Nedbank Running Club Green Dream Team member Gerda Steyn continues her dominant climb in South African women’s running. The 28 year old athlete, coached by National Club manager and former Comrades winner Nick Bester, seems to run a new pb every time she steps into her Nike racing shoes.
After winning the Dubai 10km in 34:02 3 weeks back, Steyn took part in one of the Worlds most competitive Half Marathon fields ever in the Rak Half Marathon. With 13 sub 70:00 women runners on the start line, Steyn and coach Bester set a plan to run under 73:00 minutes and that’s exactly what they did. Steyn ran a massive pb to finish 9th in 72:35.
“Before the race Nick said that I must go out at 3:25 per km and just stick to that pace but it was hard as I ran literally on my own for most of the race,” said Steyn afterwards. And stick to that pace she did, with every km split not more than 5 secs apart throughout the race.
The time ranks Steyn as 13th fastest all time South African over the half marathon distance. With the progression that Steyn is showing, by the end of this year she will definitely be climbing the rankings. With her main focus being on this year’s Comrades Marathon and showing tremendous speed over the half and full marathons, Steyn most certainly will be the one to beat in this year’s up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.