Gerda Steyn’s Two Oceans Marathon Strava numbers are very impressive

South Africa’s ultra-marathon queen Gerda Steyn won an incredible fifth consecutive Two Oceans Marathon victory on Saturday, 13 April.

Steyn, 34, smashed her own course record over the 56km route, stopping the clock on the University of Cape Town’s rugby fields in a time of 3:26:54.

The previous record, which Steyn set in 2023, stood at 3:29:06.

Steyn won the race in 2018 and 2019, and then again from 2022-2024.

The races in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fellow South African Irvette van Zyl, who was pre-race seen as Steyn’s main threat, fought valiantly, but ultimately had to settle for second place in a time of 3:29:30.

Zimbabwe’s Loveness Madziva rounded off the women’s podium finishing in third place in 3:38:00.

Steyn now has her sights set on winning the Comrades ‘up’ run on 9 June.

GERDA STEYN CELEBRATED IN STYLE

They say ‘if it isn’t on Strava then it didn’t happen’ – so we took a closer look at Steyn’s Strava numbers.

Running a time of 3:26:54 for 56km, one would expect some fast kilometre splits, but Steyn’s stats were off the charts!

For interest’s sake, Steyn’s fastest kilometre was the 52nd which she covered in 3:18, closely followed by the 48th in 3:19.

Her slowest kilometre was the 46th in 4:57 as she ascended Constantia Nek.

Post-race, as has now become custom, Steyn headed for Foresters Arms – or ‘Forries’ as the popular Newlands watering hole is better known.

Proving she’s a good sport both on the road and off it, Steyn graciously accepted the challenge of a beer down-down – in impressive style!

Steyn did the same last year.

Meanwhile, tragically, two deaths over the Two Oceans Marathon weekend marred the race in many respects.