Fellow runners and Ultra runners too, in the U.S. and elsewhere,
We have just finished a weekend of incredible marathoning, and we are about as motivated
and inspired as we can be about taking on such challenges, but NOW, I offer another twist
for you to consider adding to your planning calendar for next Summer...not 1999, but
Summer 2000, so you have PLENTY of time to plan for this....
Comrades Marathon -- South Africa -- 54 miles -- 16 June 2000
Come with the Buffalo CHIPS on our second expedition to South Africa for the oldest and by
far LARGEST Ultra in world. The 2000 edition will be the 75th hosting of this
distinguished event, and promises to be the most exciting and special ever. Normally
over 14,000 entrants start this race
and over 12,000 are official finishers in the 11 hour time limit.
I do NOT yet have firm prices, but I am expecting per person costs to be about $2800 which
will include:
1. roundtrip airfare from anywhere in the U.S.
2. two (2) connecting flights between Johannesburg and Durban and later possibly from
Zimbabwe to Capetown
3. 15-16 nights hotel (double occupancy) in "3 star level" properties
4. Breakfasts every day
5. some dinners (likely about half the nights)
6. Share of 4-person rental car with MANUAL transmission and shared driving (British side
of the road style, but traffic is relatively light and the roads are GOOD)
7. Side trips to Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls included in car travel portion of
plan.
Dates: Again approximate: June 12 to June 30, 2000.
THIS is the MOST EMOTIONAL event you will ever experience, Guaranteed. Running in an
integrated race in this historically conflict ridden country is most special.
EVERYONE speaks English, and your race number clearly indicates YOU are an
"international visitor." You will be repeatedly THANKED for coming, for
being there with them... all of them.
At about the half-way point YOU will pass a "wall of honor" with the names of
previous winners and even ANY finisher who wants to so record his or her achievement.
At about 50km of the 2000 direction course, YOU will pass a special school for handicapped
kids...black kids. They will be out along the road with their "school
blazers" on just wanting to "touch the runners." IT is impossible to
pass that point without tears.....
And what OTHER running event is covered LIVE on national TV for 9+ hours? What other
running event is so well known that waiters who clearly do NOT run at all KNOW the
splits/km for the "silver medal division?" What other annual running event
has regularly drawn the President to the finish line...not for the winner's
arrival, but
for the LAST finishers? Nelson Mandela has regularly come to cheer on the last
finishers and to make later overall awards...and sometimes come through the
"international tent" to press the hands of those participants, e.g. us!! What
other event virtually demands ALL prior finishers WAIT at the finish line/stadium UNTIL
the last finisher arrives?
THIS is the spirit of Comrades. Where every runner is truly a "comrade" on
that day.
Join us....if you can, we would LOVE to have the biggest group ever from a NON-African
nation for 2000. Even if you cannot make Comrades 2000 TRY to make it there sometime.
South Africa is a beautiful country; it is very tourist friendly, and this event is
simply "too good to miss."
Respectfully, George gparrott@csus.edu
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