Two brave runners tackle challenging events in different parts of the world

Report by Don Hale. Photos by Marie Stroud

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Prolific author and runner Paul Stroud, who writes for North Wales based publishers Coast & Country, and my blog, took part in the gruelling Tokyo Tower race climb last week for a second year, with his son Leo and daughter Emily.

Now based in this vibrant Japanese city, ex-pat Paul made a brave effort to tackle the 600-plus stairs at this iconic landmark which took the athletes up to the main deck, about 150 metres above ground.

The race included hundreds of staggered entries for individuals, corporate teams and community groups, with various options for participation, including sprinting, jogging, or walking, with six-second starting intervals.

This world-famous event, which offers an exhausting annual stair-climbing race, is primarily organised to raise funds for mental health initiatives and to support suicide prevention efforts. 

Paul, who is a popular author in Japan, is also an enthusiastic runner and a keen football fan, who coincided his race with the launch of his new book – Magnificent J-League, about top soccer activity in his adopted country and about UK football from the 60s & 70s.

After his race Paul confirmed how tough this event really was: “A hot, cloudless morning for our Tokyo Tower Race, and I always say, ‘never again’ but I end up doing it anyway!

“The run was much better organised this year. They had the elite young runners go first, so they wouldn’t be impeded on the stairs by slower runners, and they followed up with progressively slower groups made up of middle-aged men and women.

“Then it was the turn of seniors, and lastly the kids. It was definitely an organisational improvement on the last few times, when everybody was mixed up with faster participants getting hampered by slower ones.

“The stairs were orange metallic, and I must confess that this time, I only ran the first 250 or so steps, had to walk the other 350! My time of 5.55 mins was by far my worst to date, and it didn’t help that my gym was closed for six-weeks for refurbishment, so it meant I couldn’t supplement my running with the exercise bike.

“My son Leo ran his best time at 3.07 mins, which was a big improvement on his first attempt last year, and Emily came in at 4.47 mins, which was very respectable for her first attempt.”

Welsh Master Ifan Lloyd tackled the famous Comrades Marathon

Introduction by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

Welsh Master Athletics veteran Ifan Lloyd recounts his recent dramatic experiences of running the famous Comrades Marathon, one of the most extreme marathons in the world

This year was the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, some 56.32 miles distance, with an overall drop of over 800metres, on a hot and stifling day. Just about managed to finish in one piece to earn a back-to-back medal for completing the race on two consecutive years. 

To be honest I had no right to start the race given the hamstring tendinopathy, and even less of a right to finish. I had done no decent training sessions for nearly 4 weeks before race day since the injury flare up.

It was a privilege to be included in the elite start category at the front of the race on basis of being a contender in the over 60-year age category.

The lead up to the 5:30am start in the darkness of Pietermaritzburg was the same goose bump experience as last year with over 20,000 participants joining in for the South Africa National Anthem followed by Shosholoza, Chariots of Fire, and then the Crow of a Cockerel, to send the runners on their way.

The tendon played up early but for some reason, settled toward in latter part of the race.

However, my quad muscles started tying up with a burning sensation within the first 5 miles – and this was before the downhill sections! I don’t usually suffer this problem, but I most certainly did on this occasion, deteriorating rapidly from about half-way. 

I dropped out of the race three times because of the pain but then rejoined the race on each occasion. 

This was reflected in the breakdown of the run: Finish time: 10 hours 55 minutes and 49 seconds, which was nearly three hours slower than last year. The total run time was 6 hours 26 minutes and 01seconds, and the total walk time was 3 hours 23 minutes and 59 seconds, with a total idle time (on stop) 2h10m.

Nevertheless, I’m of the view this was one of my best all time performances as I’ve never dug so deep in a race. The level of support during the race was simply incredible.

South Africans love their sport and boy do they love the Comrades! Local communities and households came out to support along the whole route offering encouragement, drinks and food.

No doubt the Comrades is right up there as one of the best and most iconic races in the international calendar.

Worst of all it’s addictive, drawing runners back again and again for yet another dose of pain!