This year's ultimate human race will be a "down run" from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and if the former University of the Free State athlete's progression since her maiden Comrades in 2015 is anything to go by, she has just as much chance as the rest of the women's elite field to claim the honors.

In 2015 Steyn took on the challenge as a beginner and blew the marathon community away with an impressive 56th place finish in a time of 8 hours, 19 minutes and eight seconds.

In the 2016 edition the past pupil of Bothaville High School, only just missed out on a top-10 finish when she crossed the line in a time of 7 hours, 8 minutes and 23 seconds to claim 14th place.

Last year, her path to potential gold continued when she finished 4th, stopping the clock at six hours, 45 minutes and 45 seconds.

Pundits have also tipped Steyn as the favourite to claim victory following her victory in the Two Oceans at the end of March where she crossed the line in a time of 3 hours, 39 minutes and 31 seconds.

Whether Steyn can continue her monumental rise to the Comrades podium remains to be seen, but it will be all to race for when the starter's gun goes for the 89km race on the morning of the 10th of June.