Barely a week after she broke her 10km PB at a race in Abu Dhabi Gerda Steyn did it again! The Nedbank Running Club athlete and 4th place finisher and the 2017 Comrades Marathon, finished first lady overall at the 10km event of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in a new PB of 34:29.
This comes a week after she won a 10km race in Abu Dhabi last week, smashing her then PB in a time of 35:36, and that on a course that was roughly 400m too long.
Yesterday’s race was a dream come true for Gerda, who after her race last week said: Sub-35:00; I am coming for you!”
She is super stoked after yesterday’s PB. “Stoked to hold this trophy in my hands today. This was my first time winning an event of this scale and pleased to have improved my 10km PB time to 34:29. It was a matter of digging deep and stepping out of my comfort zone but no regrets after crossing the finish line! I am thankful to have a wonderful team and the best coach (Nedbank Running Club Manager Nick Bester) to guide me. Here’s to many more miles on the road in 2018.”
Gerda, who in November last year set her marathon PB at the Valencia Marathon in Spain at 2:37:19, is focussing on the 2018 Comrades Marathon.
“I am returning to South Africa on Monday and will spend the first 6 months of the year there training and racing. I am working with Nick on a more short-term basis at the moment. I have signed up for numerous races but am still undecided on which ones I will be racing. Looking forward to being back on home soil!”
The 27-year-old is seen as one of the favourites to line up at the 2018 Comrades Marathon. The women’s race promises to be an exhilarating event this year with some of the most competitive women on the starting line.