Gerda Steyn eyes historic Ultra-Marathon double

The celebrated Ultra-Marathon star won her fourth consecutive, Two Oceans title at the University of Cape Town on Saturday.

The 33-year-old from Phantane Running Club smashed her record when she stopped the clock in 3 hours, 29 minutes, and six seconds, beating the record, she set in 2022 by 39 seconds to bag the R250 000 prize money and the R200 000 for breaking the record.

On 11 June, Steyn will run the Comrades Marathon 89km down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban after a one-year absence.

“I have my eyes on the double. The focus was to win the Two Oceans to become the most successful runner in history, and I achieved that. I want to reclaim my Comrades Marathon title after missing it due to running in the Boston Marathon last year. The races happened in August, and I decided to do the Boston Marathon. But I am back and preparing for the Comrades,” Steyn told SABC Sport.

Steyn completed the Two Oceans Marathon and Comrades Marathon double in 2019 and wants to repeat that historic feat.

She has eight weeks to prepare for the Ultimate Human Spirit Ultra-Marathon in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

She trains with her coach and husband, Duncan Ross, and is happy with her progress and fitness.

“Eight weeks gives me enough time to prepare for the big one. I am confident that I can pull it off. When I spent a year in Dubai with my husband preparing for the two Ultra-Marathons, we set our target on completing the double,” said Steyn.

Steyn will prepare for the Ultra-Marathon in Johannesburg without her pilot husband.

“He works in Dubai, and we spent most of the time apart, but we try to make it work. He is my coach, and most of the time, I train alone, but I manage,” said Steyn.