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Hey Gas. I'm known in my club for doing the least mileage in our club, in training for Comrades. This year I actually did the most I've ever done (650km). The important thing for me is recovery time between training runs. My body doesn't cope well with lots of training millage without recovery days in between, or I get injured. I have a rule of thumb to have a rest day for every 2 hours of training that I do. So, if I have an hour run for two days in a row, then I must rest on the third day. Or if I do a long run of 2 hours, then the next day must be a rest day. Or if I do a marathon in 4 hours, then I must rest for at least 2 days afterwards. The second rule that I have is, that you can't catch up with millage, it is what it is. If you try to catch up millage you're going to get injured. Then in the Comrades, I've learned not to drink plain water, or I become overhydrated. If I drink something it must have electrolytes in it. My stomach doesn't like the Powerade or Energade, or Rehydrat. I have found my stomach does best on the Biogen rehydrate (it doesn't taste sweet at all). So I carry a little Oros bottle with me and mix some Biogen rehydrate every 10km or so. I can have a Coke now and then, but not too often. The oranges on the route are fantastic for me. I do very well on them. I also have a small bit of dry wors every now and then. That works well for me. As far as pacing goes on race day, with such little mileage in training. I'm more of a fast runner in shorter races, so I often podium for my age group in 10km race. But when it comes to Comrades the mission is to run slow, like 6:45 min/km. Then I walk all the big hills. I only stop at every 4th table or so, because I have the little Oros bottle with me.

Yes really scary been a novice. Best advice was not to "make a soup" with your nutrition. So I had gels every hour, water in-between and a sip.or two of coke. I did walk/run every hill. Thankfully I finished. Don't give up.

Thanks so much for this! I feel I made the right decision to withdraw even though I was really looking forward to my 1st comrades. I can relate, was also injured during easter long run and was out for 6 weeks and didnt do an ultra. Was considering making a late push for mileage, but didn't want my 1st to be a horrible experience. Also was too lazy to do the strength work. May you come back stronger! Hope to see you there next year!

Thanks for sharing your story. This year was my 12th start and my first finish. In previous years I also missed some of the cut offs and knew exactly the pain. NEVER GIVE UP! see you on the route 2025.

This video broke my heart 😪 I also did my 3rd Comrades this year and it was so hard! You just have no idea how tough the UP run is! Well done for not just giving up, you carried on until they made you stop and you should take pride in that. Please don't give up on running, you will come back better and stronger from this experience.

Thanks for the honest account. Im interested in the reason you believe you got cut-off? Injury? Lack of preparation? Race strategy?

Amazing story, you are brave. I was cut off at Cato Ridge at my first attempt and never got the heart to go back. Thinking of trying next year. Your story gives hope.

Thanks Gus. Remember the crappy and depressive way that you are feeling now. Commit now and start seeing yourself next year, making a victorious video. In the meantime, make yourself accountable to everyone watching your videos by posting your journey to 2025 Comrades success. The beautiful, cold and dark morning runs, the weekend no parties and drinking runs, the successful test my fueling strategy runs, the dialing in on the run walk strategy, the hitting the runners gym days, the successful marathon quali run, the feeling of "I was disciplined and committed and now I am experiencing success" feeling. You've got this. You can do this. Just make that decision and focus on it. Good luck, from a novice 2024) 9:37:01, 49 year old.

You ran and that’s more than most people do. You tried and most people don’t even bother to try.

From listening to you, I can really feel your pain😢

u will come back strong champ ! keep dishing d content 🔥

Next year we try again my brother stronger than before .

Sorry my bru. Had the same experience in 2011. Not lekker. But remember your why and you’ll be back stronger. Hope you can work through this and get your shoes back on for a run. Take care my friend.

Thank you for sharing your experience. This feeling will pass and you'll soon be back on the road training for Comrades 2025. I DNF'd in 2016 after 2 finishes and can relate. The most important thing is to learn from the experience and to come back stronger next year. All the best!

Gas, Best wishes from England. I ran my first Comrades this year. The race from start to finish was so emotional. Thanks to your brave video, my emotions continue. Smash it next year Mate. Best wishes.

Just by pitching up at the start makes you a Hero already 👍All the best for next year

Thx so much for sharing, it takes alot of guts...

Must commend you on your bravery and honesty. This is is the untold Comrades story, and it's a necessary story. Mind you, you're a fantastic story-teller, slightly humorous and brutally honest. Will you be doing this again?

I respect you. I DNF in 2018 (cut-off in Pinetown with 21kms to go) and 2019 (cut-off on top of Polly Shortts with 7.5kms to go). I went back and worked harder. 2022 - Bronze 2023 - Robert Mtshali 2024 - Vic Clapham Take this as a chance to re-energize yourself. The spirit in you is bigger than the challenge ahead of you. See you in 2025.

So firstly, irrespective of how you feel/felt, you are a winner for qualifying to run Comrades, a winner for starting the race, and you are a winner for telling the difficult story, that bo one really wants to tell, as it is a tough story to tell. Thank you for your insights and heartfelt story. From this you have your own personal lessons that you can learn from and from this story, I have learnt a lot. I am a novice Comrades guy, with only the 2024 medal, so I learn alot from stories like yours. Chin up, take some time off, reset and recalibrate the next goals for the 2024/2025 running season. You will rise up like the Champion you are!!!!!

Tough one,thanks for sharing, I can't imagine how you feeling, rest and we try again next time. all the best...

Thank you for sharing 🙏

This video is the best thing you have done after DNF . It will make you feel less burdened . Very hopeful of strong finish by you next year with a video

Missing the cut-off is tough, but it doesn't take away the hard work, dedication, and passion you've shown. Every step you took is a testament to your strength and resilience. Remember, it's not just about the finish line, it's about the journey and the progress you've made along the way. See you on the starting line next year!

Be proud man, this race is a beast!

Hey man you are the real courage. I as a foreigner and novice was lucky on that day , so i finished. To say all these what u have just said, for me it is the courage. Keep it up you are going to do wonders in life. Soon this will be a distant memory but trust me the learning from this experience would be far huge than your successful comrades in the past. Look at yourself from time to time and you will realise you have improved alot and have become a better human just because of this one unlucky experience. God bless you

Keep strong bud. Youll be back stronger ❤

Stay strong, like someone said on the comments section. Soon we will running qualifiers. Let’s push, I almost bailed out of the race. I had a blackout while at 48km fell on ground and had 2 cuts on my forehead and it was bleeding badly and waited for ambulance to come and assist me. But it never came and I decided to push on. Finished, I hope next year you will have a better luck❤

Tough one, but appreciate you sharing your experience. 👊🏾

I know the feeling of being cut off from a big race. I was cut off at my first two oceans. It took some time to get over the feeling of disappointment and to get myself to try again the following year. But I came back the following year and finished ever since. So try again next year. You'll do better. ❤

I know the feeling, got cut off on my first 2 attempts..

Let me add to your sad, Some will still ask how did you run, UP run I had 2DNF, you the only person I met who explained how hurtful that is, came back this yr and I finished. Just recover and go back to drawing board, train and comeback , but we'll done, being on a start is a great accomplishment.

I had a diffent experience of my cut-off. I got got off at Umlaas and missed it by 2min. I was sad of 2 seconds then I remembered my journey in training. I met so many great people that i wouldnt hv if i didn't enter this iconic race. "Failures" shape our character and it does make us braver and stronger. You are not a failure and you did what very very few can only dream of. You are a champion on that start line and I will wear my comrades gear proudly.

The untold stories of the Comrades... Thanks for sharing. It's good to lift the veil on the aspects of running the Comrades that we don't see on TV... I have no doubt that you were sorely disappointed, especially after your 2 previous successful completions. Who you become after this is the true test. Finding your way back to start line through strength, grit and determination is the new journey... Keen to hear more on your story. Commiserations, my brother...

I can relate mate. I have DNFed a few ultras. Two 100ks and a 100miler. It feels terrible in the moment. You have the right attitude, honesty..Well done all the same.Live to race another day !!

Thanks for sharing your story, I hope you keep believing in yourself and after some break time you come back stronger and determined to do better next year. Best regards from Mozambique, Carlos Vaz Vignolo

Thanks for sharing bud. You'll kill it in 2025

Uxolo. I can only imagine how you are feeling. Thanks for sharing such a powerful story 🥇

be strong champ , u gonna go back harder next year sir ! more training

...pls tell your story that you are referring to...

It's not how you fall my friend, its how you get up and start training for Comrades 2025😊

So Brutal, every runner here feels your pain 😢

You are a champion. See you at the start next year. We all have a bad day.

It takes a lot to share this. Before you know it we are running next years qualifiers. look at the race and learn from the experience. I did not finish last year.

It does suck, but it is an experience! 2 things that shocked me about not making cut-off was, 1) how they take your one number and draw a cross through your number and 2) getting to the stadium and crossing a did not finish mat! This is all part of your Comrades story! Take care and happy running!!

Thank you for sharing. I had to bail out on my second Comrades, but I've gone on to get my green number. I've actually had to bail 3 times, it's not easy. I've not been cut off before. The emotions are very real though.

well done ,next year will be here before you know it

😢❤

😢😭

Lmao those Dverger said we're sending you back to the stone age.