Avid Comrades runner and member of the Rocky Road Runners Club (Rockies) Maurice Rosen (65) was in for a surprise on 11 May when camera crews filmed him running his weekly time trial at Zoo Lake.
Why would a camera crew follow an ordinary runner? The answer is that Rosen is no ordinary runner. He is currently preparing for his 36th Comrades Marathon.
Rockies club chairman Matodzi Tshidzumba said he was approached by new Comrades sponsors Bavaria who were looking for an everyday hero to feature in their new advertisement – Rosen fitted the profile perfectly.
Runners of the club cheered Rosen on as he came to the finish line for the TV advert. They described Rosen as a gentle soul who was quiet and polite.
“I was told that a few photos would be taken at my home for a profile they were doing on me. I had no idea that I’d be finishing with my whole club cheering me on,” said a delighted and overwhelmed Rosen.
He completed his first Comrades in 1979 and has completed consecutive races every year since 1984, barring 1993 when he did not run.
“Comrades is such a special and magnificent race. I love the people that I meet along the race. There’s nothing like Comrades. It doesn’t matter who you are, we are all the same on the long journey,” he said.
His best time was 08:57:00 in 2003, but this year he is just aiming to complete the race.
“Training is 95 per cent of the challenge. It’s all in the mind. You’ve got to want it. You need that determination to finish the race. It gets harder as you get older because you get slower,” said Rosen, who runs 2 000km in training for five months leading up to the race.
“I get up between 3.30am and 4am to train during the week and at 4.30am on weekends.”
Rosen aims to complete 40 Comrades races and will reassess from there about his next goal.
He has run as part of the Rocky Road Runners Club for 27 years. “I love the people here. They are great friends and they support you at each milestone and take an interest in your progress.”
“I love the health benefits of running and being outdoors. I make my best decisions when running,” said Rosen who works as financial director of the Camelot Group.
He said his family was supportive of his running and often supported him at the finish line of the Comrades. “Many people think I’m crazy but they know it’s part of my life.”
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