Strand Athletics Club has launched a “Road to Comrades” series highlighting club members who are tackling the legendary and gruelling ultra-marathon this year.

Among those featured is local resident Lisa Alexander. For her, the iconic event is far more than just a race – it is a deep-rooted family legacy. Alexander is preparing to take on the gruelling distance for a milestone 20th time.

Her journey with the “Ultimate Human Race” began in childhood, heavily inspired by her parents. Her late father, Gerald, completed the race 15 times, while her mother earned eight medals.

“As a young child, I was at the finish every year and saw Bruce [Fordyce] win his ninth,” Alexander recalls.

Watching the raw emotion at the finish line – especially the dramatic final 11-hour cut-off gun – sparked a lifelong dream.

At age 22, she ran her very first Up Run alongside her father, followed by a Down Run the following year. These are moments she still deeply treasures.

Finishing 20 ultra-marathons requires immense mental and physical fortitude. Alexander notes that the one thing only Comrades runners truly understand is what it means “to reach your limit and then to push past it”.

She draws strength from her family; her husband, four children and parents remain her greatest motivation, and their pride keeps her moving forward.

Throughout her running career, her late father served as her dedicated seconder, supporting her through every major milestone. Over her extensive Comrades journey, Alexander has developed a few distinct race-day habits.

Her go-to pre-race meal is a plate of pancakes, and she strictly adheres to a classic running superstition: never open or wear the official race shirt until you have crossed the finish line.

While she does not have a single favourite running song, she admits that the iconic Chariots of Fire theme song never fails to move her to tears.

Of all her finishes, her absolute favourite remains the 2018 Down Run, where she achieved a personal best of 08:38 – a milestone she never dreamed possible.

When asked to summarise her 20-year journey in a single word, Alexander chose “fulfilment”, the ultimate achievement of something deeply desired.

 To read more inspiring profiles on Strand Athletics Club members, follow the club’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/strandac