INSPIRATION
That year , the Comrades was quite close on the calendar after Two Oceans , but Gerda made sure she didn ’ t overtrain between the two races . “ There were seven weeks in between the two races , but I did most of my long training before Two Oceans , and that worked for me . I felt fresh at the start of Comrades . The Two Oceans actually just made me stronger and fitter , and I was fortunate to not have any injuries or niggles . That definitely helped me in setting a new record of 5:58:53 at Comrades that year .”
Training Body and Mind
As part of her preparation for the big ultras , Gerda trains at high altitude in Lesotho for about two weeks . “ Johannesburg is about 1700m above sea level , whereas Lesotho is about 3000m above sea level . I really believe it helps my fitness a lot when I spend some time there . It ’ s remote , there is nothing around you , and there are no distractions . That , I feel , is a great advantage for my training .
Gerda say she has never really struggled with motivation for running , because she is aware of how rewarding it can be . “ Motivation has never really been a problem . It ’ s obviously easier when you achieve success in your career , but there are still days when I am sore and tired from training . On days like that I think of how different my life could have been . I made a huge leap of faith to leave my office job and focus purely on running .”
“ I always remind myself that I might not feel like running today , but the big motivator for me is that life as a runner is much more enjoyable than being stuck in an office and going to work every day . So that is my biggest motivation . I also see my role as inspiring young athletes wanting to see me be successful . As South Africans , we are hungry for success stories , and sharing my story is therefore very important for me . I use that as motivation .”
Making It All Work
Of course , it ’ s not all just running , running , running for Gerda . “ Duncan and I spend a lot of time in the mountains , like the French Alps . Anything outdoors is a passion of mine . I like going hiking and biking . Also , Duncan is a pilot and spends a lot of time abroad , as his flights are usually one to four nights away , so we plan our schedule well . There are times when I don ’ t see him for two weeks , but he also gets some time off , and we make it work . Its sometimes quite surprising how well his occupation fits in with mine , and the fact that he is also a runner and knows it so well is very helpful for me .”
Looking Good , Feeling Good
As Gerda has racked up an impressive list of wins and podium finishes in high profile races , so she has appeared on television quite often , and one of the comments often heard from the commentary teams of race broadcasts is to do with her make-up . “ It ’ s quite funny , when I cross the finish line the commentators talk about my lipstick that is still in place , but I don ’ t think they know that I don ’ t even own a lipstick !” says Gerda .
I don ’ t use makeup , but I do take care of my skin . I think it ’ s important , especially as a female runner . I use sun protection to make sure my skin is protected from the sun . On the other hand , my hair sometimes goes crazy when I run and resembles a nest when I cross the line . I think females will always be conscious of their looks , but I tend not to focus too much on that . I think the joy of running is what makes me look better . There is no feeling like crossing that finish line in the world , and maybe it ’ s just that pure elation shining through .”
Instead of focusing on the outside , Gerda says she focus on what is going inside her body . “ Nutrition is key to performance and way more important than looks . It ’ s just as important as your training . You need to make sure as a runner that you fuel sufficiently and correctly , so it ’ s important to get enough carbohydrates and nutrients . Also , the day before a race I make sure I eat a bit earlier than usual . In the morning I have a cup of coffee and oats at least an hour before I run , and my system is used to it . The key is to find out what works for you , and trust in it , so that you can perform at your optimum ,” she says .
“ The amount of information and products one can use is overwhelming , but most important is to have a balanced diet . I make sure before training and racing that my nutrition is clean and enough to sustain me . However , I will have a cheat meal now and again , and will sometimes have a glass of wine when I am relaxing , or when I know I am not going to have a very important run the following day . It ’ s important to have that balance as well , and not simply to never allow yourself anything pleasurable .”
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