This year’s event is set to take place on Sunday 14 April in Cape Town, and van Zyl will be hoping to go one better than her second-place finish in an impressive time of 03:30:31, which narrowly trailed race winner Gerda Steyn in 2022.

Despite her impressive list of achievements, which include four victories at the Soweto Marathon, the 36-year-old is determined to clinch that elusive Two Oceans title.

"It will be a good year if I can win Two Oceans and go to the Olympics and finish my unfinished business that's been going on for years now," joked van Zyl.

"So putting that into perspective, if I can win Two Oceans, I think I'll start drinking again, I'll celebrate so hard – no, I'm kidding.

"I want it bad, but if you want something too badly, I think it becomes an obsession and I don't want it to become an obsession, I want to still enjoy my running.

"So ja, I just want to be on the start line healthy, ready to race, and be my best, and whatever outcome I get, I know I've tried by best."

Van Zyl has already qualified for the Olympic Games Marathon in Paris later this year, but she still holds the haunting memory of failing to complete the full race in her previous Olympic attempt.

This leaves her with unfinished business, and is the driving force for her determination to complete the Games marathon for the first time in her fourth attempt.

"I think every time it's an Olympic year, I'm expecting it to be next level. I think it just brings better out of you, and all the athletes around you," she acknowledged.

"But I'm not yet secured in the team, I'm now third so I'm keeping in mind that I can go to the Olympics, and I want to go to the Olympics – don't get me wrong, I've got a score to settle there as well."

READ: Matthews Leeto and Irvette Van Zyl win big at Athletics Club awards

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