It started off as a training run, but had Charne Bosman realized how close she was to the leaders, she may have decided to race the last 5km rather than the last 2km of the City Lodge Tough One on Sunday 22 November.
It is not know as The Tough One for no reason. The annual City Lodge Tough One is 32km of consistent climbing. Starting up Jan Smuts Drive means there are two big climbs in the first 2km. And it doesn’t get better. Whilst you may be descending 3km to around 15km, there are few steep obstacles thrown in before you get to 15km – and from there, it is uphill all the way. Testament to the toughness of the race, it is after all called The Tough One, is that the course has stood since in 1991 for the men 1988 for the women, and they are behind the names of two of the best athletes South Africa has ever produced, Gert Thys and Frith van der Merwe.
Bosman, who recently turned 40 and was running her first race as a veteran was under strict instructions from coach Lindsey Parry to use the Tough One as a training run, she had after all just had a hard week. “I did a hard 22km run the day before and on Friday I was doing heavy strength training, so I should have felt tired, but I didn’t” said Bosman.
“It was difficult sticking to the 4:40/km pace on the long downhill’s and I hit 3:40’s to 3:45’s a few times, but my heart rate never went over 148”. A clear sign that training is going well.
“My training is going very well, I remember in 2012 I ran this race and won it in 2:12 and was dead on my feet for days afterwards; on Sunday it felt easy.”
Bosman was in the early stages of the race some 5 minutes behind leader Yolande Maclean and Nedbank Running Club member Jenifer Koech. But the two were going at it hammer and tongs and that took its toll in the latter stages of the race. “In the last 2km I could see Yolande and Jenifer and started to push a bit. I’m sure had I gone earlier I would have won.” Bosman though was quite ecstatic about her first win as a veteran. “It was my first win as a veteran, I’m so excited. I actually couldn’t wait to pin the 40 onto my vest.” Bosman was second across the line behind Yolande Maclean.
She will now go into training and go on holiday with her husband from the 15th December to 3rd January. ‘I will just be training there. There is a 10km and 15km (Jeffery’s Bay) that I will run as part of my training. But my whole focus is on the Comrades.”
Bosman was not the only one who excelled on Sunday. The men won the 5km and 32km team prize, and Jenifer Koech was third in the 32km and Emma Mathibela was 4th.
On the men’s front, former City to City winner Tshepo Stephen Dikgobo was first across the line for the Green Team, Afrika Mailola who is having an incredible 2015, was 5th with Thabiso Lethabane in 9th.
Having already posted a qualification time for the Rio 2016 Olympic Marathon (2:15.38, Cape Town Marathon, 6th), Sibusiso Nzima made short work of the field in the 5km. The 29 year old crossed the line in 15:04, 5 seconds ahead of Sam Mathabatha. Also giving their speed some attention were Xolisa Tyali (5th – 15:30), Itumeling Tshetlanyana (6th – 15:37) and Simon Mpholo (9th and 1st Vet – 16:18).
RAC Tough One Results.
5km Men
1.Sibusiso Nzima -Nedbank -15:04
5. Xolisa Tyali Nedbank 15:30
6. Itumeleng Tshetlanyana Nedbank 15:37
9. Simon Mpholo Nedbank 16:18 (1st veteran)
32km Men Results .
4.Steven Dikobo -Nedbank -1:51:53
5.Afrika Mailola -Nedbank -1:51:50
9. Thabiso Lethabane Nedbank 1:55
32Women Results
2.Charne Bosman -Nedbank -2:13:19
3.Jeniffer Koech -Nedbank -2:13:58
4.Emma Mathibela -Nedbank -2:23:35