Seasoned veterans to set the pace at Comrades
The 2013 Comrades Marathon will see accomplished veterans leading the 12-Hour, 11-Hour and 9-Hour Buses.
Legendary 12-hour pacesetter Vlam Pieterse, along with the experienced Spike Laubscher and Frans Campher, will lead the 12-Hour Bus as part of the Runner's World Pacesetters Team.
Pieterse, famous for his leadership of 'Vlam se Bus', has run 21 Comrades Marathons and will help lead the popular bus along the 87km route. Laubscher is also a seasoned Comrades runner, with 11 medals, while Camper has earned 17 medals.
Experienced Pacesetters
The 11-Hour Bus will be led by Isaac Mabula, with help from accomplished marathoner Cheanne Mare van Tonder. Mabula is also vastly experienced, with 23 Comrades finishes to his name.
The tough 9-Hour Bus will be led by 11-time medallist Johan van Tonder, and he will be backed up by a team of hardened Bill Rowan runners, who will take over the flag should Van Tonder encounter any problems.
"The Runner's World Pacesetters have become as much a part of Comrades as the medals they run for," says Mike Finch, editor of Runner's World. "This year we have recruited our most experienced team yet, to ensure that the runners who follow the buses are paced perfectly and enjoy every step of the run."
The Runner's World Pacesetters were on hand at the Comrades Expo to answer questions about the race, on Friday, 31 May 2013, and on Saturday, 1 June 2013, at the Runner's World stand.
