The long anticipated Comrades Marathon 2010, arguably the greatest ultra marathon in the world, has come and gone, and World Cup soccer fever has officially taken over! If you still feel a bit nostalgic about your Comrades experience, here are a few facts to get you going until you receive your Comrades Results and Race Review Brochure in the post. – BY MICHELLE PIETERS
HOW MANY ENTRIES AND REGISTRATIONS?
Entries: 23 568
Entrants who met the qualifying criteria: 19 096
Registered: 17 627
HOW MANY STARTERS AND FINISHERS?
Starters: 16 480 (12 787 male/3 693 female)
Finishers: 14 343 (11 214 male/3 129 female).
Note that this figure may change slightly as runners notify the Comrades Marathon Association of discrepancies.
HOW MANY NOVICES?
Novice starters: 4 317 (2 968 male/1 349 female)
Novice finishers: 3 644 (2 543 male/1 101 female)
HOW MANY INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS?
Finishers: 817 (634 male/183 female)
AVERAGE AGE OF FINISHERS
Male: 40
Female: 42
Results of the Comrades legends challenge 2010
1 Andrew Kelehe 6:37:37
2 Shaun Meiklejohn 6:45:37
3 Bruce Fordyce 7:55:03
4 Alan Robb 8:26:40
5 Frances van Blerk 10:36:54
MEDAL BREAKDOWN
Gold (Top Ten): 10 male/10 female
Wally Hayward (Sub-6): 13 male
Silver (Sub-7): 596 (583 male/13 female)
Bill Rowan (Sub-9): 2 303(2 067 male/
236 female)
Bronze (Sub-11): 6 565 (5 049 male/
1 516 female)
Vic Clapham (Sub-12): 4 846 (3 492 male/
1 354 female)
There can only be one winner and only a selected few can achieve glory by finishing in the top ten. For many of us, achieving our personal goals or even just finishing Comrades, is enough. And though we all have different reasons for running, one thing binds us all: our love and passion for this great sport. So for those who run for fun, to achieve a personal best or for a podium position, the poem below describes running in a great way!
Why do I Run?
‘Tain’t no misery
Wanna have a good medical history,
Doctor told me running is great
Helps them blood cells circulate,
Great for the lungs,
Great for the ticker,
Can’t nothin’ getcha in better shape quicker,
Feels so healthy, feels so sweet,
Pumpin my arms and flappin’ my feet,
Moldin’ my muscles, firmin’ my form,
Pantin’ like a pack mule,
Sweatin’ up a storm,
Keeps me youthful,
Keeps me loose,
Tightens my tummy
and shrinks my caboose,
Beats bein’ lazy
Why do I run?
Maybe I’m crazy!
~ Ed Cummingham
TOP TEN CLUBS (FINISHERS)
Club Name 2010 Entries 2010 Finishers
1 Rand Athletic Club 627 384
2 Irene Road Running Club 417 243
3 Randburg Harriers 332 189
4 Chatsworth Athletic Club 284 152
5 Boksburg Athletic Club 264 170
6 Hillcrest Villagers AC 231 127
7 Stella Athletic Club 231 142
8 Westville Athletic Club 217 128
9 Durban High School Old Boys Club 215 142
10 Benoni Northerns Athletic Club 197 130
THE GOLD HEROES OF THE DAY
MALE
1 Stephen Muzhingi 5:29:01
2 Ludwick Mamabolo 5:35:29
3 Sergio Motsoeneng 5:35:58
4 Bongmusa Mthembu 5:37:49
5 Fanie Matshipa 5:39:53
6 Fusi Nhlapo 5:40:26
7 Claude Moshiywa 5:43:04
8 Petros Sosibo 5:45:58
9 Peter Molapo 5:46:19
10 Leboka Noto 5:48:45
FEMALE
1 Elena Nurgalieva 6:13:04
2 Olesya Nurgalieva 6:13:05
3 Marina Myshlyanova 6:26:03
4 Kami Semick 6:32:55
5 Farwa Mentoor 6:38:41
6 Lizzy Hawker 6:39:43
7 Irina Vishnevskaya 6:44:27
8 Lindsay van Aswegen 6:46:52
9 Adinda Kruger 6:51:15
10 Anna Pichtova 6:51:34