The 93rd Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday, June 10, 2018. Why is this a scary fact for many people? Because it means that if you’re one of the 20 000 people running this year’s race, you’re running short on training time! Experts reckon that you should run in the region of 600kms in training between January 1 and the day of the race itself. And that’s just to make sure you finish! Of course, if you want to do more than just finish – improve your time or get a silver medal, for example – you’ll need to do even more than that.
That’s a lot of training. Many, many kilometres of running to prepare yourself for the ultimate human race. But here’s the thing: Runners devote so much time to doing well on race day itself, that they often lose sight of what’s important in the time before the race. Take seconders, for example. On race day, you’ll no doubt have friends and family members waiting for you along the route. They’ll be armed with food and drink, a smile and some words of encouragement. But how much support do you have while you’re training? Who’s looking out for you as you tackle a 10, 20, or even 30-kilometre training run?
Your safety and wellbeing while you train – for the Comrades Marathon or any other event – is paramount. IAAF rules prevent runners from carrying cell phones with them during the Comrades, but there’s nothing stopping you from having one on you while you train. In fact, it’s really not a good idea not to!
Comrades Marathon Training – There’s An App For That!
Carrying your cell phone on your training runs is a great idea for many reasons. For a start, most runners have apps on their phones that track their pace and how far they’ve run. Secondly, a lot of runners listen to music on their phones while they run. But by far in a way the most important reason for carrying your phone while on a training run is safety.
There are a number of mobile apps that could really prove invaluable if you, well, run into trouble. You can plot your route and let loved ones know where you are and what time they can expect you home, for example. But what happens if your loved ones live in Cape Town and you’re running in Durban? You need an app that offers real-time help when you need it most.
IDme – A Must For Comrades Marathon Training
The IDme app is powered by Cellfind, using GSM location-based services. This invaluable app effectively turns your cell phone into a panic button, immediately triggering an instant alert at the ER24 EMS Contact Centre when you hit the “Press to Panic” button on the app. You can also save their emergency contact number on your speed dial. Your location is then traced via GPS or using cell tower triangulation, and an operator will phone you to see what the problem is so that they can send the appropriate help. ER24 saves you valuable time by dispatching the closest and most appropriate emergency resource, providing life-saving treatment, if needed, before taking you to the nearest, most suitable, medical facility.
While all this is going on, an operator will contact your nominated next of kin to keep them updated on your situation.
In addition to a guaranteed emergency response, stabilisation and medical transportation, IDme also offers telephonic services such as Emergency Medical Information, Medical Assistance Hotline and Trauma Support. For a low monthly subscription, it gives you complete peace of mind while you’re out on your training runs.
Great Safety Tips For Runners
Most running gear isn’t equipped with pockets in which to keep your phone and keys, so most runners opt for some kind of wearable belt that straps around their upper arm, thigh or waist. Remember, however, that over time, having additional weight on one arm can cause injury due to uneven weight distribution. A waist belt is often the safest bet.
Here are some other tips to keep you safe on the road:
- Always tell someone where you’re going, and what time you expect to be back. Arrange to call them when you’re home.
- Don’t wear headphones! We know music makes the miles disappear, but it also cuts you off from your surroundings. You need to be able to hear people shouting warnings or cars hooting. If you have to have music, keep the volume low.
- Always try to run in populated areas. If you have to run at night, choose well-lit routes and never run alone.
If you’d like to find out more about how you can make your Comrades Marathon training safer by using the IDme app, contact Cellfind today, or download it directly from your app store.
