XTERRA BLISS

Qualifying Goals

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GEORGE BENADE, BOKSBURG AC


How many Comrades have you run?
Seven.


What was your qualifying goal for 2011?
A sub-3:00 marathon to obtain an A seeding.


Did you reach this goal?
Unfortunately not!


Why do you think you did not reach your goal?
I held back until the halfway mark due to a small element of doubt in my mind that I can’t do it. My race started in the second half, but I left it too late to catch up.


In what time would you like to cross the finish line at Comrades?
I would love to finish in 7:25.


Do you think not reaching your goal will make a difference come Comrades day?
No, definitely not. I have the confidence now that it can be done.


JACKIE MALAN, ASSEGAAI MARATHON CLUB


How many Comrades have you run?
Four.


What was your qualifying goal for 2011?
I already qualified for Comrades last year, but a short term goal was to run a sub-3:40 marathon for a C seeding.


Did you reach this goal?
I did!


At which race did you qualify and what time did you run?
At the Standerton Goldi 4-in-1. I finished in 3:35.


Do you think reaching your goal will make a difference come Comrades day?
Preparation does make a difference, but Comrades is run on the day not in your qualifying race. Last year I ran a 3:55 qualifying time and finished Comrades in 8:43. Previous years I have run better qualifying times but worse Comrades times.


In what time would you like to cross the finish line at Comrades?
Under 9:00. Just like my previous Comrades Marathons.


KARI LONGMAN, CELTIC HARRIERS


How many Comrades have you run?
One.


What was your qualifying goal for 2011?
I didn’t have to run a qualifier because I ran last year, and I felt my time was good enough to start in the middle groups. Luckily for me, as things didn’t go well in the Red Hill Marathon in January.


Did you reach this goal?
Well, I’m in the D batch, which is cool.


Do you think reaching your goal will make a difference come Comrades day?
No, not really. This year I have a niggly injury, so people have been saying, why not just rest completely to see if it will help. But that would mean not running Comrades. I set myself the goal of doing an up and down in consecutive runs, so I’m sticking to my goal. The thought of starting all over again next year doesn’t appeal to me.


In what time would you like to cross the finish line at Comrades?
Because I’m a bit of a crock right now, I would just be happy with a sub-11:00.


ROBERT BARTHOLOMEW, TYGERBERG AC


How many Comrades Marathons have you run?
Two.


What was your qualifying goal for 2011?
I wanted to run another sub-3:20 marathon to qualify for a B seeding, like last year’s 3:16. In 2009 I had a C seeding.


Did you reach this goal?
No, I ran 3:26 in the Peninsula Marathon, then bailed the West Coast Marathon because of the incredible heat – over 40 degrees! But I’m still satisfied with my time.


Do you think not reaching your goal will make a difference come Comrades day?
Last year I had a much better race than in 2009, so I’d be more confident if I could start in B again this year. I think it will affect my race, because there will so many people in front of me.


In what time would you like to cross the finish line at Comrades?
Last year I ran 8:52 on the down run, so anything better would be a bonus. Just as long as it’s sub-9:00 for another Bill Rowan.

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