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The Comrades Marathon is a special race.
Engraved in the psyche of most South Africans, the annual footrace between Durban and Pietermaritzburg is an integral part of the Rainbow Nation’s heritage. Whilst the sharp end of this event has – and continues to – produce sporting icons, interesting stories abound in the upper echelon of finishers, the 2014 edition being no different.
If one takes a closer look at the top-fifteen finishers of Comrades 2014, an unfamiliar name pops up in thirteenth position. Amid the more established athletes competing for the various elite clubs and professional teams, it does beg the question: just who is the unheralded athlete in the colours of Cape Town-based ATC Multisport?
“I run for the love of it and not because have to,” says Kerry-Ann Marshall, the person behind the name on the results sheet. “A long, easy run at the end of a busy week gives me time to find a rhythm, challenge my body and mind and also dream big. While Comrades is my big focus of the year, I don’t follow a strict training program. I prefer to listen to body.”
In a sport as demanding as ultra-marathon running, Marshall’s approach is as pragmatic as it is refreshing. A top placing among the cream of the world’s ultra-distance running elite is no mean feat, not to mention demanding on both body and mind. And a holistic outlook – whilst great in theory – is rarely put into practice among those chasing the ultra-dream. With these seemingly opposing factors in mind, how then did Marshall come to embrace such a balanced perspective, all the while achieving excellence in an event so gruelling?
A closer look at her formative years could provide some clues.
“I grew up on a farm in the small town of Addo,” explains Marshall of her rural childhood in the Eastern Cape. “Whether sliding down dam walls or running with the dogs, I was always outdoors. My father’s marathon running was always a family affair. During his long training runs, my brother Stuart (Marais – professional triathlete) and I would help Mom with seconding from the Kombi. We would run the last few kilometres alongside Dad, encouraging him the whole way.”
Memories of time trials around the citrus orchards and push-ups for chocolate are with Marshall to this day, happy times that have laid a solid foundation and outlook reflected in her current lifestyle. The seeds of her love of running were sown during this time, something which thinks is has benefited her in all aspects of life.
“For me, there is no place like home. I couldn't think of better way of growing up and developing a passion for the outdoors. Those formative years provided a richer understanding of life in general and shaped the person I am today.”
After a few years spent working and travelling abroad, the strong calling of her homeland saw Marshall and her husband return to local shores, intent on rediscovering the beauty South Africa has to offer. A physiotherapist by qualification, the diminutive Marshall now practices Lynotherapy full-time, a modality she discovered through her own experiences with injury.
“In 2013 my husband and I decided to return to South Africa. We took a longer route home travelling through the Himalayas for some altitude training before running the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I had suffered with chronic hip pain throughout that year and eventually got referred to Benita Kropmann. Her unique form of treatment helped me so much that I now work in her Claremont practice as a Lynotherapist.”
Marshall credits Kropman in helping her achieve Comrades silver in 2014, her practising of the Lyno method increasing her awareness preventative maintenance and life balance. But as with many athletes, the euphoria of a great performance can be detrimental in the long term, a lesson the Marshall is only too aware of.
“I was a bit naughty of Comrades last year,” she confesses. “Being so excited and fired up after that performance, I got back into hard training after only two weeks recovery. I was so excited about the end of year races that I did too much too soon, my knee eventually seizing up on a long trail run.”
Deciding there and then to give the rest of the season a miss, Marshall used the time to let her body heal, focusing on an extensive block of strength and conditioning work combined with regular Lynotherapy and sports massage. A challenging time indeed, especially given her love of the sport, but one which has already paid dividends in the first part of 2015.
“Red Hill and Peninsula Marathons were all part of my greater Comrades build-up. Living in Cape Town, we have so many great racing opportunities and I didn't want to miss any of them! I didn't race hard in all of these events but rather used them as faster training runs.”
Not planned though, was Marshall’s last minute participation in the ProNutro Africa-X, a three day trail race around the Overberg region of the Western Cape. A top finish there with Morné van Greunen underlined her return to form, the spontaneity of this off-road adventure suiting her strengths a providing a solid base of distance running.
And with Comrades nearing on the horizon, Marshall is already looking beyond the roads of KwaZulu –Natal, although for reasons more recovery and family than actual racing.
“I'm looking at taking a few weeks completely off to recovery properly,” confirms Marshall, whose past experiences have educated her in the need for rejuvenation. But not for long though. Ever the adventurer, Marshall reveals that a family celebration is on the cards, and an interesting one at that.
“My Dad’s sixtieth birthday is in July and we’re doing the Bastille Day Trail Run as a family to celebrate.
“I think it is just what we love to do.”
