Inside the mind of a Comrades champion

INSIDE THE MIND OF A COMRADES MARATHON WINNER

We sat down with Comrades Marathon 2016 winner Charné Bosman to get her secrets on training, nerves, and recovery.

Her 6 training non-negotiables: 

1. Sleep

Getting enough sleep is non-negotiable. Your body recovers and rebuilds during rest — without it, all the hard work goes to waste.

2. Nutrition

Charné treats healthy food as her fuel: "A car can't go far on dirty petrol." What you eat is how you perform.

3. Easy runs, truly easy

Easy sessions need to be genuinely easy, that allows key sessions to be performed optimally. Don't make the mistake of pushing too hard on every single run.

4. Look good, feel good

Charné always makes sure her Asics training gear and socks match. "If you look good, the session is already 30% done." It sounds simple, but the confidence boost is real.

5. Morning sessions + protein

Hard sessions are done early in the morning, followed by protein intake within 30 minutes — whether it was a hard or easy session.

6. Strength training (2x per week)

At least two strength sessions per week is absolutely essential for her. Runners who skip this are missing a critical part of their preparation.

How she handles pre-race nerves

Over her long career, Charné has learned that she has no control over other athletes,  but only over herself. So her focus stays entirely on her own race. She works to stay calm and keeps her mind on positive thoughts only. "I can only give my 110% to get 100% out."

Recovery after a big race

Charné's approach to recovery is simple but effective: listen to your body. Get enough rest, eat enough, and don't rush back into training too soon. She focuses on cross-training after a big race, it keeps you active without compounding the fatigue.

Charné Bosman

Comrades Marathon 2016 winner, elite long-distance runner and coach

SHOP HER FAVOURITE DESIGN HERE