Veteran road runner Elroy Gelant eyes Tshwane 10km title

The highly anticipated inaugural Absa Run Your City 10km race will kick off at Tshwane’s Union Buildings at 8 a.m. on Sunday with R30 000 awaiting the top male and female finishers. The series of events has races in Cape Town, Gqeberha, Durban and, for the first time, Tshwane, where the 36-year-old who recently won the 21.1km race at Evaton Mall in Johannesburg in a time of 01:07:21 is eager to run. 

 

“The novelty of a new race and route, particularly for those of us less familiar with the Tshwane area, adds to my excitement”, he told SABC Sport.

“My intention is to keep pace with the frontrunners and if I can secure a position within the top eight during the final 8km stretch, I’ll be content. It’s likely to be a race that hinges on strategy. I predict that the competitors will aim for a sub-29-minute finish time. Personally, my plan revolves around conserving my energy until the last 8km and then progressively ramping up my speed over the concluding 1km,” Gelant shared. 

The men’s race will showcase a line-up of the nation’s fastest runners, among them SA 10km record holder (27:35) Precious Mashele. As well as Kabelo Seboko, the victor of a previous race in Durban, Nicolas Seopasengwe (Johannesburg winner),  hometown contender Collen Mulaudzi and former SA 10km champion Stephen Mokoka.

“I cannot wait for race day. The preparations are going well and I pray for good weather,” added Gelant.