Gerda Steyn treated her historic fifth Comrades Marathon charge like her final race, banking a record R2.322 million payout in the process. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Gerda Steyn revealed that adopting a "run it like it's my last race" mentality helped drive her to a fifth successive Comrades Marathon title and a record-breaking payday on Sunday.
The South African ultra-marathon queen stormed to victory in 5:44:53, shattering her own Up Run record and securing a haul of at least R2.322 million after collecting the winner's prize, first South African bonus, and incentives for the fastest Up Run time and average pace.
Speaking after her latest triumph, Steyn said the performance was the culmination of months of planning and preparation.
"It's an honour for me to sit here again today and to come away with a new course record. It's what I've been working for and what I've been dreaming about since the start of the year — actually since the last time I ran Comrades," she said.
The 35-year-old had spoken before the race about approaching the challenge as though it would be her final Up Run, a mindset she believes helped unlock another memorable performance.
"I said before the race that I'm going to run as if it's my last race, and that's what I did. I didn't need to leave anything out on the route. I could just give it my all."
Yet, any suggestion that Steyn's remarkable Comrades journey may be nearing its end was quickly dismissed.
"Now that I've crossed the finish line, I know for a fact it was far from my last time lining up for this race. I can't imagine life without it now. I can't imagine life without it."
For Steyn and Comrades, the love affair is clearly far from over.