After Sunday’s dramatic Comrades race Lindsey Parry (Tuks/HPC head coach) can certainly vouch for this.
Charne Bosman (@Nedbank Dream Team) was the eventual winner with Caroline Wostmann (KPMG) in second place.
It was obvious that Wostmann was seriously in pain and struggling with every stride because of severe cramping.
Because of this scenario that developed over approximately the last 20 kilometres of the route, Parry found himself in the proverbial catch-22 situation’. Keep in mind that he coaches both athletes and was privy to their dreams and disappointments over the past 12 months.
But what was he to do? Sport is cruel and there can only be one winner.
“When Caroline started cramping about 30 kilometres from the finish, her situation worsened progressively. I knew she needed my support and help badly, but so did Charné,” Parry explained.
“My saving grace was that I had two supporting seconding teams on route. I always believe that a coach’s duty lies with the athlete who is suffering and therefore needs help more urgently. That is why I stayed with Caroline but I first made sure that Charne received all the relevant information she needed to stay on course to win.”
Parry described Bosman’s victory as well-deserved.
“Charne was committed to winning and she has made great sacrifices to fulfil the dream towards which she had been working for years. But I feel for Caroline. Luckily she is still young and there will be other opportunities for her to win major races.”
The fact that Wostmann took the lead in the women’s race almost right from the start led to speculation that she probably set her mind on winning in under six hours and was going too hard too fast.
According to Parry, going for the record was never on the cards.
