5 days until Comrades Marathon!! - Everything we are taking to the worlds biggest ultra!

[@BenParkes]

Thank you everyone for following along, we are SOOO excited for Comardes race week! Lets get this done

[@AngeliqueSmit-p7j]

Hi, I'm a runner from South Africa. Unfortunately Athletics South Africa doesn't allow running road races with headphones. It can lead to disqualification 😬. Sorry about that. But the vibe at Comrades is truly awesome with loads of spectator support. Enjoy it, it really is something special. Best of luck to you and Sarah

[@timkotze5041]

I was about to comment the same thing!

[@johanwybenga939]

True. Also, rather soak up the vibe. You really won't be needing those headphones.

[@nicomartin5584]

Also there is now way he is getting bagels in SA lol.

[@venomsama]

Cape Town has a New York bagel... so you might find something in PMB... and yes no earphones/headphones allowed... also you will not need it!

[@tash_lets_tri]

@@nicomartin5584 I always get bagels at Woolworths 🤦‍♂🤷‍♂

[@CoachParry]

Have a great run you two! Will look out for you at the expo and on the road.

[@johnofardeal]

Great video Ben & Sarah! I really enjoyed the more candid perspective 😄 Wish you both good luck and happy feet for the race!

[@TravelRunner]

Good luck on Comrades to both you and Sarah! Have a great time and be safe!

[@jaredvandermerwe6805]

It’s a very emotional race! Enjoy the whole experience! You will have super highs and lows but The Comrades will forever find a place in your heart and your running achievements!!! I cannot listen to Chariots of Fire anymore without tearing up! What an amazing race!!!!

[@Irishirich]

I really liked the chaotic feel of this video. Sarah being the proper show geek was great.

[@Ed-gx8hm]

Ben, all the best for Comrades! Looking a tad nervous so just try and enjoy it and soak in the atmosphere! Also might be an idea to swerve the black hat and go for a lighter colour to try and keep cool. Will be following along!

[@dorothygraham6183]

Did the down run last year. You will love the whole experience, the crowds are fantastic.

[@jackkasperski2912]

Good Luck Sarah and Ben! WOW! You have brought Comardes to life for me. I haven't heard much about it in the US but WOW! Go for it! I look forward to seeing your reprise of the event! Again, the very best of Luck!

[@galenhossack9050]

Good luck you two. I've done it. It's amazing. The support is pretty much the whole way. Quite an experience. Looking forward to the post race vid.

[@steveh8758]

Good luck hope it goes well I would reconsider the black hat if it’s going to sunny as black absorbs heat from sunlight while White reflects it so should help keep you a tiny bit cooler

[@calvinbeetar4693]

Best of luck to both of you. Having grown up in Durban, this is always a huge sporting event every year. Fond memories as a kid cheering people on around the Bothas Hill area. Great to see the race getting some quality YT coverage!

[@amosbernardmansell2204]

All the best Ben. treat it like a double Marathon.

[@AlistairNY]

Good luck to both of you. I'm seriously looking forward to the updates :)

[@50Something]

Best of luck with your nerves and your injury Ben. All the best to the lovely Sarah as well😀🤞

[@ismailra]

Good luck. The atmosphere is great. Will be looking out for you.

[@skobodabaws8946]

welcome to our beloved country Ben! Good luck

[@mvelasembambisa1420]

From SA🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 funny enough just purchased a marathon training plan a few days ago for my first marathon in October . All the best out there ! Enjoy it !

[@runjamesrun]

The drink sachets are brilliant! You can grab them and stuff in your Naked band until you need them, then just bite the corner off and squeeze the liquid out. Takes a bit of getting used to but I love them.

[@robkgilchrist]

Good Luck, hope u both have an awesome run. I am super jealous as Comrades is on my bucket list. Looking forward to seeing lots of videos of the expo and the race.

[@simonhodgson4941]

Wow best of luck both, looks like you are going to have an amazing time. Looking forward to all your content about your trip. Have a safe trip and a successful run👍❤

[@Chris-dw3xl]

Good luck to both look forward to hear/see all about it ❤

[@StevenSmith-xk9nd]

All the best to you and Sarah. Have a great run and get it done!! 😀👍🏃‍♂️

[@emilyferris3554]

Sarah- Nordstrom’s department store here in the USA has this very cool program where they will sell two different size shoes to someone at no additional cost if you truly have two different shoe sizes. I know you all live in London but might be worth checking out! Especially if you come to the States. Best of luck to you two on the race!!!

[@jino1975]

It was good to see you Ben and Sara in the Expo today, Good luck for tomorrow.

[@ariungalindev7426]

Thanks for the lovely video guys. Wish you both very best of luck with the race. It will be epic and you guys will do amazing. Looking forward to the race video. Lots of love ❤️

[@TheFODRunner]

Best of luck this weekend both!

[@jameswebster5672]

I loved this video format

[@steverostill4186]

Good luck at Comrades both. Have fun and get it done.

[@davidhayward1261]

Great video. So relax. 👍 Beautiful part of the world you are heading to. Look forward to your next video. 👍🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️🌅⭐️⭐️

[@jasonsrunning]

Enjoy the new style one take video! Best of luck both for comrades, can’t wait for the video! 🎉

[@gorjn1]

Very excited for you both on this great adventure. Really looking forward to your yt coverage. Best of luck to you. Loved the honest vid and Sarah's dry comments😆

[@imagiofrancis7289]

it would be fun to see both of your perspectives but if she doesn't want to that's fine but I would love to see both

[@Steve-vr6mq]

Good luck to you both. I hope you have a fantastic time. Run Happy. Great video and conversation.

[@adrimansvelder7875]

Ben, there will be so many people on the road and no reason to put earphones in! Perhaps the first kms after the start whilst running in the dark! We got loadshedding in SA and hope the street lights will be on early in the morning! Perhaps a headlight should be with you. It will be cold in the morning and at 11km it could be a few degrees above zero. So, stay warm till this point. From Camperdown the roads are full with supporters till the finish at Kingsmead cricket stadium.

[@Redkitty01]

Good luck. The race is awesome. No need for earphones. Enjoy the atmosphere. Also people are correct about earphones not being allowed. The down only really starts from Hillcrest and watch out for Fields Hill. It absolutely trashes your quads! But it will be an experience you will never forget. Enjoy SA and stay for the drama at the end.

[@Xisiwana_ZA]

It was nice seeing you in person this morning!

[@johnharman1936]

Best of luck, hope you two have a great run and a great trip and Comrades and SA treat you well.

[@Xflosiv]

All the best you two! I've been watching you since the start of the pandemic and appreciate the knowledge and effort put into these videos. I probably won't see you on race day, I'll be shuffling along in the last group aiming to beat the final cut-off, but will be thinking of you hoping you have an amazing race and enjoy your stay in South Africa! Can't wait to see the video after😊

[@artwersky]

So excited for you guys. One of my long term dreams that i am not managing to close the gap towards.

[@ukmattj]

Bloody love you guys! Good luck! Looking forward to the review of Comrades 🎉

[@BarryRadloff]

Welcome to South Africa Ben! Have lots of fun this weekend🎉🎉

[@alansmith1716]

Great Video!! Good luck Ben and Sarah. I cannot wait to see the Comrades videos, its great to see how much this race means to you, enjoy the race!

[@iangardner2581]

Good luck to you both enjoy

[@davidjuson5608]

Exciting. Best of luck!

[@russamehta]

Great video. I’m feeling excited to see the rest of your videos. Oh! Good luck to both of you

[@alisonS4708]

Good luck to you and Sarah. Run well.

[@briansleepylee]

Just enjoy! Safe journeys and hope you guys can just enjoy the run.

[@danievanzyl6663]

Hard but so nice. Just go out and enjoy it. Usually great support next to the road. Have a great race

[@jonathanwatkins447]

Get ready for the mist amazing day. Not easy but you guys will be fine. See you out there. Did my first 1 last year and back for more madness and awesomeness

[@richardbrown1573]

All the best Ben & Sarah for Comrades!

[@Ammerstol]

Looks like total chaos to me at the moment you guys with all your packing :D Wishing you a safe trip and best of luck!!

[@pedrob8787]

All the very best, to you both! 🎉

[@davidrogers5443]

Good luck both of you! Can’t wait to see the race

[@jamielewis4087]

Good luck both

[@popopopo4981]

good luck both of you ben and sarah...

[@hendrikdourie5232]

Good luck on your, novice run, both of you. Looking forward to seeing you on comrades day, starting line.

[@thesecretrunner26]

Really excited for you both: have an fantastic time getting it done! 👍

[@jsveron1]

all the best to you and Sarah! you got this!!

[@clareofafrica]

Great video - can't wait for you and Sarah to get it done!! Can feel your excitement! 👍

[@LEAWAYLITTLEMAN]

See you there !! 😊

[@gerhardkruger8088]

Got a chuckle when you got a bit emotional at the end. Just wait till you get to the start and they play the national anthem, Shosholoza and then chariots of fire it gets super emotional! Enjoy the race it’s absolutely epic. This year I am going for number 6.

[@nischayjairaj]

Good luck Ben! Hope to see you in Durban!!

[@happyglamper2971]

Love this video, need to do more raw one cut videos.

[@craigpillsbury989]

Yep I got sledged by spectators whilst running the London marathon a few years ago,it seems quite common for runners to have raynards in their hands all the best for you both really enjoyed the unpolished vlog cp🏃🏻‍♂️🇬🇧

[@JamesSmith-iz3pl]

Hey Ben, Sarah deserves a new watch! I'm sure her fans would love to make a contribution 🙂

[@TomSzczepanski]

Good luck Ben!

[@cobusblignaut1780]

Have a great run you guys. I am on the starting line with you. Hopefully we can do a kilometer or two together. Start slow, finish strong. The real race start in Pinetown. Good luck

[@kellysmith7100]

Best of luck to both of you, enjoy and have an amazing run 🤩😍🏃🏃🤩

[@welcometomathy]

cant wait for ur coverage!

[@Snerunseasy]

All the best guys , hope to meet you at the park run...bit of advice,wear a warm top or arm warmers it's cold in Pietermaritzburg, enjoy.

[@otakuza5012]

All the best and enjoy your stay. Ziyasha!!!

[@thamid6403]

See you on the road on Sunday, all the best 🙌

[@Rich_1]

I’m so excited

[@RunningWithConnor]

Watching your channel and using your training plans got me to a level of running I never thought I'd be able to achieve. So thank you! It's even led to me starting this KZbin channel to document my journey. So thanks once again, and the very best of luck to you both in SA. Atleast you've got the year it's more downhill!! 🤣

[@gavinmaboeta6401]

Have a Great run bro...all the 👌 👍. Hope you achieve a silver... not sure if going for Silver though... Did my 1st one last year...sitting out this year... pull back little till last 30kms😊

[@christinaclementson]

Excited to see the video for this one. Good luck to you both. Have a great race! Don’t get your feet out on camera 🤣🤣🤣 Too funny!!

[@clairhardywynn5620]

The v best of luck to the both of you - have a fabulous day, enjoy every minute ❤ ps love the more relaxed approach to the vid 😊

[@markclulow]

Have a fantastic run

[@neilmurray549]

Good luck both of you you will smash it👌👍💪

[@garethhornby4694]

Just a comment, please take a look at the road surfaces and road camber when you do your route recon as yes it is a road ultra but that road is not too smooth and the camber can be very hectic at times. Let us know if you are having a shake out run before Comrades as I would love to join. There are some meet up runs on the Durban beach front on Saturday the 10th.

[@laszlokovacs9596]

good luck, mate!

[@nobodyofanyrealimportance7878]

Hey Ben - Garmin have a special deal on the FR 955 today, for global running day. Probably worth a look, especially with a much better battery life than the 965.

[@danielhughes1692]

We need a travel vlog ben!

[@martinkovarik3440]

Hey Ben, I recommend you come to the Czech Republic to a race called B7. It´s a 100k race through mountains with over 5,5k of elevation

[@pauldbeer]

From a 11-Comrades runner: Water sachets are a small, about 150ml, of drinkable water in a soft-skin plastic sachet. You grab one, bite off the one corner and squash/squeeze the water into your mouth or over your head, what ever... It is very handy. Watch-out for the sachets on the ground around the water stations! Refreshment/water stations: There are also Energade, in similar sachets, and disposable cups. The water/refreshment stations are well stocked. You'll find the usual drinks like Coca-Cola and other gaseous drinks (Cream-soda, Fanta), water and energy drinks as well as bananas, potatoes, chocolates, gelly-beans. Gelly-beans/gelly-babies are basically a fruity/sugary, gel formed baby-shaped energy sweet, originally from England, these do have a high concentrate of energy. I used to carry about 4-5 of the "Rehidrat" powder-sachets in my waist-bag and took one of the disposable cups at the refreshment stations, emptied it's contents, poured the Rehidrat powder into the cup and squeezed the water sachet's contents into the cup with high-force, and drank these mostly during the second half of the race. These put a lot of essential electrolytes back into the body!! You'll find "Rehidrat" at the expo or pharmacies/drug-stores in SA. Rehidrat comes in several flavours... Very good to use!

[@FrancoisBothaZA]

Electrolytes are overrated. Unless you're very deliberately on a low or zero sodium diet, you'll have more than enough sodium for the run. I think you sweat out something like 0.3g of salt over a marathon and the potatoes along the route will easily replenish that. The rest of the electrolyte hype is urban legend, placebo effect and ouvroustories.

[@pauldbeer]

@@FrancoisBothaZA You're free to your opinion and if it works for you, fine! I've done 11 Comrades and 7 3in1's at Secunda (73.3km), and my experience is that it is more difficult to consume potato's than to drink one sachet of Rehidrat. No argument. We all do what works for us, right!

[@FrancoisBothaZA]

@@pauldbeer But you're talking about what's yummy in your tummy. That's got nothing to do with possible electrolyte loss. Oh man. I should learn that people on the internet just don't understand the scientific method.

[@pauldbeer]

@@FrancoisBothaZA Scientific?? Mnr Botha, ek het 11 Comradese al gedoen my vriend. Van 1994-2010, met letterlik 10-talle 50's en nog meer 42's agter die blad, bo en behalwe dit is ek 'n gekwalifiseerde elektroniese tech en my vrou het 'n PhD in chemie en 'n "M" in Bio-chemie. Jy wil my vd wetenskap kom leer? Ai toggie. Mense op die internet, seg jy! Gaan lees bietjie op oor "Rehidrat" en leer!!!

[@deshall1885]

Good luck guys

[@heatherhepplewhite7885]

So excited for you both! I’m curious: how do you handle the safety issues when travelling to these different places? Perhaps you could do a video on running safety while travelling.

[@reieli87]

Who is controlling the camera switching between Ben and Sarah? Top notch angles and editing. Really cool 😊 Best of luck enjoy the run Let's Go 🏃

[@aslam7952]

Coke will be in cups. Water and ISOFIT (electrolyte/carb aka gatorade) drinks will be in sachets similar to your water bottle, but smaller (200ml), but you can take more than more than one. Definitely no need to carry those water bottle.

[@Peanut.Butter.Runner]

It always makes me happy to see you wear gloves in your videos because makes me realise I’m not the only one who gets cold hands when it’s not that cold 😂

[@foggs]

Good luck! Will race you at the Parkrun

[@lloydbalazs2850]

Trainers wise, have you considered as I remember you saying that the NB RC elite 2, where a marathon and further road racing shoes as they were so comfy. I have a pair and the most comfortable I’ve ever worn.

[@JimboFarns]

Awesome good luck! See you on the road - I am going for run number 6, hopefully a sub 7h30min (silver medal!) PS - With regards to the hat, there is some odd rule that actually states you may NOT use any other hat due to TV rights of other brands.. but I don't think anyone has ever been called out on their hat! Good luck!!

[@mikew6840]

The TV coverage is supposed to be really comprehensive this year - not sure if there will be an international feed…Ben we’ll look for those pink gloves - Sarah we’ll need you to carry a giant foam hand…

[@parkerkerth8446]

Hi Ben! could you do a video on what settings you use on your gopro? like shutter speed, aperture, resolution, FPS, ect? Thanks!

[@lucas1984]

Hi Ben and Sarah! Question for another video perhaps: how much do you think filming and talking during a race slows you down, and are there races where you plan on focusing on your time and not film at all? Enjoy, look forward to the videos from SA!

[@StaffRoelofse]

You should be able to pick up the Garmin 965 cheap cheap here in SA with the exchange rate.

[@janethallowes6732]

You won’t be needing those headphones, the Comrades supporters will carry you through all the way! We’ll keep an eye out for you in Hillcrest 👏🏼👏🏼 Enjoy!

[@conradburdekin722]

Bizarre question. Are you related to Jen Hallowes (now Van Den Broek)?

[@janethallowes6732]

@@conradburdekin722 yes, we're second cousins :)

[@conradburdekin722]

@@janethallowes6732 amazing! I went to uni with Jen