Dolphin Coast Striders’ runners gear up for Comrades marathon with final training run

More than 150 locals are preparing to sprint, jog, walk – and perhaps even crawl – their way from Pietermaritzburg to Durban this weekend in the iconic Comrades Marathon.

Now in its 98th edition, the Comrades returns on Sunday with a gruelling 89.9km down run. A massive 160 runners from the Dolphin Coast Striders are registered, alongside participants from the Tongaat Panthers and Mandeni Harriers. However, the actual number reaching the start line is expected to be slightly lower due to injuries and withdrawals.

The Striders completed their final 10km training run on Saturday morning, led by club chairman Mike Morgan, before settling in for a motivational talk by tied all-time Comrades record holder Barry Holland – who has an astonishing 49 finishes to his name.

“Welcome to the world of pain!” Barry quipped, acknowledging he won’t be chasing his 50th medal this year due to a blood-related condition.

“The down run is where the real running happens – where the only muscle to get you home is the one between your ears.”

Barry offered guidance on tackling the infamous down run, advising runners to mentally break the course into manageable sections and prepare for its toughest parts.

“They say there are seven wonders of the world, but it should be eight – somehow the Harrismith flats are uphill both ways!” he joked, adding that he’s eyeing the 100th Comrades in 2027 for another attempt at 50.

His advice was welcomed, especially by those tackling their first Comrades or their first down run.

Striders captain Nic Acampora thanked Barry and said he was proud of the club’s growth and preparation.

“Training has gone really well, and we have a huge number of runners this year. It is fantastic to see people progressing from the Kickstart Programme to regular runners and now Comrades hopefuls,” said Nic.

Nic, who is aiming for a silver medal in his fourth Comrades, also backed clubmates Chris Kyritsis, Janine Gouws and Andrew Erasmus for strong performances on race day.

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