The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) was saddened by the news of the death of former Comrades Marathon gold medallist, Charlie Chase on Monday.<\/p>\n
Chase was 90 years old and ran for Germiston Callies Harriers throughout his running career.
\nHe ran his first Comrades in 1953 and achieved his personal best in the 1965 down run in a time of 6:19:24.<\/p>
Chase went on to complete the \u2018ultimate human race\u2019 28 times, with four gold, 16 silver and eight bronze medals to his name.<\/p>\n
Chase has been described as a runner who took many novices under his wing and trained them in the art of long distance running.<\/p>
He motivated and inspired many other athletes.<\/p>\n
He was a proud member of the Comrades Marathon Green Number Club, having been inducted onto the Green Number Roll of Honour in 1966.<\/p>\n
He earned eight Top 10 positions in the Comrades Marathon in an era when only the Top Six were awarded gold medals.<\/p>\n
\u201cChase was one of those ever popular athletes who made his mark in the Comrades.
\n\u201cHis running record speaks for itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe inspired many runners to participate in the Comrades and personally helped train and motivate them to achieve their Comrades medals.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be greatly missed by many,\u201d said Cheryl Winn, chairperson of CMA.<\/p>\n
Former Comrades Marathon winner, Tommy Malone also shared Chase\u2019s influence on his career with the CMA after hearing of his passing.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie loved running and loved life.<\/p>\n
\u201cComrades and the running fraternity have lost one of the sport\u2019s great characters.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie was a faithful member of Germiston Callies for many years.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe ran all road race distances, as well as cross country in the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile not the fastest of athletes over the shorter distances, he would always catch the over ambitious runners towards the end of a race,\u201d said Malone.<\/p>\n
Chase had an illustrious Comrades record and fellow athletes said he was always available for advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore my first Comrades I was very nervous and was looking for guidance and asked Charlie what I should eat the night before the race, \u2018A big steak and a few beers,\u2019 was the reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chose to ignore it.<\/p>\n
\u201cRest in peace Charlie, thank you for many great memories and for all the beers we shared,\u201d Malone added.<\/p>\n
Among those sending their condolences was also Comrades runner, Leon van Wyk.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany athletes will remember Charlie Chase as being one of those much loved and very popular Comrades runners.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a selfless and kind individual who put other people first and made it his life\u2019s mission to inspire and motivate runners to give of their best.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will miss him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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