The 2018 Comrades Marathon, South African
Ultramarathon # 12
My Comrades Marathon # 3
Date: June 10, 2018
My Time: 11:13:04
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
I ran barefoot the 90 km of the legendary South African ultramarathon at 63 without pain, injury or fatigue, so much so that when I crossed the finish line in the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, I was feeling so good that I could have started immediately a marathon.
Although it took me just 4 months of adaptation before I could complete a barefoot marathon without pain or injury, I needed 3 years for the Comrades Marathon.
When I decided at 60 to get rid of the sneakers in 2015, one of my goals was to run barefoot the Comrades Marathon. I first ran the whole distance of the 2016 Comrades Marathon with minimalist shoes. I ran barefoot the first 63 km of the 2017 Comrades Marathon, then I put on minimalist shoes to prevent unnecessary pain or damage. Finally, I easily ran barefoot the 2018 Comrades Marathon just 7 days after achieving in Germany my fastest barefoot marathon (3:37) and placing second in my age group.
My purpose is to show that we all can readapt to barefoot running, regardless of age, gender or melanin density. It’s the biology. The 2015 Two Ocean Marathon (56 km), also in South Africa, is the last race I ran with sneakers.
The World Best Road Race
The Comrades Marathon is not only the best and oldest ultramarathon, but also the world best road race. I explain why in the book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, chapter XXVI: The Great Persistence Hunting in KwaZulu-Natal. The book is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
My Comrades Marathon # 3
Date: June 10, 2018
My Time: 11:13:04
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
I ran barefoot the 90 km of the legendary South African ultramarathon at 63 without pain, injury or fatigue, so much so that when I crossed the finish line in the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, I was feeling so good that I could have started immediately a marathon.
Although it took me just 4 months of adaptation before I could complete a barefoot marathon without pain or injury, I needed 3 years for the Comrades Marathon.
When I decided at 60 to get rid of the sneakers in 2015, one of my goals was to run barefoot the Comrades Marathon. I first ran the whole distance of the 2016 Comrades Marathon with minimalist shoes. I ran barefoot the first 63 km of the 2017 Comrades Marathon, then I put on minimalist shoes to prevent unnecessary pain or damage. Finally, I easily ran barefoot the 2018 Comrades Marathon just 7 days after achieving in Germany my fastest barefoot marathon (3:37) and placing second in my age group.
My purpose is to show that we all can readapt to barefoot running, regardless of age, gender or melanin density. It’s the biology. The 2015 Two Ocean Marathon (56 km), also in South Africa, is the last race I ran with sneakers.
The World Best Road Race
The Comrades Marathon is not only the best and oldest ultramarathon, but also the world best road race. I explain why in the book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, chapter XXVI: The Great Persistence Hunting in KwaZulu-Natal. The book is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
Dr. Sidy Diallo ran barefoot the 2018 Comrades Marathon
Dr. Sidy Diallo running barefoot the 2018 Comrades Marathon.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo on the course of the 2018 Comrades Marathon
Dr. Sidy Diallo finishing barefoot the 2018 Comrades Marathon in the Moses Mabhida Stadium
Dr. Sidy Diallo finishing the legendary South African ultramarathon in the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban.
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2018 Comrades Marathon Certificate
Dr. Sidy Diallo’s 2016, 2017 and 2018 Comrades Marathons
Certificate
A race officer firing the Comrades Marathon final gunshot, which means that no more runner can cross the finish line, even those who are just few centimeters or feet away after running 90 km.