Mark Armstrong: How one text sent me back to Comrades

There are some messages that stop you in your tracks.

For most normal people, they might involve important life events, family news or perhaps a reminder that it’s bin day.

For me, last Tuesday morning, it was a text from Adam Baker.

I’d done the club session at Wymondham the night before when Adam messaged me from somewhere within his usual world of slightly mad running plans.

“Mate, do you want to come to South Africa?”

Not a sentence you expect to receive over your morning coffee.

Adam was heading out to run the Comrades Marathon – the legendary 85km-ish ultra which, this year, was the “up run” from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. It was his sixth time going out there, and he basically said if I could sort a flight, I was welcome to stay with him and we’d have some fun.

I stared at the message for a moment, because for the first time in my adult life, I could actually consider it.

When I worked at the EDP, a last-minute trip to South Africa would have been firmly in the “don’t be ridiculous” category. But now I’m self-employed, running Mark Armstrong Media, life has changed a little. If I’ve got a stable internet connection and no client meetings I physically need to attend, I can work from anywhere.

Could I do it? Probably. Should I do it? Also probably.

I needed to talk to my wife, Alison, Me disappearing for a few days obviously puts more pressure on her at home with the kids, so I didn’t take that lightly. But she just said: “You’ve got to go.”

I’m very grateful for that.

So I booked the flight, packed quickly, and before I knew it I was back in South Africa, surrounded by that unmistakable Comrades buzz.

There really is nothing like it.

I wrote last year after running Comrades that it was one of the best experiences of my life, and being back there reminded me why.

The atmosphere around the race is extraordinary. The history, the scale, the emotion, the sheer number of people voluntarily choosing to run from one city to another over several hills. It’s completely ridiculous, obviously, which is probably why I love it so much.

Adam and I had a brilliant few days.

We went to the expo more than once, because anyone who knows me will understand I absolutely love a race expo. I like wandering around, collecting free things I definitely don’t need, buying socks I can probably justify, and chatting to people as obsessed with running as I am.

I also had the privilege of meeting Bruce Fordyce, the legendary nine-time Comrades winner. Through our mutual friend Andrew Lane - who many local readers will know through his fantastic work with parkrun - there was a Norfolk link, which made it even more special.

A lot of people asked whether I tried to get a place to run.

The answer is yes, of course I did. I’m not made of stone.

Once I was out there, I sent a couple of emails to contacts, through the proper channels I should add, just to see if anything might be possible. It wasn’t, which was almost certainly a blessing.

Let’s be honest: I was not remotely prepared to run 85km.

Since Two Oceans in April, I haven’t done the sort of long-distance training that would make running Comrades sensible. It would have been a massive injury risk and possibly one of the worst good ideas I’ve ever had.

So, instead, I supported Adam, and what a run he had.

He was chasing a silver medal and, while that didn’t quite happen, he produced a superb performance to finish in 7:53 and earn a Bill Rowan medal. That is proper running. The kind of effort that deserves respect, beers and, ideally, a very large steak.

Fortunately, we managed all three.

Watching rather than running was strange. I loved being there, loved supporting, loved seeing Adam have such a strong day. But there was definitely a bit of FOMO too. Standing on the outside of Comrades, hearing the noise and watching the runners come through, I knew one thing very clearly.

I want to do it again.

Running has given me many things over the years, but trips like this feel particularly special. The chance to travel, experience different cultures, share moments with friends and see parts of the world through the slightly warped lens of endurance sport is something I feel very lucky to have.

I went to South Africa because of a text message but I came home with the appetite fully whetted again.

Next time, hopefully, I’ll be on the start line.