Comrades Marathon: Gerda Steyn chases historic fifth title with ‘last race’ mindset

GERDA Steyn has approached this year’s Comrades Marathon with a simple but powerful mindset: run it as if it might be her last Up Run.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The four-time champion and defending winner will line up in Durban on Sunday chasing an unprecedented fifth consecutive Comrades title, but the South African ultramarathon queen says her greatest motivation has come from treating the race as though she may never get the opportunity again.

“This year in training already, I told myself I am training for this race as if it’s the last time I get to run the Up Run,” said Steyn, ahead of the 50th official Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

“I hope it’s not the last time, but I trained like it would be the last time.

“I told myself in training I give my 110% and I will be standing on the start line knowing that I’ve given my everything for the whole year. My mantra on Sunday is to run as if I'll never get this chance again.”

That approach has sharpened Steyn’s focus as she prepares for another assault on a race she has made her own.