Yolande Maclean targets tenth Comrades Marathon gold medal

The Murray & Roberts Running Club athlete used the Mi-Way Wally Hayward 42.2km Marathon in Centurion to prepare for the Ultra-Marathon, winning the race in 3:02:52 seconds and pocketing the R15 000 prize earlier in the week.

"Today's race was not really a race, it was more about doing a run, getting mileage in, ran 8km's before the time. So, I've got 50km's for the day. Today's win was actually a bonus, like I said the first half I ran more consecutive. The second half, faster with a negative split, tired legs," he said.

This year’s 87km down-run will start at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and finish at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, with the Comrades Marathon Association having reduced the race by three kilometres.

Maclean expects a face-paced race.

"I've run comrades 10 times now, so it's my 11th comrades. I've run the shorter one, so it makes a big difference, I mean 3km's less and also finishing at Kingsmead Stadium is much better compared to finishing at Moses Mabhida. So, it's going to be a much better race, it's going to be a faster race and also for us as the runners, we know exactly where the finish is now and it's a bit closer. So, it's not that long a drag towards Moses Mabhida which will make a big difference," she explained.

Maclean gave the Comrades Marathon Association the thumbs-up for increasing the prize money from R260 000 to R500 000, with an additional R500 000 for breaking the course record.

"It's really good for your top contenders like the guys going for wins. I'm happy for them. I'm happy that they've increased it because athletes train so hard. For them to get that kind of price money, it's a huge thing and it's going to push the top contenders even harder to win that and also to break the record."