Pam, 68, ready for Comrades

For Durban's Pamela Osborn, at 68 the oldest woman in the field for Sunday's 84th Comrades Marathon, age is merely a number.

In fact, women half Osborn's age would probably baulk when discovering what this sprightly, self-proclaimed adventure junkie has achieved in the so-called prime of her life.

Apart from lining up for her 10th Comrades this weekend, having completed six Argus Cycle Tours, and winning marathon gold at the World Masters Championships in Australia, this Athletics North club member has - wait for this - climbed Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest, to 7 300m.

She's also an avid scuba diver, and, at the end of October 2009, Osborn is planning to tackle something called the Himalayan 100-miler - a 160km hike/run over five days at extreme altitude.

Little wonder, then, that the outdoors is in her blood and that she spent this week in the Drakensberg, preparing mentally for her latest challenge - Sunday's 87km epic run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

"It's absolutely awesome here in the Berg," Osborn gushed on Thursday. "It's a glorious day, although they're predicting snow soon; I hope it stays away until Monday."

Earlier this week, she took in a performance by the Drakensberg Boys Choir, describing it as "truly inspirational; now I'm really in the right frame of mind for Sunday's run".

It wasn't all smooth running getting to the start of Comrades 2009, though. In mid-January this year, Osborn was out running with her pet golden retriever when four dogs bolted from a property and attacked her.

"I was knocked around like a spinning top and when I came round, I had broken my coccyx and pelvis. I was on my back for six weeks, mortified that I couldn't run or even walk."

But, as is her wont, she bounced back. In March she tackled the Midmar 32km in her first run since her terrible injuries - and won her age category.

"That immediately gave me incentive for Comrades, which I feared I would have to miss because of my injuries," she said.

On Sunday, Osborn hopes to finish in under 11 hours - "I consider 11-12 hours for also-rans!" - and is confident of achieving her goal "through sheer determination".

"I love the 'down' run because of my horse-like mentality - I see the stables and just go," she laughs. "The only thing that worries me is the distance, and, of course, Fields Hill, a long, fast descent in the latter stages of the race, with the pounding on my pelvis.

But if I get through that section without any discomfort, I'll be fine. Oh no, I forgot Tollgate, a short, sharp climb nearing the finish. You think, 'Shit, it's only a little pimple', but in fact it can be a real killer."

Osborn is convinced, however, that she will survive. She always does.