INSPIRATION |
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Images: Two Oceans Marathon |
Q: Hi Gerda, thanks so much for making yourself available for a chat for our new Two Oceans digimag.
GS: It’ s an absolute pleasure, and I’ m always happy to talk about the Two Oceans!
Q: First things first, will you be running the 2026 Two Oceans Ultra Marathon? I know top athletes sometimes only announce their plans closer to the time, but can you confirm your entry yet?
GS: I’ m 100 % in for Two Oceans 2026, and unless some disaster strikes, I’ ll be there. I wouldn’ t miss it for anything in the world.
Q: So, let’ s start by going back to your first Two Oceans in 2016, when you finished 14th in 4 hours, 15 minutes. Back then, you were still relatively unknown in running circles, but you certainly made a strong impression with a top 20 finish. I know it is already a decade ago, but what are your memories of that day?
GS: I’ ve got strong memories of every run at Two Oceans. They’ re all unique, and they all stood out in their own unique way, so I actually remember that first run quite well. It was also my first experience being included in an elite field, or
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an elite team, so it was a first-time experience on many levels. I remember that I was very, very nervous, even though I had trained well for that race, but still being very new to running, and especially to competing, I felt quite nervous. I didn’ t know what to expect at all, and during the race, I did feel a little bit out of my depth, as if I was caught a little bit in the headlights, but I also remember being blown away by how amazing the race was, with the size of the crowds and the race itself, and the spirit of the runners around me. When I finished, I knew I wanted to do it again, and to come back and improve my time.
Q: You won the race in your second outing in 2018. Tell me about that transition from newcomer to winner.
GS: I missed the 2017 race because of an injury, so coming into the 2018 race, I still had just the single Two Oceans medal, and I’ d never had a top 10 finish, but a lot had happened in the two years since my first Oceans. I had managed to
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improve my marathon time quite significantly, and seen improvements on all levels of my running, so I came into that race with quite a bit more confidence, and I felt a lot more prepared, knowing what to expect of the race itself. I remember before the race, some journalists mentioned my name as one of the favourites, but I was definitely not the standout favourite. Still, that gave me quite an emotional boost, knowing that I was starting to make a name for myself, and starting to get noticed.
In the race itself, I started to pick off quite a few ladies climbing up Chapman’ s Peak, and when I got to the marathon mark in Hout Bay, I was in second position. By the time I got to the top of Constantia Nek, I was in first place, for the first time in my Two Oceans career! Before the
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