Canoeist to reach for the stars at Comrades

Many will attempt this year’s Comrades Marathon, but very few will have what takes to actually win.

One such person to go all out and reach for the stars is local runner and canoeist from the Florida Lake Canoe Club (FLCC), Glenn Staples.

Staples is considered the club’s top running achiever and will participate in his fifth Comrades. He received bronze medals in 1998 and 2012 and a Sub 9-hour Bill Rowan medal last year. Nine other canoeists from FLCC have indicated that they also will take on the ultra endurance event on 1 June.

“There is a very good chance that Staples once again may be the first FLCC finisher. We wish all the runners at the Comrades the very best performance for the day,” FLCC spokesperson Jennie Dallas says.

Comrades is an internationally recognised event also considered to be the world’s oldest, biggest and greatest ultra marathon.

While around 18 000 runners is said to line up for the event on race day, it is expected that a lot less actually will succeed. Each year the Comrades alternates between running uphill or downhill. This year it will be a downhill run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, which is particularly hard on the shins while having some very serious uphills to challenge as well.

Dallas adds, “While FLCC is primarily a canoeing club that takes part in river races through rapids and white water, as well as adventure opportunities on different rivers throughout the countryside and overseas, a number of members enjoy cross training of which running is one of the easiest, most accessible and perhaps the best form of cross fitness preparation.

“Running is important for canoeists since many portages are necessary during river races where paddlers have to jump out of their boats and run some distance, carrying their boats to avoid dangerous obstacles on the river. A marathon also incorporates some endurance testing,” she concludes.