With fewer than 100 sleeps to go until race day it is worth having a look at the challenge that faces runners on 9^th June this year.

 Understandably many runners are reluctant to run the Comrades ‘up run’. It has a notorious reputation. The ‘up run’ is always the slower of the two races, and it boasts 5 arduous and infamous hills, culminating in the monster mountain, Polly Shortts. Runners must negotiate Polly Shortts after completing more than 80 kilometres, and this in full view of a prying television camera. Common sense and experience teach us that ascending is harder than descending. Running up hills is tough, running down them is so much more enjoyable, so the prospect of hours of climbing in an up Comrades can be daunting.

Participation numbers are always slightly reduced in “up” years. Yes, unfortunately the ‘up run’ suffers from bad, bad press. But I believe this bad press is ill-deserved.

 I’m a massive fan of the ‘up run’. I only have happy memories of the journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, (I experienced my first Comrades marathon on an ‘up run’. The ‘up run’ was also where I earned my first silver medal, my first gold and my first win.) The ‘up run’ holds happy memories for me. And the good news about the ‘up run’ is that it always slightly shorter than the ‘down run’ !

I’ve always maintained that the difference between the two Comrades races is that the ‘up run’ shows you what kind of an athlete you are. Essentially you have to haul your bodyweight up all those hills to Pietermaritzburg. The’ down run’, however, shows how keen a masochist you are. It is painful pounding down those steep hills. The down run hurts. A lot.

And yes, the first half of the ‘up run’ (the journey from the Berea to Drummond) is the hardest, toughest 42-kilometre marathon many runners will ever run. Immediately after the start runners commence climbing, and apart from one or two short breaks, they do nothing for several hours, but climb.

In addition, they must conquer or be conquered by the famous 5 registered hills that they will encounter en route to the finish. The seemingly never-ending upward slog of the ‘up run’ is punctuated by the even steeper climbs of those famous five hills.

Cowie’s hill (2.2kms) is the first of these challenges. It’s a long pull to the Cowie’s Hill monument and its magnificent views of the Pinetown Flats. Fortunately, runners encounter “Cowie’s” early in the race when it is still cool and when their legs are fresh and strong.

The next great obstacle is Field’s Hill. By far the longest of all the Comrades hills (approximately 2.5kms) Field’s Hill (3.0 kms) would destroy runners if encountered anywhere in the second half of the race but once again it appears early in the race, and while it remains a major challenge, most adequately prepared runners cope with the long climb. Importantly Field’s Hill is the vital litmus test for runners. It can predict what sort of day a runner will have. If you’re able to chat while enjoying the climb you’re in for “a good one.” But if the hill becomes a struggle the omens are not good for the rest of the race. It’s likely that the day will be a bitter struggle.

Botha’s Hill (2.4kms) is next. Botha’s is a stiff climb. By now runners’ legs will be sore and tired but there’s the looming and motivating promise of halfway ahead and if runners glance sideways while climbing Botha’s there are stirring views to be had of hundreds of colourfully dressed runners pouring down the hill from Hillcrest village.

The fourth registered hill is the famous Inchanga. (2.5kms) There is no disguising the brutal nature of this climb. It is encountered immediately after Drummond Village (halfway). With scarcely any time to draw their breath runners must negotiate a series of steep switchbacks to the summit of this famous climb.

 However, at the summit the up run discards its cruel reputation, the toughest marathon is completed, and the race becomes a benign and welcoming challenge. If runners have harboured their reserves during the first half, they can enjoy long stretches of fast downhill and flat terrain. There is plenty of opportunity to make up time as the Comrades route sweeps down the Pietermaritzburg side of Inchanga, past the Enthembeni school and along the gentle descent of Harrison Flats.

At Cato Ridge runners will have their first glimpses of the hazy distant blue ridge of Polly Shortts, the last and most famous of the five registered Comrades hills. “Pollies”( 1.8Kms) and has a few deceptive twists and turns, with a long central spine of solid climbing, but there is no need to fear Polly Shortts.  With the rare exception of a handful of elite runners most runners treat the dreaded hill as a very welcome walk. Pollies offers an opportunity to recover, take stock and celebrate the climb up the last major hill. My friend Sue Ewing says on the down run she always loves the view of the distant Indian Ocean from the top of Fields Hill but the view from the top of Polly Shortts is also a welcome one, a view of the last 7 kilometres or so to the finish and that coveted finishers medal.

As an indication of the level of respect and worry the up run instils in runners I am repeatedly asked how much extra hill training runners should complete to tackle the 5 notorious hills.

My reply always puzzles runners.

“No extra, both Comrades Marathons are crammed with hills. But the ‘up run’ is more fun than the’ down run’ and far less painful.”