race, Scott said his typical training schedule involves weeks of more than 100km, followed by a gradual taper to around 40km during the final week.

“A week before the run is possibly the worst time because you start feeling lethargic and lazy due to the reduced mileage and the excessive carbohydrates required to fuel the body.

“I try to keep things simple and not change what I do just because it is Comrades. A lot of people change their eating and drinking habits, but this can lead to additional stress, which is not good when you need to relax.”

Asked how he balances running with other commitments, Scott credits his supportive and understanding family.

Also read: Bellair mom sets sights on Comrades glory

“Training for Comrades takes a lot of commitment and means you spend a lot of time trying to recover. There is not much time for socialising or anything that may disrupt your training. You become very selfish because everything tends to revolve around you and Comrades.”

When it comes to mentally preparing for the race’s challenges, Scott said he tends to become quite withdrawn and enjoys reading The Comrades Marathon Story.

“This book describes each race from 1921 to 1985 and helps with visualising what lies ahead. When you read what the founders had to endure, it makes the challenge seem much easier for modern-day runners.

What keeps him going

“I don’t really have a mantra, but I tend to do a lot of fighting with myself. I have found it is better to take a short break when you are really at your limit. It seems to reset my mind and helps me get further down the road.”

The member of the Pinetown and Districts Athletic Club (PDAC) said the club has always supported him.

“PDAC has always been there for me, and many of the older members helped me through a lot in my early years. We have always had a great group of people involved in the club and are not just a ‘Comrades club’ because of them.

“Our club has a strong cross-country group, top walkers, excellent age-group runners, and back-of-the-pack runners, and everyone is treated with the same respect.”

He added that his life is basically running because once Comrades is over, cross-country training begins.

“My whole family enjoys sport, even if they are not able to compete anymore. My mother was always there for us and made sure we were well looked after. She would take us to races and second us when required.”

His wife, Teresa, has run 15 Comrades Marathons, and his daughter, Storm, is starting her first this year.

“My sister, Terri, used to walk with my mother, and they both completed the walk from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. My brother, Les, ran about five Comrades before giving it up.”

What’s Next?

If Scott achieves Quadruple Green Number status, he has no plans to slow down.

“I will keep running Comrades as long as my body holds up. I have had a few issues in the past and hope I do not have any more. I love running cross-country after Comrades, so I guess I will just keep on running.”

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