Glenrose Xaba admits that a jam-packed schedule is taking its toll on her

She’s determined to break her record of 31 minutes and 55 seconds and secure a spot in the Olympic Games for the 10 000m event.

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As she gears up for the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Track and Field Championships in Pietermaritzburg from 18-21 April, her target is to clock the Olympic Games qualifying time of 30:40:00 before the looming June deadline.

However, the relentless schedule is taking its toll. In a recent race, the Absa Run Your City in Gqeberha, she finished sixth, despite being the first South African to cross the Finish Line.

Xaba attributed her performance to fatigue from representing her country at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, just a week before the 10km event.

Before the Serbia Championships, She clinched victory in the Spar Women’s Challenge in Cape Town to defend her national 10km title. She also competed in the provincial 10 000m championships at the University of Pretoria organized by Athletics Gauteng North.

“I am a little bit tired and my legs could not carry me due to racing in the Cross Country,” said Xaba.

“My legs did not respond as usual. The race schedule of South Africa is unusual and we cannot compete with other runners that have rested and prepared well for races. 

We find ourselves racing almost every week. I could have run a sub-32 in Gqeberha but my body was tired and my legs could not take it anymore. I have to do more training and work harder to come back. I plan to train a lot, rest and run the national championships, and go after my PB in the 10 000m as my goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games. I need to rest and take it easy. I have been racing in the past couple of weeks. My goal remains qualifying for the Olympic Games and the focus is on that 10 000m,” Xaba explained to SABC Sport.