Gerda Steyn reflects on remarkable year as she targets 2026 goals

Steyn, who clocked 2:37:00 for third place, called the People’s Race the toughest marathon in the country.

Her 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular.

She defended both her Comrades Marathon and Two Oceans Marathon titles with record-breaking performances, reinforcing her status as the undisputed queen of South African road running.

Steyn also began the year with a lucrative deal after signing with the Hollywood Athletics Club in Durban, a partnership that further elevated her profile.

"I think I can go and relax now, and know that I've had a fantastic year. I'm really honoured to have achieved the results I've had even without a 1st place finish here at the Soweto Marathon."

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Looking ahead, the double Olympic marathon runner says her main focus for 2026 will be to defend her crowns in her two favourite races — the Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon.

Steyn has already won the Comrades four times and holds a record six titles at Two Oceans.

"In 2026, I'm already looking forward to another wonderful year of running Ultra's, my beloved races-the Two Oceans and the Comrades. I'll also be incorporating some other races around it."

The Hollywood Athletics Club super star typically reserves one international marathon each year, and she says she will only decide later in 2026 whether she will head to Europe for her overseas race.

Her decision will depend on successfully defending her domestic titles, as she also weighs up whether to run the Cape Town Marathon in May 2026.