INSEPHE of the South African female runner, Gerda Steyn, revealed that running this year’s Comrades Marathon as the last one was the key to victory in the fifth up run from Durban to Mgungundlovu, yesterday.
Gerda (36) not only won this race for the fifth time but also set the third and second up run record (skinned) with a time of 5:44:53, breaking the 5:49:46 she recorded in 2024.
He still holds another down run of 5:44:54 which he recorded in 2023.
“It means a lot to me to sit here again (at the press conference), I have come back with another new race record. I am working hard to achieve what I have wished and dreamed about, since the beginning of the year. In fact, since I last ran Comrades (last year),” said Gerda at a press conference in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg.
“I said before the race that I would run it as if it were the last time and it happened as I intended. I gave all my strength.”
Asked if she might have been running this race for the last time, this lady from Bothaville, Free State, quickly denied that.
“It’s still a long way from me hitting the finish line for the last time in this race. At the moment I can’t imagine my life without Comrades,” he said.
Gerda lamented that she walked away with a sum of R2,3 million when all the prizes she won in this race are combined.
It includes R925 000 for winning the race, R242 000 for being the first South African runner to set a new race record and R550 000 for the fastest women’s record.
Men’s winner George Kusche took home R605 000, which includes R925 000 for winning the race and R242 000 for being the South African runner to set a new race record.
Kusche (27) who placed 12th last year when he started running this race, and who was not expected to win this race, admitted that it was difficult to win this race, since he was trying his luck but it worked out for him.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I knew I was trying my luck but it happened as I wished,” said Kusche who passed Mbuti Mollo who was rolling ahead, with 10km left to reach the finish line.
“Even though my stomach turned, I refused to give up hope, I continued until the end.”