On The Road – 17 April 2015

Surrounded by the majestic Drakensberg mountains, four Dolphins braved the chilly morning air to line up at the start for the 50th N3TC Arthur Cresswell memorial marathon. The 52km route from Bergville to Ladysmith is grueling on the legs. High temperatures later in the morning, punishing climbs, and a 3km dirt track just after the 35kms mark all conspire to make up this tough race.

All four locals had great runs and three managed personal best times at the marathon marker. Shannon was the first Dolphin home in an outstanding time of 4:09. Nikola and Trygve had a solid run, coming in together in a great time of 4:46. Congratulations to Carlo who finished his first ultra in 5 hours.

March and April are the hardest months for most Comrades runners and being tired is par for the course. The sacrifices are however all worthwhile when a race goes well.

No one can argue that being physically strong for Comrades (or any race) is important. Races like Bergville allow you to test your physical strength. There is however another component that gets tested during these long runs. Are you mentally strong enough to push yourself further that you thought you could go? These strong runs become the mental building blocks that cement confidence for runners. They will help you build the mental toughness needed for May 31. Your body will take you only so far and then you need your brain to tell you that you can push just a little bit further. The human brain is like a muscle. You can build strength but you need weights to lift. The challenges you face in life (or on the road) are those weights. So remember when you climb the next hill you are not only honing your physical performance but, just as important, you are also building your mental toughness.

Please note that the DCS Club Comrades route run will take place on Sunday, April 19. If you are interested in participating please get in contact with a committee member or email dolphincoaststriders@gmail.com ASAP.

Sarah