Running Alone: The Autobiography of Long-distance Runner Jackie Mekler

Runaway Comrade



Running Alone is the unique life story of legendary South African long-distance runner Jackie Mekler. Heart-wrenching in parts, Jackie’s story unfolds to reveal a man imbibed with a fiercely competitive spirit that carried him through the often harsh experiences in an era when the first glimmerings of medical and scientific advances in the sport were emerging. That indomitable spirit coupled with his passion for running saw Jackie win five of the eleven 90km Comrades Marathons in which he competed. Unbeknown to him at the time, his self-taught ability to focus his mind on the end result was a discipline that today is recognised as visualisation, a powerful tool used by leading coaches and sportsmen and women internationally. A man who loves his privacy, he nevertheless has the ability to share a host of amusing anecdotes covering his early life, his experiences in the print industry that ended in heartbreak, and his escape to the country where he and his family enjoyed a bucolic lifestyle on his farm aptly named Camperdown. Jackie provides unique insights into the challenges that arose in many of the local and international races in which he competed, quoting media reports to provide independent opinions. Much of the where, how, and why in this work is taken directly from the detailed diaries he has maintained throughout his running career. During his many years as a long-distance runner, Jackie competed in 403 races of under standard marathon distance; 41 standard marathons (won 14) in South Africa, Canada (Empire Games), England, Scotland, Greece and Finland; and 32 ultra marathons (won 13, including Comrades, Pieter Korkie and London to Brighton).

READ MORE IN-> Runaway Comrade

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The 42nd edition Badwater will take place Monday-Wednesday, July 15-17, 2019.

“The World’s Toughest Foot Race”

Covering 135 miles (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA, the Badwater® 135 is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet. The start line is at Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ (85m) below sea level. The race finishes at Whitney Portal at 8,300’ (2530m), which is the trailhead to the Mt. Whitney summit, the highest point in the contiguous United States. The Badwater 135 course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 14,600’ (4450m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 6,100’ (1859m) of cumulative descent. Competitors travel through places or landmarks with names like Mushroom Rock, Furnace Creek, Salt Creek, Devil’s Cornfield, Devil’s Golf Course, Stovepipe Wells, Panamint Springs, Darwin, Keeler, Lone Pine, Alabama Hills, and the Sierra Nevada.

Read More in: https://www.badwater.com

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North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail



Scott Jurek is one of the world’s best known and most beloved ultrarunners. Renowned for his remarkable endurance and speed, accomplished on a vegan diet, he’s finished first in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite events over the course of his career. But after two decades of racing, training, speaking, and touring, Jurek felt an urgent need to discover something new about himself. He embarked on a wholly unique challenge, one that would force him to grow as a person and as an athlete: breaking the speed record for the Appalachian Trail. North is the story of the 2,189-mile journey that nearly shattered him.

When he set out in the spring of 2015, Jurek anticipated punishing terrain, forbidding weather, and inevitable injuries. He would have to run nearly 50 miles a day, every day, for almost seven weeks. He knew he would be pushing himself to the limit, that comfort and rest would be in short supply — but he couldn’t have imagined the physical and emotional toll the trip would exact, nor the rewards it would offer.

READ MORE IN -> North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail

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COMRADES 2019 GREEN NUMBER RUNNERS

More than 500 athletes from South Africa and around the world will aspire to be inducted into the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club. Since 1921, a total of 12,839 runners have completed the epic ultramarathon more than ten times each, thus earning their place on the coveted Comrades Green Number Roll of Honour.

Traditionally runners retain their race numbers from year to year, while after completing 10 Comrades Marathons, the runner is awarded his/her Green Number in perpetuity, meaning that it is henceforth reserved for its owner. It is also possible to earn a Green Number with either 3 Comrades wins or 5 Comrades gold medals.

The record for the most Comrades Marathon finishes is jointly held by Louis Massyn and Barry Holland who have completed 46; and Kleintjie Van Schalkwyk who has completed 34, considering that women were not allowed to participate prior to 1975.

 

Going for Green (Running Their 10th Comrades)

Gender Finishes Number
South Africa Male 9 411
South Africa Female 9 84
International Male 9 9
International Female 9 1
Rest of Africa Male 9 4
Rest of Africa Female 9 1

 

Going for Double Green (Running Their 20th Comrades)

  Gender Finishes Number Name Country
Rest of Africa Male 19 1 Joe Absai Namibia
International Male 19 1 Andrea Brunold Switzerland
South Africa Male 19 101
South Africa Female 19 13

 

Going for Triple Green (Running Their 30th Comrades)

Males

First Name Last Name Gender Finishes
Bradley Oakley-Brown Male 29
Dirk Brink Male 29
Edmund Mngadi Male 29
Faizel Shaikjee Male 29
Floors Welthagen Male 29
Fred Macdougall Male 29
Hilton Galleid Male 29
Isaac Mabula Male 29
Jan Coetzee Male 29
John Grobbelaar Male 29
Koos Coetzee Male 29
Leon Van Moerkerken Male 29
Magavishnu Nair Male 29
Moses Mapaila Male 29
Naresh Devnund Male 29
Paul Mokwena Male 29
Roger Buck Male 29
Ronald Dribbin Male 29
Shane Hinchliffe Male 29
Shaun Meiklejohn Male 29
Video Murray Male 29
Vitalis Poli Male 29
Zakiel Masha Male 29
Zwelakhe Richard Nxumalo Male 29

 

Going for Triple Green (Running Their 30th Comrades)

Females

First Name Last Name Gender Finishes
Kim Pain Female 29
Pat Freeman Female 29

 

2019 Quadruple Green Number Runners

First Name Last Name Gender Finishes
Barry Holland Male 46
Louis Massyn Male 46
Alan Robb Male 42
Vic Boston Male 42
David Williams Male 41
Mike Cowling Male 41
Wietsche Van Der Westhuizen Male 41
Zwelitsha Gono Male 41

 

There are only 17 Comrades Quadruple Green Number Holders in the history of the Comrades Marathon:

First Name Last Name Race Number Finishes
Barry Holland 916 46
Louis Massyn 403 46
Dave Rogers 183 45
Alan Robb 1704 42
Clive Crawley 1 42
Dave Lowe 1702 42
Vic Boston 3111 42
David Williams 5178 41
Mike Cowling 7296 41
Tommy Neitski 1689 41
Wietsche Van Der Westhuizen 4192 41
Zwelitsha Gono 1180 41
Kenny Craig 145 40
Riel Hugo 1221 40
Shaun Wood 4286 40
Johann Van Eeden 1691 40
Boysie Van Staden 2516 40


Note: 
The 2019 Comrades Marathon will be held on Sunday, 9 June 2019, starting at the Durban City Hall at 5h30 and finishing 12 hours later at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. This will be the 48th Up Run.

Read more: https://www.comrades.com/2019-green-number-runners

The Best Front Range Trail Runs

The Best Front Range Trail Runs

50 trail runs selected for the beauty of the scenery, the variety of the terrain, and the range of difficulty levels
• Complete trail descriptions, highlights, directions, and color photos, maps, and elevation profiles
• Quotes on each trail from local legends and professional runners

Beginners and experienced trail runners alike will revel in the publication of this guide, which takes the guesswork out of choosing a trail to run along Colorado’s Front Range. Covering 50 trails from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, this book highlights the best running trails chosen for their singletrack terrain, spectacular views, challenging routes, and proximity to major population centers. Each trail write-up includes the essential information one needs to quickly find and enjoy a spectacular run: map, elevation profile, directions, trail description, and more.

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Kennekuk Road Runners 29th Annual Event. Saturday, August 10, 2019




Kennekuk Road Runners 29th Annual Event.  8 Hour Ultra marathon in memory of Scott Hathaway and in honor of Ultra25marathon Legend Rob Apple.

Registration will close when field is full.

There will be NO refunds, deferrals or transfers of division.  No exceptions.  KRR does not handle the Active refund insurance program.

Friday, 8/9/19, we will have a one-loop “Baby Howl at the Moon” meet the course for participants and their family & friends at 6:00 PM.  Cool Baby Howl Awards.  FREE PASTA DINNER from 5PM to 5:45PM for participants.  All others, $5.00.  Purchase tickets with registration.

PACKET PICK UP THURSDAY 3:00pm TO 7:00pm AND  FRIDAY FROM 10:00AM TO 7:00PM.  Come early to claim your spot along the start finish area.  Very Limited Pickup SATURDAY FROM 6:15 TO 7:00 AM AT THE PARK.

Event details and schedule

Race starts at 7:30 AM. at the Big Red Barn.  The slightly altered course from years-past is a 3.5 mile loop that is 75% trail, 20% fine rock and 5% asphalt.  One long gradual downhill and one steep short uphill known on Strava as the Howl Hill of Death!  Halfway Aid station with Jimmy Buffett theme with margaritas on the last loop. Plus additional aid at the top of the hill of death and start/finish. Loops are counted by personal scorers for each age division.  You must check in with scorer each loop.  YOUR SCORER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.  In last 1/2 hour, runners and walkers can do a 1/4 Mile out and back course for the final 30 minutes.

Read More in : https://www.active.com/danville-il/running/distance-running/kennekuk-road-runners-howl-at-the-moon-8-hour-ultramarathon-2019?int=72-3-A1

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