Watch out Comrades Marathon, Gerda Steyn is ready to race
Gerda Steyn, the heavy favourite for the Comrades Marathon women’s field, has completed her intensive alpine training in France and is set to pursue her fifth title in the up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on June 14. Picture: Gerda Steyn/Facebook
Image: Gerda Steyn/Facebook
If the Comrades Marathon women’s field needed any reminding, heavy favourite Gerda Steyn is ready to do battle once more.
Steyn has just completed her training for Comrades, most of it in France where she spent a good deal of her training navigating some serious elevation in the mountainous region of the country.
Not long after Steyn won this year’s Two Oceans Marathon, it was off to France to begin the short training block between the two races.
Steyn will be bidding for her fifth Comrades Marathon title when she lines up for the up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on June 14.
Steyn’s Alpine Training Journey: From Frosty Mornings to Comrades Marathon Preparation
“Six unforgettable weeks of alpine training done,” said Steyn.
“From frosty mornings, to full-on snow days, and now into hot summer temperatures.
“What an experience! Most of the work is done now, with only a handful of workouts left before @comradesmarathon.”
While the main prize is of course winning Comrades, Steyn managed to find a way to immerse herself in her training without looking too far ahead.
“I am reminded that when you find your rhythm, even the hardest work feels easy and staying focused is not forced. The process becomes natural and you crave the feeling of pushing yourself. I wish I could stay in this bubble, but there’s a job to do!”
“One more stop before heading down to KZN… I bet you know where I am going…!”
As far as Steyn is concerned, she has often faced criticism for her training or schedule - but she seldom fails to achieve her goals.