Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 119, June 2019 | Page 30

ADVERTORIAL
GOLD CHASE IS ON FOR
Murray & Roberts Running Club
This year sees the debut of the Murray & Roberts Running Club at the Comrades Marathon, and amongst the
club’s strong contingent of runners in the race will be four women with inspirational stories, all chasing gold medals.
Having won the ‘Down Run’ in 2016, Charne Bosman wants to add an ‘Up’ victory to her name, while Kerry-Ann
Marshall is making her Comrades comeback after giving birth to a beautiful daughter. Yolande Maclean is aiming
for an incredible ninth gold medal, and Jenna Challenor is making her Comrades debut, having long wanted to run a
race that has always captivated her. We spoke to each of these incredible women to hear about what Comrades 2019
holds in store for them.
Charne Bosman
Age: 43
Best time: 6:25:55 (2016)
Medals: 5 gold
2018 – 5 th in 6:33:08
2017 – 3 rd in 6:39:51
2016 – 1 st in 6:25:55
2015 – 2 nd in 6:33:24
2013 – 5 th in 6:53:35
This year we have seen you not only in the best form you have been in for a
long time, but also the happiest you have been in a long time. What has made
the difference?
My club Murray & Roberts, and all the people in my club, are like my family. All the
runners I run with now, I have been running with for years, we know each other,
and when we come together we are all so happy and bubbly, and the environment
is one where we all stand together. I am just enjoying it so much; it is so important
to be happy where you are. They are supportive, there is no pressure, and they
look after me. Everyone is interested in me as a person, and not just as a runner,
it creates such a relaxed environment where we laugh and enjoy each other, and it
has made the world of difference in my life.
Which Comrades race do you prefer, the Up or Down run?
Comrades is a race over 89km or 87km, and anything can happen in that distance,
so I can’t say I prefer the Up or the Down. Both have their challenges, and I have
struggled on both and had good moments on both. I always run my own race, and
that’s really what defines it for me.
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ISSUE 119 JUNE 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
The last few years have been hard for you, so what has kept you going?
I found my inner strength, that I was much stronger than I believed I ever was, and
through the hard times I found myself. That kept me going.