ROAD RUNNING it is . I think it was just a reminder that you ’ re out here doing something really big , so just keep fighting for it .
SF : If I ’ m not mistaken , you had quite a few of your own supporters in Paris ?
CO : I had 25 people go over there specifically for me , which is amazing , including my mum and sister , my sister ’ s boyfriend , my boyfriend ( Triathlete James Gerber – Ed .) and his parents , my cousin , my aunt and uncle , plus more family and friends . That definitely gave me a slight advantage , because seeing them along the route picks you up a little bit . I know I was blessed with the amount of support that I had .
SF : What was it like running in a team with Gerda and Irvette ? Did you set out to work together in the race ?
CO : It was amazing , as they ’ re both women that I ’ ve looked up to for a long time . I saw them go to previous Olympics , and that motivated me , because I said , if they can do it , I can push myself to do it as well . In Paris , they were so supportive leading up to the race , giving me good advice , and I think I still have a lot to learn from them in the marathon space . They really just encouraged me . I think it ’ s great that you compete as an individual , but you have teammates out there supporting you .
Only a short stay in the Olympic Village … but Cian spoke to Eliud Kipchoge !
That said , I also think going to Montpellier for a few days first with Irvette van Zyl and only going into the Olympic Village the Wednesday before our race was quite good for me , in the sense that it prepared me better , and I wasn ’ t overwhelmed , I was just excited to be there . Jean Verster , Elroy Gelant and Irvette all said that we don ’ t want to go into the Olympic village too early , because it ’ s quite distracting , especially seeing athletes who are coming off their races and relaxing . marathon , so I think everyone adapted their training in a way that was going to benefit them out there . I think we did have a slight advantage over some athletes , because we live and train at altitude , and we have Comrades and Two Oceans , but I think everyone knew the course was going to be tough . Still , it was faster than I expected it to be , and the times run surprised me , including Olympic records in both the men ’ s and women ’ s races , and many personal bests .
SF : With the men ’ s marathon being run the day before the women ’ s race , did you get a chance to speak to Elroy and Steven and ask them about the course and their experiences ?
CO : Yes , we did . Firstly , we watched their race on TV , which was our final course prep , as you could see the hills and turns , and then we spoke to Elroy and Steven , and they gave us some good input . They also told us how hard the course was , that we would need to dig deep , which I think mentally prepared us for what was coming , but also made us realise that it would be just as hard for the other girls .
All smiles as Cian passes some of her family and supporters in Paris
So , I missed the opening ceremony , and I didn ’ t make the closing ceremony either , because that was the evening after our race . The night before , I was adamant that I was going to go , but I was so tired after the race , I just said nope , I ’ m not going to make it . In the end , I think racing on the last day was a little bit frustrating because I don ’ t think I quite got to experience everything that there was to experience about the Olympics , but my experience was amazing and I don ’ t have any complaints about it .
SF : Before the Games , a lot of people in this country were talking about the hilly marathon course and how it ’ s going to suit the South Africans better , especially Gerda and Irvette , because of their ultra-marathon records , but my personal opinion is that these people tended to oversimplify things , and they also seem to have forgotten that the rest of the world ’ s athletes were also training on hills to prepare for Paris . So , was the course as bad as everybody predicted , and did the South Africans have any advantage , or was it still a level playing field for everybody ?
CO : I think most athletes knew it was going to be a really tough course , that it was going to be hot , and that it was not going to be a typical fast European
SF : So , in terms of your training , did you do anything differently – or specific – to get ready for Paris ? I read somewhere that you spent a fair amount of time in the sauna to get used to the heat .
CO : My basic training didn ’ t change too much , I pretty much kept the same training structure , but I did a few more hilly races , and I did a few more crosstraining sessions , but that was just a coming off of my injury , so I was just trying to balance that . Then I was sitting in the sauna three to four times a week , just to try get a little bit of heat adaption , because we were coming from our winter .
SF : Those of us who watched the Olympic Marathon on television saw the Paris streets packed with spectators , and there appeared to be an incredible vibe . I ’ m not sure you ’ ve run anything quite like that before ?
CO : It was like having a cheer zone the whole 42 kilometres , which was really nice when you ’ re hurting so much , because the noise just drums out the pain , and you feel you just have to keep fighting , because everyone is cheering for you , no matter your country or theirs . I think that also made me realise how special being at the Olympics is , and what an incredible race
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