Elroy has had a lot to smile about in the last nine months |
me after winning a silver medal at the SA Track and Field Champs . Achieving a breakthrough in running a sub-28 opens new possibilities , new horizons for me , and revolutionises my thinking , reinstalling the belief within myself again . And I am thrilled to have achieved another personal best !
MA : You won your second SA Marathon title at the Durban International Marathon , with your second-best marathon time to date . In the process , you also won your first ever marathon . Tell us about your thoughts and emotions surrounding that win .
EG : I had a very emotional moment when I won the national marathon championship in Durban . As I crossed the finish line , a deep sense of gratitude filled me for all the hard work I had put in , and for the support of my loved ones who helped me achieve this victory .
|
MA : How tough was that race ? EG : I had a great response from my body during the race , but to be honest , the last 8km were tough , as I had to push myself mentally and physically to pull ahead of Mathew Leeto and Stephen Mokoka . I would like to extend my congratulations to my provincial teammate , Mathew , for his brilliant and courageous performance on the day . ( Leeto claimed second place in 2:09:47 , smashing his personal best of 2:15:35 by almost six minutes . – Ed .)
MA : You ’ ve been in this purple patch since September last year . To what do you ascribe that ?
EG : I attribute this success on both the road and track to the excellent training structure that my coach and I have established . Although we had to make some changes , the key to success lies in a culture of high performance , discipline , consistency , hard work , and belief in our structures . Ultimately , I believe in my abilities , giving me the confidence to succeed . ( Elroy is coached by Jean Verster , a former SA Champion and ‘ Dream Miler ,’ who is now also the Chairperson of the ASA Track & Field Commission . – Ed .)
MA : Given all these new PBs , how high is your confidence right now ?
|
Images : Mark Sampson , Action Photo SA , Jaco Wolmarans |