Whilst much has been written about the men who’ve run the most Two Oceans and Comrades ultra marathons, very little attention has been given to the women. These record breaking ladies tend to fly under the radar and get the job done without fuss, fanfare or media attention. It seems that it’s not just art but also ultra marathon running that imitates life.
There are just three women who’ve run the Two Oceans Marathon 30 times or more and in 2025 a new record for most female finishes was set and is held jointly by Sharon Bosch and Lucille Damon with 32 completed voyages.
There are a few lovely articles written about Lucille* and her accomplishments but virtually nothing on Sharon. Having had the pleasure of sharing the road with Sharon on a few occasions, I thought it’s high time to rectify that…
* I will be writing an article on Lucille as well!
Sharon started her Two Oceans career in 1991 in the colours of Oxford Striders and followed this up with her first Comrades later that year. 1992 was a gap year from marathon running with good reason – she was pregnant and gave birth to her son Dale that year.
However, since then she’s run 31 consecutive Two Oceans and will be aiming to equal that number at Comrades in June. With over 30 finishes at Two Oceans and Comrades, Sharon is the only lady to have the distinction of the ‘double triple laurel’ at the world’s biggest ultras*.
* Sharon also has the highest combined total of 63 Two Oceans and Comrades medals followed by Kim Pain with 60. Kim will be aiming to become the fourth lady to achieve a triple Blue at Two Oceans in 2026.
When you want to know anything about anyone in the running fraternity in the Eastern Cape, Bob Norris is the man to call. I dropped Bob an email and he duly obliged, reflecting on the running career of the “relatively quiet though approachable woman” he first met in 1991.
“The trajectory of her running career is an interesting and as with most runners, sometimes complex one. From the early days, for some reason, I especially remember a discussion we had at the prize giving of a Ciskei half marathon at the Bisho Stadium, which became the scene of the Bisho massacre in September 1992. Sharon had run, as she did in those early days, conservatively and the remark was made that if she embarked on a different training trajectory could become an influential runner, especially over distances of 21km and upward.”
Norris keeps meticulous notes and records and drew on these to explain Sharon’s continual improvement from a ‘well over a 4-hour marathoner’ to well under 3-hours under the guidance of the late Kevin Flint “who was the most influential coach in road running in those years.”
“Bosch’s running story is perhaps best reflected by her Buffs Marathon results. Her first in 1993 was run in 4:10:05. In 1994 she broke four hours with a 3:53:26. In 1996 this was down to 3:40:34 and in 1998 she showed the potential which had been suggested at the Bisho Stadium about seven years earlier when she ran 3:16:11. A year later the three hour barrier became a distinct possibility when she clocked 3:01:44.”
“In 2000, at the turn of the century, Sharon’s marathon golden years were launched when she smashed the three hour mark with a 2:57:29. In 2001 that was down to 2:56:20 and a year later to 2:54:38.”
Sharon’s best Two Oceans time was 4:14:53 in 1999 where she finished as 16th lady and she ran her Comrades PB, 7:53:38, later that same year. Sharon does not have an exact record of the number of marathons and ultras she’s completed but it’s a lot! Apart from her 32 Oceans and 31 Comrades, she’s done 33 Buffs, about 20 Border Masters and 25-odd international marathons. She’s also done the legendary Surfer’s Challenge race well over 30 times and completed the ‘right of passage for every East London runner’ Washie 100 miler (just once although she might run it again this year with her stepson James).
Sharon was the quality manager at a pineapple juice plant* for over three decades but is now happily retired together with her husband Colin. However, she keeps busy as the President of Old Selbornian Road Runners (she joined the club in 1996 and has run for them ever since). Sharon is also active in the Border Masters organisation. Whilst Sharon has given back to the running community as both a volunteer and administrator she stays away from the trails.
* I thought this gave her opinion on the ‘pineapple on pizza’ question some gravitas. For the record her answer is “Definitely NO!”
I had this lovely story relayed to me by Bianca Naude who was rather unfit but decided to enter Arminel Trail Run in Hogsback after a friend twisted her arm. There were 21, 10 and 5 kilometre options available. Bianca was deliberating between the 5 and 10 and asked Sharon (who was organising the race), “How challenging is the 10km?” Bianca explained that she was fit enough for a 10km on the road but that, “We all know trail is a different level.”
Sharon smiled back and told Bianca to enter the 10km, not to worry and that she’d be “Just fine”. Bianca told me, “I didn’t do ‘just fine’. I almost died that day. It was one of the more difficult things I’ve done.” After catching sight of a somewhat dishevelled Bianca after the race, Sharon asked her how the race went to which Bianca replied, “Honestly, it almost killed me!” Sharon nodded her head knowingly and said, “That’s why I don’t run trail!”
At this year’s run Colin’s son, James, was able to add to the family medal tally with this fourth finish. Sharon has a daughter who is an occasional runner but her son-in-law Giddo is a runner and is also on the Old Selbonians committee. Very sadly, her son Dale was the victim of a taxi driver in a hurry and was knocked off his motorbike 11 years ago. He has a traumatic brain injury which confines him to a wheelchair. However, he joins in with Sharon and Colin’s running activities whenever he can.
A lot of us lined up at the first post-Covid Two Oceans in 2022 a little nervous – but none more so than Sharon’s future husband Colin. Colin had bought a cheap replica ring from a street vendor and ran with it hidden in his pocket the whole way around the Cape Peninsula.
Sharon remembers, “I started cramping about 3 km from the finish and was concentrating on my cramps. We were about to go over the line and much to my surprise, he pulled me back and went down on one knee.” Of course she said “Yes” and they were married a year later. Although Colin told Sharon she could choose a proper ring when they got back to East London, Sharon has kept the one Colin produced and put on her finger at the UCT rugby fields for sentimental reasons.
The marriage and ‘merging of medals’ elevated the Bosch’s to third on the husband and wife medal table behind Ann and Issy Margolin (29 + 33 = 62) and Gina and Shane Hinchliffe (25 + 36 = 61). The Hinchliffe’s both ran this year and will be looking to move into first place in 2026. The Bosch’s are also high on the list of Comrades ‘married’ medals (they have 56 with Colin contributing 25 and Sharon 31).
Sharon is known as “Mamma Sharon” to many in the Border region. Wendy Schroeder commented, “This is due to the fact that when a runner from any club needs help with something- just call ‘Mamma Sharon’ and she’ll gladly help/assist in any way possible. I don’t think I have ever arrived at a race not to find Sharon with an armful of stuff for someone!” Sharon was also instrumental in rallying the East London community to give two local runners, Malixole Kalideni and Yanga Malusi, the once in the lifetime chance to run the London Marathon.
As for what this achievement means for her, Sharon said, “I am honoured to be joint first with Lucille as she inspired me to continue running Two Oceans after achieving 30 medals, something I never even thought of. I just ran Two Oceans every year and the medals accumulated. She is the First Lady IN THE WORLD to achieve 30 Two Oceans Marathon finishes and now we both have 32 medals. If I can inspire other runners to keep running, to try their best, and to have FUN, then I have succeeded. Thanks so much for everyone for all the support. Together we can achieve so much more.”
Here’s to many more voyages around the Cape Peninsula for both Sharon and Lucille.
Header photo credit Action Photo
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Thanks for stats Stuart. Total of over 60 medals for oceans and Comrades is amazing….I need to get my wife Sharon to keep running for at least another 10 years…she will be on 20 of each next year…ie 40 in total..
Unfortunately joint 10th ranked Lynne Spence, passed away some years ago, far too young. She was a lovely lady, and taken from us much too soon. Lucille Damon was also a Celtics member, and used to train with us on the bi weekly club runs. Congratulations to you Lucille❤️❤️❤️
Kevin Flint was with Oxford Striders, and he used to train the runners on their club training runs, I have fond memories of being trained by him when I was down in that part of the woods. Very sad to learn that he is no longer with us.
Stuart you will recall our friendly yet far too serious chat before the Kei Mouth marathon in September. I say far too serious because I prefer laughing as we hopefully did in the days of training with your Dad Ian on his regular trips to EL.
This article is great in that it touches on serious aspects of life, but is based on hope and positive outcomes. So congratulations and thank you for the entertainment Stuart – and of course the Bosch family
Nice to see the wonderful Lynne Spence get mentioned. She was a exceptional person and powerful athlete.
One of my fondest memories was running one year most of Oceans with her. Steady, joyful, laughing and what running and friends are all about. We were not even same clubs -I was VOB but we had much more in common …… we loved the running world and what it represents.
Well done to Lucille who I still see out there , just the same. And huge respect to Sharon. I have some idea as to what 30 plus runs entails and commitment it requires. My admiration.