'I love my beer' Comrades Marathon champion Herron

First-time Comrades Marathon winner Camille Herron loves her beer.

In fact she has a beer sponsorship but the Comrades Marathon was a bucket list item she has more than successfully ticked.

The 35-year-old from Norman‚ Oklahoma‚ had a bottle of Jack Black Lager on the table but the most important thing was that she did the Comrades business.

• Herron first American female athlete since 1997 to become women's Comrades Marathon championAmerican athlete Camille Herron gave credence to the unpredictable nature of the Comrades Marathon up run with her maiden win in a time of 6:27:35. 

With her awkward and muscular running style that seemingly strained her hamstrings‚ her time of 6:27:35 was too good for Russian Alexandra Morozova (6:31:45) and 2016 down run champion Charne Bosman (6:39:51).

“I have my husband Connor here and I love to party‚" Herron said.

"I love my beer and we've been in search of good beer.

"We've been sampling beer over the past two days and we'll definitely have a good time.

• Bongmusa Mthembu wins his second Comrades MarathonBongmusa Mthembu made light work of the notorious Polly Shortts climb to win his second Comrades Marathon title in a time of 5:35:34. 

"My husband is also Irish and we think we'll be here until Tuesday.

"I think I had two ginger beers during (the race).

"I'm going to have a good time and I definitely love to party.

“I'll definitely come back for the Comrades so long as my legs allow me.

"I'm only 35 and seeing the likes of Charne and Colleen de Reuck still running does encourage me.

"They've kept going in their 40's and this is a dream come true.

•  'When it's not your day‚ it's not your day and each dog will have its day' - KeleheGift Kelehe mounted one of the more gallant Comrades Marathon title defences but admitted that Bongmusa Mthembu was too smart for him.

"I'll come back until my legs give up on me.

"This is one race that has been on my bucket list.”

With her perennially rogue president Donald Trump being in fine form with his climate change gaffes‚ Herron was quick to say she didn't vote for the crazy Republican but said the race challenged her more than she expected.

Having dealt with mountains on her training regime even though Oklahoma is one of the more flatter states in the US‚ it was the early climbs from Durban to Pinetown that asked questions of her ability and her desire.

• IN PICTURES: Emotions run high at the end of the Comrades MarathonIt was an emotional end to the Comrades Marathon, with Bongmusa Mthembu winning it for the second time, and US runner Camille Herron coming in as the first American woman to win since 1997. 

From there‚ the race was a breeze despite Morozova's late and unsuccessful charge at Umlaas Road that amounted to nothing.

“I thought the first 20-25 miles was going to be steeper and coming from the plains of Oklahoma‚ I've been training on steeper grades and the first part was runnable.

"My right hamstring was pulling so I couldn't go as fast as I wanted to.

"I ran with my heart and that came through for me‚” Herron said.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport