Dr. Adele Broodryk, the phenomenal Comrades Marathon athlete, is gearing up to represent South Africa on the global stage as part of the Athletics South Africa team at the highly anticipated 2023 IAU 50 km World Championships.
The IAU 50km World Championship is a prestigious ultramarathon race organized by the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU). Broodryk, who claimed the second position in the women's division of the Comrades Marathon with a remarkable time of 5 hours, 56 minutes, and 26 seconds, has become a true inspiration in long-distance running.
Potchefstroom-based Broodryk's journey to the 2023 IAU 50 km World Championships has been extraordinary. In 2022, she achieved a significant milestone by securing third place in the Comrades Marathon, improving her previous record by an impressive 30 minutes. This feat made her only the fourth woman in the history of the Comrades Marathon to break the six-hour barrier.
She expressed her excitement about the upcoming challenge, and Broodryk shared, "I am extremely excited to represent our country during the IAU 50 km World Championships. It will be a new challenge, as I have never competed internationally. India is also a country I have never visited, so I look forward to going and experiencing their culture, but also to being able to run in different circumstances and beyond our borders."
She added, "It has always been a big dream of mine to represent South Africa, so it has been on my bucket list for a while. But I do not just want to represent my country. I want to make my country proud. So, I am focused on my training and preparations at the moment. I have been warned that India is very hot, with high humidity levels, so these are factors that need to be considered. We will be competing in those conditions for three hours. Therefore, conditioning will ensure I will be accustomed to the conditions."
Broodryk highlighted that her preparation includes crucial speed work adjustments. Excelling in the gruelling distances of the Comrades Marathon, where she secured third and second overall in two consecutive years, has required her to fine-tune her approach for the shorter length at the World Championships.
This means she must accelerate sooner and more aggressively, demonstrating her adaptability as a world-class athlete. In addition to her speed training, Broodryk has intensified her focus on her diet, a key component in her journey toward success. With her unwavering commitment and dedication, she is already on the fast track to achieving new milestones.
As Adele Broodryk prepares to embark on this international adventure, she carries with her the hopes and aspirations of her nation, ready to make her mark on the global stage and inspire fellow athletes worldwide. South Africa will watch with bated breath as she showcases her mettle in India at the 2023 IAU 50 km World Championship
