'I still have room for improvement' - Gerda Steyn tackles Boxer Super Run 5km as she trains for fast year-end marathon

Despite having enjoyed a successful 2024 season during which she donned the green and gold at her second Olympic Games, break the Totalsports Two Oceans 56km record and become the first woman in history to run faster than 5:50 at the Comrades Marathon, Gerda Steyn is not done yet. South Africa’s golden girl of distance running revealed that she is planning to race one more marathon before the end of the year.

In order to get ready for that race which she says will be in November or December, Steyn has spent the last few weeks since returning to country, working on her speed. On Sunday (6 October) she raced the Johannesburg leg of the SPAR Grand Prix where she stopped the clock in 35:11 to claim an impressive sixth position in field of both local and international 10km and half marathon specialists where Glenrose Xaba emerged victorious. 

Steyn goes toe to toe with Lesotho's Blandina Makatisi during the SPAR Women's Challenge in Jozi. Photo Credit: Reg Caldecott.

“I remember when I ran this race in 2018. I finished in second place with a slower time than I ran today. So to see ladies coming through in the shorter distances all the way up to the marathon now is exciting. It’s also a different group of ladies that are running the 10km races compared to the marathons now, which is much needed in terms of development for the country. For example I know someone like Glenrose will do very well when she moves up to the marathon.”

With Xaba set to make her marathon debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on 20 October, Steyn’s SA record could come under threat. After producing a below par 2:32:51 in Paris in August to finish in 45th place and as the third of three South Africans, the Phantane Athletic Club top runner road has one last bite at the 2024 cherry. A year-end marathon then, gives the Adidas ambassador an opportunity to produce her first sub 2:30 clocking of the season. Last year for example, Steyn ran the Valencia Marathon in Spain in December where she produced 2:24:03 to improve on her own national 42,2km record by over a minute.

“I feel like I still have room for improvement, so for as long as I possibly can I’ll keep pushing and try to improve on my own time, whether that means it’s the national record or not. The ladies that are running now are getting closer and closer to the record time which is very exciting. For now the record is still under my name and I’ll try to defend that title for as long as I can.”

Steyn is back in Joburg and looking forward to racing the Boxer Super Run 5km on 13 October. Photo Credit: Felix Dlanga.

In order to keep that fast twitch muscle moving, the darling of South African road running will embrace a new challenge as she lines up for the Boxer Super Run in Durban on Sunday, 13 October 2024. 

“The Boxer Super Run aligns perfectly with my training plans. I enjoy that the 5km is somewhat unfamiliar territory for me, which makes it a fresh challenge and a great way to gauge my fitness. My goal is to run a strong race and compete at my best. I don’t have a specific time in mind—I’ll assess the weather and how my body feels on the day—but I’ll definitely be giving it my all!”