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A local spinning instructor has taken her 'Active' lifestyle to the next level by taking on her “longest and probably biggest challenge to date” – the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon.
Last Sunday, Sam Horsfall completed the gruelling Comrades Marathon, which runs 89km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.
Established in 1921, the race is considered the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon.
Sam finished the race in 10 hours, 54 minutes and 39 seconds – well within the 12-hour cut-off time.
Sam said that she had wanted to do this race for a long time. She was meant to take part in the 2020 edition, which was cancelled.
She started training in December and ran on average about 50 miles a week alongside teaching spinning classes.
Sharing her story via Active on Facebook, she said: “I've always been a really keen runner and moved to long distance along with long distance triathlons quite a few years ago.
“I have done 5 ultra marathons before but this will be my longest and probably biggest challenge to date - there isa very strict12 hour gun-time (it's called 'gun to gun') cut off but this also depends where in the pack you start.
“We had to run a qualifying marathon to determine which start pen we went in, so it could take you 20 minutes to cross the start line which means you now only have 11 hours 40mins!”
Pictured - top: Sam Horsfall finished the Comrades Marathon on Sunday 11 June (Active Fitness)
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