Glenrose Xaba faces tough September race choice

Xaba was the first South African home in the Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km on Sunday, finishing second in 31:38 behind Kenya’s Doreen Cherop, who set a new course record.

With a busy September ahead, Xaba must now balance her World Half-Marathon Championships campaign in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 19-20 September, with the Spar Women’s 10km Grand Prix series and another Absa Run Your City race.

The Gqeberha leg of the Grand Prix is scheduled for 26 September, while the Absa Run Your City Joburg race takes place on Heritage Day.

Xaba missed the Durban Grand Prix race earlier this year because of an international race in Atlanta.

She knows she cannot afford to drop too many more points as she chases what could be a record Grand Prix campaign.

The Tshwane victory has already given her valuable points, but the world championships remain her biggest priority.

“I can’t confirm my schedule for next month now. The priority is the world championships and then the Spar Ladies because I am chasing points and I have to collect them after losing one race in Durban,” Xaba told SABC Sport.

“So, I think I will do like last year, but I still have to confirm with my coach.”

Her strong run in Tshwane has also boosted her confidence ahead of the world championships.

“I am happy and it gives me confidence. To run 31:38 shows that I am in good condition to run a sub-31 if I get a 10km race after the world champs,” she said.

READ: Kenyans Salem Kibet and Doreen Cherop dominate Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km

Xaba admits she enjoys racing on home soil, where she feels the support of fans who know her well.

“I love to run here at home and that everyone knows me unlike abroad,” she added.

But for Xaba, competing at the world championships is more than just another race.

“It’s important because we plan and decide on what to do when it comes to renewing my running contract, which requires that I do at least one world champs every year. I will also do a marathon before the end of the year.” 

With her eyes firmly set on Copenhagen and the Grand Prix title, Xaba may have to sacrifice another Absa Run Your City race and this time it could be in Johannesburg.