COMRADES Marathon 1997 champion Charl Mattheus, who withdrew from the down race at Kloof on June 16, is recovering following surgery to reattach his Achilles tendon on Monday. Following the operation, doctors are confident that Mattheus will make a full recovery and will be back on the road by early next year. “I am determined to resume my running career and win Comrades again,” said Mattheus. “All going well, I will line up in 2000.”