Marks Park Archives - The Running Mann

[MARATHON #244 / Unique Marathon #143 / 13 February 2022]

With two daughters and one wife, I am totally emasculated at home. Even our cats are female. In fact, the only remaining semblance of masculinity I have left is my surname. I am so thoroughly domesticated that I even put the toilet seat back down when I travel for a marathon by myself.

One of the few vestiges of male privilege that I do have left is being the only member of the household who can walk around topless in decent company. Sadly, even that is becoming difficult. The sight of my stomach unleashes a verbal barrage of sledges that would put Australians with sandpaper in their pockets to shame. Continue reading “Joburg North City Marathon (The new kid on the Block)”

[Adventure Race #1 / 2 June 2018]

Rule #1 of Comrades is “Don’t try anything new on race day.” No one says anything about the week before Comrades but they probably should. I found myself in a dilemma. The ultra-runner’s version of Catch-22: It would be really stupid to do your first adventure race the week before Comrades; but running Comrades is really stupid in the first place.

I was all set for my 9^th Comrades. I wasn’t planning to conclude my Comrades taper with my first adventure race. I was planning to be a sensible ultra marathon runner. That’s the honest truth! Life was simple until Phuti got involved.

Continue reading “Doing Your First Adventure Race The Week Before Comrades? I Blame Phuti”