ROAD RUNNING
“ I wouldn ’ t have surged like I did from the top of Constantia Nek if not for chasing her … I think I would have been happy in the lead , making sure I get to the finish in one piece .”
GS : I know that sport can be very harsh … that everything can be different tomorrow . One day you ’ re winning and breaking records , the next day it is a totally different story . So , I will celebrate now , rest up , and then work as if I have never achieved anything , because you can ’ t let your ego get in the way . But also , I feel like I am just part of the running community , and just like all my running friends , they have targets they want to achieve and that doesn ’ t change them , so why would I let winning change me ? It ’ s not that different . but after that it was back to interviews for radio , newspapers , magazine . It ’ s really been a pleasure .
MA : I ’ m sure our readers will want to know what you were downing with that beer …
GS : It ’ s a called a Rumbler – a rum poured into a beer and downed . These friends of ours have a tradition that they run on a Saturday followed by a Rumbler and a coffee , so they call themselves RRC , which most people automatically assume
Images : Tobias Ginsberg & Action Photo SA
Taking a bit of strain on Chapman ’ s Peak , surprised by the intensity of her competitors
making sure I get to the finish in one piece . You never know , but I ’ m not sure I would have broken the record without Irvette in front of me .
MA : That begs the question , was going after the record always the plan ?
GS : I wanted to give my self the best chance of breaking it , so I wanted to get to the halfway mark in a place where I felt I was capable of breaking the record . I didn ’ t want to lose time in the first half , which would have meant I ’ d have no chance of the record . So , things went to plan and we were on record pace , but I didn ’ t plan for having such a bad patch going up the Nek . I don ’ t know if I would have broken the record after that bad patch and without competition to chase , I can never answer that question , but Irvette said the same thing , that we pushed each other , and we thanked each other afterwards . However , the way women ’ s running is developing and improving , this record won ’ t stand for long … It will be broken again soon .
MA : You said after breaking the record , this will not change me . What exactly did you mean by that ?
Also , my achievements are very much a team effort , and one of my regrets is sometimes not thanking everybody who helped me achieve my goals . I think it has something to do with my upbringing , what my parents taught me , what I learnt from the hard work on the farm , and then working as a quantity surveyor , learning to work as a team in order to get something massive done . It ’ s not just me when it comes to running and winning races , it ’ s a team effort involving Duncan , my coach , my manager , my sponsors and my support crew , and of course , the running community and spectators .
MA : Speaking of Duncan , you mentioned that it was really special to have him at the finish line again at Two Oceans …
GS : Yes , it was really special , because the last time he was able to be at one of my races was in 2019 . Throughout the whole Corona period , he was never allowed to come watch me race because the events were all held in ‘ bubbles .’ Now that things are almost back to normal , it is such a pleasure to have him at the finish again . Duncan is just as invested in my running , and his own running has taken such a hammering as a result . He does still run , and our time to run together is in the evenings , when I do my recovery runs , but I will admit that his running has taken a complete backseat because of me , and I really appreciate all his support for my running .
MA : After the race , it appears you were in a celebratory mood . I mean , that afternoon we saw a video of you on social media downing a drink at Forries , with everybody cheering you on …
GS : After the race I was still buzzing , and when we went to Forester ’ s Arms with some friends , we had a massive celebration . I ended up downing a drink and that video made it into the media , but I actually downed more than one drink ! It was so much fun , and I think it ’ s necessary to pause a little bit after a big race ,
Gerda had to grit her teeth as her bad patch began coming down Chappies
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