Reigning Two Oceans champion Gerda Steyn was upbeat ahead of the ultra-marathon over the Easter weekend when it returns on Sunday after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19.
In her last two races, Steyn crossed the line in 03:39:26 (2018) and 03:31:29 (2019) before the pandemic scuppered the last two races.
“Training has gone well and I’m satisfied with the work I’ve put in. I’ve been focusing on getting fit and ready since the beginning of the year and I’m really excited to get going,” Gerda said on Wednesday from Cape Town.
“I’ve already arrived in Cape Town with my husband as I always like to arrive early and we are just relaxing now.
“I wanted to settle in nicely ahead of the race. I feel in good shape and ready to take on the challenge ahead,” said the 32-year-old Olympic marathon runner who is eyeing the world championships in the US later this year.
Steyn said she started her training in Johannesburg and hopes the brutality of preparing at high altitude will help her push herself over the line and clinch a third successive Two Oceans crown.
“That would be amazing and of course that is my goal. I would like to defend my title but at the same time I do respect the race field and the fact that it is a long gruelling road.
“I have to make sure that I don’t make silly mistakes especially at the early stages of the race.
“This ultra-marathon is very special to me. It was one of the first races I ran when I started running especially since 2018 when I won for the first time. It has a special place in my heart.”
Bongumusa Mthembu won the last men’s race line in an impressive time of 3:08:40.
Ntsindiso Mphakathi, who is trained and coached by four-time Olympian Hendrick Ramaala at Entsika Athletics Club at Zoo Lake, is a novice in the ultra distance but is confident of his chances in his first Two Oceans.
Mphakathi, who specialises in the 42km, finished third at the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km in his third ultra race in Gqeberha last month.
“I can say that race motivated me. I can’t say I will win the Two Oceans but I have prepared well and will give it my best. We’ll be in Cape Town on Friday.
“I’ve prepared as well as I could and I am happy with my fitness and speed,” said Mphakathi.
Stephen Mokoka, who stepped up to 50km in style last month as he ran 2:40:13 to break the men’s world record for the distance at the Nedbank Runified race, is a clear favourite for the first ultra-marathon of the calendar year.
Mphakathi’s training mate Desmond Mokgobu has swept all the half-marathon races this year and expected to dominate in the Mother City.
For the first time in the history of the tradition-steeped Easter weekend race the Two Oceans will be run over two days with the 21km half-marathon taking place on Saturday followed by the 56km race on Sunday.
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