Making A Runner

The training is done. COMRADES 2026 is here.
In the final episode of the Making A Runner Comrades Mini Series, Nic shifts the focus away from training and towards the things that matter most during race week: staying healthy, staying calm, trusting your preparation, and arriving at the start line ready to execute.
With race numbers issued and final race instructions now released, Comrades suddenly becomes very real. In this episode, Nic shares practical advice and personal insights to help runners navigate the excitement, nerves, and uncertainty that often accompany the final few days before the Ultimate Human Race.
Topics covered include:
What to focus on during race week (and what to ignore)
Sleep, recovery, and managing time off your feet
Practical carb-loading advice
Controlling the controllables and avoiding unnecessary stress
Understanding the 2026 Comrades start process and race morning logistics
Reviewing your pacing, nutrition, and seconding plans
Mental preparation strategies for handling difficult moments during the race
What to do when things don't go according to plan
Why the finish line means so much more than a medal
Throughout the episode, Nic encourages runners to cut through the noise, trust themselves, and remember that confidence comes from the work already completed—not from trying to squeeze in one last perfect week.
Whether you're chasing a Silver Medal, a Bill Rowan, a Bronze, or simply your first Comrades finish, this episode is designed to help you arrive at the start line feeling organised, prepared, and ready to enjoy one of the most special days in running.
This is the final episode of the Making A Runner Comrades Mini Series.Good luck, trust your preparation, and enjoy every step of the journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
You are all winners!

With just two weeks to go until Comrades, the training is largely done. The focus now shifts towards arriving at the start line healthy, confident, and ready to execute.
In Episode 2 of the Making A Runner Comrades Mini Series, Nic takes a deep dive into the final stages of preparation for race day. Drawing from his own experiences on the road to Comrades, as well as years of coaching athletes towards their goals, he shares practical advice on how to maximise your taper, set realistic race goals, and approach race day with a clear strategy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to get the most out of your taper without second-guessing your fitness

What to expect physically and mentally during the final two weeks

How to set realistic and meaningful race goals

The key principles of successful Comrades race execution

How to approach the different sections of the Up Run

Why pacing and patience are often more important than fitness

Common mistakes runners make on race day

Practical nutrition and hydration considerations

Throughout the episode, Nic refers to the race breakdown and pacing framework that can be found on our socials @makingarunner , helping runners understand where discipline, patience, fueling, problem-solving, and mental strength become most important throughout the 86km journey.
Whether you're chasing a Silver Medal, a Bill Rowan, a Bronze, or simply your first Comrades finish, this episode is designed to help you simplify the process, trust your preparation, and give yourself the best possible chance of running the race you're capable of.
The work has been done. Now it's time to execute.
We hope you have enjoyed it, make sure to share with your running buddy and leave us a review.

With Comrades just weeks away, the hard work is largely done — but for many runners, this is when the nerves, doubt, and overthinking really begin.
In this episode of this special Making A Runner Comrades mini-series, Nic dives into the emotional and physical realities of the final few weeks before race day. Drawing from both his own experiences running Comrades and years of coaching athletes through the journey, this episode focuses on how to approach the taper period with confidence, perspective, and calmness.
Nic unpacks:
What runners should realistically expect to feel during the final weeks
Why fatigue, flatness, and self-doubt are completely normal
The Comrades Up Run Race Breakdown (https://www.instagram.com/p/DYhETIdDrm1/?igsh=Y25weHdvdHlsc243)
Common mistakes athletes make late in a Comrades build
How to manage emotions, comparison, and race anxiety
The importance of arriving healthy, fresh, and mentally ready
Why restraint and recovery become the real training in the final phase
The episode also explores the emotional significance of Comrades itself — why this race is different, what makes it so special, and why trusting the process matters more now than ever before.
Whether you’re preparing for your first Comrades or returning for another medal, this conversation is designed to help you slow down the noise, trust your training, and approach race day with clarity and confidence.
We hope you enjoy the episode and find it insightful.

In this episode of Making A Runner, Nic sits down with one of the most exciting emerging names in South African endurance running — George Kusche.
From competing as an NCAA middle-distance athlete in the United States while studying actuarial science and statistics, to stepping away from running completely for a period of time, George’s journey through the sport has been anything but conventional. But over the last few years, he has quietly rebuilt himself into an elite endurance athlete, running 2:13 for the marathon and an outstanding 5:41 debut at the Comrades Marathon.
Together, Nic and George unpack:
His transition from middle-distance track racing into marathon and ultra running
The lessons he took from the NCAA system and his time in the US
His decision to self-coach and how he structures his training
Building endurance without losing speed
The importance of long-term thinking and consistency in development
Balancing elite-level training with work, life, and family commitments
Nutrition, race strategy, and lessons from his first Comrades Marathon
More than anything, this episode is a conversation about patience, progression, and trusting the process. George’s story is a reminder that performance doesn’t always follow a straight line — and that sometimes the best athletes are still quietly building towards their full potential.
Whether you’re training for your first marathon, chasing a Comrades goal, or simply trying to improve over the long term, this conversation is packed with practical insight and perspective from one of South Africa’s rising endurance talents.
We hope you enjoy the show, make sure to give the pod a follow and leave a review.

What does it really take to stay strong in running for years — not just months?
In this episode, we sit down with Shaun Meiklejohn, former winner of the Comrades Marathon, to unpack the principles behind true longevity in the sport.
Shaun’s career is nothing short of extraordinary — with 33 Comrades finishes to his name, 32 of them at Silver medal standard or faster, and even at 64 years old, still knocking on the door of a sub-3-hour marathon. It’s a testament to what’s possible when consistency, smart training, and a love for the process come together over decades.
We dive into:
How to train smarter as you get older
Managing injuries without losing momentum
The mental side of racing and preparation
Breaking down Ultra Marathons into manageable segments
What it takes to run the perfect Comrades
Why consistency is the ultimate performance tool
This is a conversation about playing the long game — building a sustainable approach to running that allows you to keep improving, stay injury-free, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process.
Whether you’re training for your first ultra or chasing your next PB, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can apply straight away.
We hope you enjoy the episode!