It’s run, forest, run as Bosman and Carreira win 21.1km titles

SPORT NEWS - Defending champion Lloyd Bosman and newcomer Cherise Carreira emerged from the woodlands to win the men’s and women’s half-marathons at the Madibaz George Forest Run on Saturday.

With the forest canopy offering shade and Garden Route Dam as backdrop, Nedbank’s Bosman blitzed the 21.1km course in 1:11:03, while Carreira stopped the clock in 1:32:35.

The 37-year-old Bosman finished ahead of 2023 winner and clubmate Selwyn Matthews, who clocked 1:12:42, with Bernardo Fredericks of Outeniqua Harriers crossing the line third in 1.16:48.

Carreira, a 32-year-old debutant from the Boxer Athletics Club, won at the first time of asking.

She finished nearly three minutes clear of Annarie Donald (32Gi RC), who came home in 1:35:20. Jeanetta van den Berg (Outeniqua Harriers) claimed third in 1:37:22.

Both champions ran conservatively until the halfway mark on a course featuring steep climbs, rocky single-track trails and gravel roads.

Bosman, from Pacaltsdorp in George, surged ahead at the 4km-mark. Although Matthews briefly closed the gap, the champion re-established control 2km later and never relinquished his lead again.

“Even when you’re leading there’s always pressure, so you have to control your emotions,” Bosman said.

“Once I was ahead, I could run steadily without taking too many risks on the rocky trails.

“It was great weather and a beautiful course – the perfect way to get a solid half-marathon in before the season.”

Men: Nedbank’s Lloyd Bosman, left, and Selwyn Matthews set the pace in the 21.1km event of the Madibaz George Forest Run at the weekend. Bosman won in 1:11:03.

Led from start to finish
Meanwhile, Carreira, who moved to George two years ago, said it had been a privilege to compete and that she had been spurred on by the fact that her family were waiting at the finish.

“I saw the race advertised last year but was pregnant and couldn’t take part,” she explained.

“This year I was able to run and I’m so glad I did. Knowing that my 10-month-old baby and husband were waiting for me gave me a big push.”

She led from start to finish, adapting her pace to the uneven sections and climbs, which meant a fast race was never on the cards.

“The route had more trail than I expected but it was beautiful around the dam, which made it enjoyable.”

Carreira ran the first section alongside her teammates and even though there was the threat of a chaser closing in at some point, she stuck to her gameplan.

“The last climb was brutal,” she admitted.