While superstars Stephen Mokoka and Gerda Steyn top the bill at tomorrow’s Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (Saturday 13 April), a number of other marathoners are waiting in the wings, ready to step up to the top of the podium, should royalty fall.
One of the most talented and experienced is treble-Olympian, Irvette van Zyl, who would like nothing better than to pocket a Two Oceans Marathon title en route to taking part in her fourth Olympiad in Paris in August.
When you better a thirty-two-year-old record but still fall short of victory, it’s something of a bitter-sweet pill to swallow, but that’s what happened to Van Zyl two years ago.
She had overtaken strong-running east African ultra-marathoners, Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki and Amelwork Bosho from Ethiopia on the climb to Constantia Nek and looked every inch a winner as she led the field over the top.
But Steyn came back from a ‘dark place’ to finish strongly, taking the lead less than 3km from home to beat Frith van der Merwe’s long-standing record and become the first woman to break the 3 hr 30 min barrier. Steyn won in 3:29:41, just 49 seconds clear of Van Zyl, who finished in 3:30:30 – six seconds inside the previous record.
Van Zyl missed last year’s Oceans through injury and she feels she has significant unfinished business with the Cape’s great ultra-marathon, although she is not prepared to specifically target Steyn’s record of 3:29:06 set last year.
“The Two Oceans is a long way and it’s hard for anyone to say they’re going for record,” reflected Van Zyl. “Records only come in hindsight – after the race as a bonus. My goal is simply to finish strongly and not fall apart like I did in 2019 on Ou Kaapse Weg.
“And although it may not have been apparent, I also fell apart a little in 2022 when I cramped on Constantia Nek before being overtaken by Gerda. So I’m going into the race to be the best I can be on the day, not focusing on others. Mostly I want to overcome the heartache of last year, when injury prevented me from even reaching the start line.
“But my sponsors have been great,” Van Zyl acknowledged. “ASICS have been a huge supporter and stuck with me through injury. And Garmin as well. My club Hollywood has been really lenient, encouraging and understanding.
“Ahead of Oceans last year I was really hoping I would run, then felt terrible when I broke the news to them that I could not do it. I want to make it up to them for last year. Being at Two Oceans with my sponsors means a lot and I’m aiming to make them proud.”
Van Zyl is confident of her ability but realistic about racing Steyn, particularly given her many life responsibilities as a mother of two. “Gerda is one of a kind. She showed last year she could run a fast marathon after racing the ultras. This year she has already run a marathon (Vaal Marathon) then the Om Die Dam ultra in record time and within her comfort zone. So she’s looking strong.
“I’m three years older than Gerda and have a lot more miles in my legs,” Van Zyl conceded. “It’s important for me not to overdo the long runs, and to keep running comfortably. You can only train so hard, especially as I’m balancing a number of things, including being a mother of two. The rest is up to luck.”
Van Zyl has opted to ‘go it alone’ rather than continue to train under a full-time coach, but also has the benefit of having one of South Africa’s most experienced athletes and coaches as her husband, fellow-Olympian LJ van Zyl. “I don’t have a coach anymore,” Van Zyl said. “I’ve had good and bad experiences, but I’m done with coaching! That means I can listen to my own body and determine what’s best for me.
“I do use LJ as a sounding board though. I ask his advice and he always changes things up a bit. He has achieved all the levels of coaching for middle and long distance running and what he says usually pans out quite well. Especially so in the long runs, where he is always on the conservative side – I’m too ambitious!”
Van Zyl is mindful of the need to take a holistic approach to her training, taking into account her responsibilities outside running and the importance of bringing balance to her life. “There are many different aspects that make up my full training programme. I’m currently focusing a lot on my health and also becoming mentally stronger.
“With new shoe technology, one recovers faster so athletes are running longer distances. But for me to fit in 200 km per week is impossible, so I try and play it out and make best of the kilometres I can fit in on the road. And with regards shoe technology, I’m fortunate to have ASICS on board to give me the best advantage on the road on race day.”
The feeling is mutual with ASICS clearly upbeat about their Two Oceans sponsorship and involvement and their strong association with Van Zyl, in particular. “Our sponsorship of local events increases our brand visibility and engagement with the South African running community,” said Marc Gibson, Head of Sales at ASICS South Africa. “Our conversation through our Front Runner and Local Professional Athlete partnerships, such as with Van Zyl, will remain a priority.
That Van Zyl will be racing Two Oceans in the ASICS ‘Metaspeed Sky Paris’ shoe is entirely appropriate, pointing to her date with the Paris Olympic Marathon in August. “I believe Two Oceans will help my preparation for Paris as the training for the two will be similar. And the hill training I’m doing for Oceans would help with any marathon, especially the Paris Olympics Marathon, which has over 400m in total elevation.
“Gerda has shown that running ultras does not necessarily make you slower – in her case she seems to have got even faster! As I’m getting older, I find the load on my body from running ultras is actually easier. (Racing) shorter distances at speed hurt my body more. In training for an ultra, you can do more running at a slower pace.”
Whatever happens on the day, Irvette van Zyl will strengthen her already substantial partnership with the Two Oceans Marathon, one which started fifteen years ago and includes two victories (in 2016 and 2017) and four second positions in the Half Marathon and two runners-up places in the 56km Ultra-marathon (2019 and 2022).
“It’s great to be a part of Two Oceans again – it’s a special race and Oceans is my Comrades!” said Van Zyl. “This year’s already been hard and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. It will mean a lot to be on the Oceans podium.”
