Racing smart is the way to go

THE 68km Legends Marathon will not be won in the first half of the race but it could well be lost on that section.

This includes some big enticing downhills followed by a couple of punishing uphills and followed still further by an undulating period that could lull runners into a premature air of confidence.

What will it take to win and what is a good time for this course? A men’s winning time of 4:03 would be excellent while the women would probably look at 4:45 and be confident of a comfortable win. A 4:50ish is more likely.

Negative splits (a faster second half than the first) is best race practice on this, and indeed, most road race courses.

In all the Comrades Marathon's that Bruce Fordyce won he always came from behind as did the likes of Vincent Gabashane Rakabaele when he dominated Two Oceans.

To run a 4hr 3min it would be best to plan the first half in no faster than 2hr 5min for the men and 2hr 30min for the women.

The first 10km should also be at a slower pace than the following 24km that takes them to halfway.

What most of the field will not recognise is the fact that in this 68km is a mega-fast standard marathon and more. If they realise this and plan accordingly they will have a great run, but if they have not done their homework, or their coaches have misread the realities of the course then it could be a long day at the office, especially over the final 15km or so as runners come hurtling past.

As they come off the Mount Coke road and turn right and then about 2km later they indulge a left turn followed by yet another left 2km further on the runners will, in each instance, be greeted by very fast running.

This scenario will endure until about 800m from the EL Airport when there are two short but fairly sharp uphills to contend with.

It will be extremely disappointing if their tanks are empty when they hit these sections.

The run in from the airport is all contradiction. It starts with a dead flat section of some 2.5km and then plummets down Settlers Way for at least 4km to the Steve Biko Bridge and this is where a close race will be won or lost, while the heavy climb up to Fleet Street and the bottom circle at Oxford Street could be the slowing mechanism for the leader and a fast chasing pack of runners.

As much as the race suits a strong downhill racer so too can the final stretch up Cambridge Street.

In respect of the half-marathon, the course is not a fast one, nor is it aesthetically pleasing. However the prize-money will spur the runners on and from a local perspective having Hanlie Botha accepted as a late entry it will lead to at least some interest. Spectators should get to Jan Smuts by no later than 10am to witness the first runner finishing.