Latest news with #ComradesMarathon
IOL News
18 hours ago
- Health
- IOL News
Beyond the marathon: 5 Steps for a post-Comrades recovery
For many, the 2025 Comrades Marathon was a first attempt at the ultimate human race, while for others, the down-run was another medal to add to the Comrades tally. But for both first-time and seasoned competitors, the days following the Comrades will focus on recovery – with feet often taking centre stage. 'We'd like to congratulate all the participants in the 2025 Comrades Marathon – it was another exceptional display of the human spirit and the wonderful camaraderie that comes from such endurance competitions,' commented Lynsey Hammond, MD for Kroko, a leading South African footcare brand. It's important not to simply focus on footcare immediately after the race, but over time to ensure long-term care. It's important to incorporate regular exfoliation – usually once or twice a week – to prevent the buildup of hardened skin over time. Image: Supplied Neglecting proper recovery care can lead to chronic pain, prolonged fatigue, and even injuries that sideline runners for months. A structured recovery plan ensures: Faster muscle repair Reduced risk of overuse injuries Alleviation of pain and inflammation Better flexibility and range of motion Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage Psychological benefits and stress reduction Healthier feet for future races Hammond has shared 5 helpful post-Comrades recovery tips to stimulate healing and ensure long-term healthcare for runners. Once the race has been run, it's important to keep moving around gently directly afterwards to prevent stiffness while replenishing fluids. Ice baths for around 10 to 15 minutes are also proving to be an effective recovery tool, helping to reduce muscle inflammation. Hammond says elevating legs will also reduce swelling by improving circulation. In the days following the Comrades Marathon, runners are likely to experience some muscle pain and inflammation. Some light movement, such as short walks or swimming, is a great way to prevent stiffness, and an anti-inflammatory diet – turmeric, ginger, Omega 3s – is great for reducing inflammation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading It's also important to protect pressure points using a product like Kroko Corn Protectors to cushion sensitive areas during recovery walks. Finally, for stubborn cracks, administering a soothing product like Kroko HeelFix will provide intensive healing. Image: Supplied After running for some 90 kilometres, runners' feet are often blistered, swollen, and covered in calluses – thickened, hardened areas of skin as a result of constant friction. The first thing to do after the run is gently cleanse the feet with lukewarm water and mild soap to prevent infection. After drying thoroughly, it's best to moisturise, using a soothing product like Kroko's Heel Balm to heal cracked skin and replenish moisture. Blisters are quite common for long-distance runners, but it's important not to pop them. Rather, keep the area clean and cover any blisters with a bandage or dressing. If a blister bursts, gently wash the area, leave the skin in place, and cover it with a sterile dressing. For corns or calluses, use Kroko Medicated Corn Plaster, Kroko CornFix, or Kroko Corn and Callus remover for gradual healing.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
All roads lead to KZN as Comrades returns with Wiersma vs Dijana duel set to continue
Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands crosses the finish line at the 2024 Comrades Marathon – an up run. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The popular cliché 'all roads lead to...' is often misused. For once, though, there will be some truth to it this week, as KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) Pietermaritzburg and Durban become the destination of many. So here it goes: 'All roads will lead down the N3 south this week' as runners make their way to the 98th running of the world-famous Comrades Marathon. It is an annual pilgrimage that brings together people from all walks of life to tackle arguably the most gruelling road race in the world – the approximately 90km run between KZN's two biggest cities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ This year's race will be run from the capital city, Pietermaritzburg, down to the commercial hub of Durban, with the biggest question on Comrades enthusiasts' minds no doubt being whether the flying Dutchman, Piet Wiersma, will unseat Tete Dijana as champion. Two years ago, Wiersma announced himself at Comrades with a compelling debut run that saw him finish a close second to defending champion Dijana – both runners dipping under David Gatebe's previous Down Run best time of 5:18:19. Dijana clocked 5:13:58, with Wiersma flying in just three seconds later. It was one of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, with Dijana cheered on by the crowd as he sprinted towards the tape, Wiersma looming large behind him. The Dutchman, though a member of the Nedbank Running Club to which Dijana is also affiliated, had come from left field and stunned both Dijana and his training partner Edward Mothibi by sticking with them throughout – the duo having expected to replicate their one-two finish from the previous year (regardless of the order). Tete Dijana. Photo: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
All Roads Lead to KZN as Comrades Marathon Returns
Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands crosses the finish line at the 2024 Comrades Marathon – an up run. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The popular cliché 'all roads lead to...' is often misused. For once, though, there will be some truth to it this week, as KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN) Pietermaritzburg and Durban become the destination of many. So here it goes: 'All roads will lead down the N3 south this week' as runners make their way to the 98th running of the world-famous Comrades Marathon. It is an annual pilgrimage that brings together people from all walks of life to tackle arguably the most gruelling road race in the world – the approximately 90km run between KZN's two biggest cities. This year's race will be run from the capital city, Pietermaritzburg, down to the commercial hub of Durban, with the biggest question on Comrades enthusiasts' minds no doubt being whether the flying Dutchman, Piet Wiersma, will unseat Tete Dijana as champion. Two years ago, Wiersma announced himself at Comrades with a compelling debut run that saw him finish a close second to defending champion Dijana – both runners dipping under David Gatebe's previous Down Run best time of 5:18:19. Dijana clocked 5:13:58, with Wiersma flying in just three seconds later. It was one of the closest finishes in Comrades Marathon history, with Dijana cheered on by the crowd as he sprinted towards the tape, Wiersma looming large behind him. The Dutchman, though a member of the Nedbank Running Club to which Dijana is also affiliated, had come from left field and stunned both Dijana and his training partner Edward Mothibi by sticking with them throughout – the duo having expected to replicate their one-two finish from the previous year (regardless of the order). Tete Dijana. Photo: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers Image: SIBONELO NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Five tips for novices from Comrades Marathon legend Louis Massyn
From the expo to the finish, Louis Massyn offers five pieces of advice for less experienced Comrades runners. Louis Massyn will aim for his 50th Comrades finish in Durban next week. Picture: Deidre Cloete/Deds Photography For any Comrades Marathon novice, the gruelling race can be intimidating. So for any athletes who haven't got a great deal of experience at the annual ultra-marathon, to be held in KwaZulu-Natal next week, advice can be useful. Who better to dish it out, we figured, than the man who is aiming to become the first person to finish the 90km race 50 times. This is what 74-year-old Louis Massyn had to say, in his own words… Expo caution Do not try out new samples or gels. There can be implications and it's not worthwhile. The 32Gi gel that works for me might not work for you, so whatever you consume ahead of the race needs to have been tried before. Also, if you buy new shoes at the expo, don't wear them during the race because it can cause blisters. For the same reason, don't wear new socks on race day. Arrive early Get to the start at least an hour before the race begins. You need to find your start batch, and the field at the start stretches further in Pietermaritzburg than it does in Durban because the road is narrower, so you might need to do some walking to find your batch. If you're travelling from Durban on the morning of the race, give yourself enough time to deal with the traffic, which can be chaotic. Morning refreshments I have a FutureLife shake in the morning, around two or three hours before the start. You should have something to give you energy after you get up. It's also important to take an extra bottle of liquid with you because the first few refreshment stations can get crowded and it can be challenging to access the tables. Eating food This can be risky for hygienic reasons, if you're relying on refreshment stations for food. Runners are sweating and then touching the plates and the food, and I know of a lot of people who have picked up stomach problems. If you do take that risk and eat at refreshment stations during the race, which might be necessary if you're hungry, don't eat anything you are not already used to eating. Finding supporters At the finish, one of the biggest challenges is finding your family, friends and supporters. I think it's best to agree on a meeting point in advance which is near the finish area. Find a landmark nearby and go there the day before the race so everyone in your group knows where to go to meet each other after the race.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Chasing dreams: Joseph Manyedi steps up on journey to Comrades Marathon podium
Joseph Manyedi, seen in action at the Two Oceans Marathon, is upbeat about his chances in the 2025 Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied Maxed Elite Running Club star Joseph Manyedi will be chasing the dream in this year's Comrades Marathon down run on Sunday, hoping to take the giant step onto the podium after finishing fourth in last year's race. The Rustenburg-based road running ace fancies his chances after last year's personal best time of 5:28:33 saw him finish behind race winner Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands (5:25:00), Dan Moselakwe (5:25:45) and Degefa Yohannese Lafebo of Ethiopia (5:27:48). It was his fourth consecutive gold medal in eight races so far, and his best finish in The Ultimate Human Race. The four-time gold medallist, who has been a runner for more than 20 years, joined the Mr Price Sport-backed Maxed Elite Running Club from the Nedbank Running Club earlier this year. 'I feel strong and focused. Training has gone well, and mentally I'm in a good space. I'm excited to give it everything on race day,' Manyedi told Independent Media Sport exclusively. 'Preparations have been intense but structured. We've focused on both volume and quality to peak at the right time. Joseph Mayedi will be hoping to give his Maxed Elite Running Club a rare podium finish at the 2025 Comrades Marathon. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Endurance has been a major focus this year, especially for the down run. But I've also worked hard on sharpening my speed in the final months leading up to the race. 'For the down run, I do more quad-strengthening workouts, long downhill sessions, and pacing control. The up run is more about hill strength and maintaining rhythm.' Manyedi gives a lot of credit to current coach Peter Gaebetse, whom he feels brings 'elite-level structure and experience to my programme'. 'His training has pushed me to a new level, and being guided by someone who understands Comrades inside out has made a huge difference.' The veteran runner showed his humility when asked how confident he is of winning the race, or where he expects the biggest challenge to come from. 'I'm confident in my preparation and experience. I know the course well and believe in my ability to execute a strong race plan. With God's grace, anything is possible,' he said. 'The field is always stacked with top talent and a few rising stars. But I focus more on my own race than my competitors.'
