With the Comrades Marathon just days away, many runners unknowingly sabotage months of training during the final week. From panic training and poor sleep to trying new shoes, supplements, and race nutrition, the mistakes made before race day can have a bigger impact than the race itself. On CapeTalk and 702, fitness presenter, endurance athlete, burnout and mental fitness coach Liezel van der Westhuizen joins Africa Melane to discuss the biggest Comrades Week pitfalls and how runners can arrive at the start line physically fresh and mentally prepared. Drawing on her experience as an endurance athlete and her years commentating from both the Comrades Marathon start and finish lines, Liezel shares practical advice on avoiding comparison, managing race anxiety, navigating the Expo wisely, and getting carbohydrate loading right. If you are running Comrades or supporting someone who is, this conversation could be the difference between surviving race day and thriving on it.