Charne Bosman ready for Om Die Dam Ultra Marathon

Bosman, the 2016 Comrades Marathon champion, clocked 2:55:58 to touch the tape first in the Johnson Crane Hire marathon last week.

There is barely time for her to reflect on her first marathon win of the year as she is hard at work preparing for the ultra-marathon in the North West.

“The Johnson Crane Marathon was tricky for me. It was hot, and the competition was stiff. I want to use the Om Die Dam Ultra-marathon to prepare for the Comrades Marathon. My target in the Comrades is a top-ten finish, and so far, I am on track with my preparations. It is a nice ultra to build up for the big one later this year. I believe I can achieve something big at the Comrades this year,” Bosman told SABC Sport.

The Comrades Marathon Down Run 90km, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, will take place on Sunday, 11 June 2023.

Adele Broodryk won the Om die Dam ultra-marathon stopping the clock in 3:23:48, with Bosman settling for a second-place finish in 3:27:35 in the 2022 edition. The veteran runner wants to go one step better and claim her first Om die dam title this year.

Before shifting her focus to the ultra-marathon in Hartbeespoort, Bosman will run the Pirates 21km in North Cliff on 19 February.

“I want to use the Pirates half-marathon purely for speed. It is called the toughest race in Joburg, and it always tests my endurance. I am in the best possible condition and want to test myself and see how far I am before the Comrades,” said Bosman.

Bosman believes the ultra-marathon is still competitive, and she would get ideal preparations for the Comrades Marathon.

“I hear others saying the Om die dam has lost its spark, which is not true. The ultra-marathon is still competitive and helps us to polish one or two things before the Comrades. If I can run faster than I did last year, it will help me to grow in confidence,” said Bosman.

Bosman received an invitation to run the Bestmed Tuks race on 18 February, but she declined the invitation to run the 21.1km race.

“The Pirates race is bigger and more competitive than the Bestmed race. The organizers asked me to run, but I do not want to over-race to avoid fatigue,” Bosman said.

Bosman is working with the nine-time Comrades Marathon champion Bruce Fordyce.

“He is an unbelievable human being. He helps me a lot, and I am lucky to have him as my coach. We do a lot together and plan for the big races,” concluded Bosman.