In addition to logging quite a few miles, I also find myself reading a large amount of running-related books, blogs, magazines, and websites. I’m always on the lookout for the next race. I’m also well aware that there are many different races that I’d LOVE to run, but I can’t because I don’t happen to be independently wealthy 
However, the beautiful epicurean and I definitely love to travel, so I have still been compiling a bucket list of races that I hope to run one day, time and money permitting. The first installment of the bucket list series features the Comrades Marathon.
This “marathon” is actually a 54-mile/ 86.96 km ultra-marathon in South Africa. In fact, it’s the largest ultra-marathon in the world! It is run every other year, starting in either Durban or Pietermaritzburg and finishing in the other location. It has an incredibly historic past, and is very popular with new and old runners alike. The entire race is actually televised as well, which just adds to the thrill of the run! Depending on the direction of the race that year, you either get loads of incline or decline. This year will be an “up” year as the route climbs from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
The race field of 18,000 filled on November 30, 2012 for the Jun 2, 2013 race, so registering early will definitely be key! Various runners have offered suggestions for training for Comrades, and I’ll definitely need to devise a more intentional plan than I would for any domestic race. First and foremost will be hitting all the hills I can find, which, as you know, is no easy task in Iowa. Nonetheless, the overall experience of this race would be incredible!
A friend of mine recently returned from a trip to South Africa, which perhaps bumped this race up to the top, and I hope to one day make the trip myself. Stay tuned for Round 2 of My Racing Bucket List.
What’s on your racing bucket list?
