Tshepo Tshite reflects on Absa Run Your City debut in Gqeberha

Fresh from a record-breaking European indoor campaign, where he twice lowered the South African 3000m record, Tshite enjoyed a stunning debut on Sunday as he clocked a 28:09 – just behind winner Adriaan Wildschutt (27:47) and Kenya's Isaac Diema (28:01).

Very few had tipped Tshite – a pure track athlete coached by Samuel Sepeng in Tshwane – to make the podium against seasoned road runners, but he described the experience as tough but satisfactory.

“It was not bad even though it was windy, but I am happy with the results. The goal was to come here and finish the 10km because it was my first time," said Tshite. 

"I expected to feel pain after 6km, but I was still fresh. I only started feeling it after 8km. The wind was too strong, at times I felt like it could lift me and throw me into the sea. 

"From 1km to 6km it was manageable, but the last 4km were very tough.”

READ: Jepchirchir keen to return to SA after maiden 10km victory

Despite the eye-catching performance, the 29-year-old made it clear that road running is not yet his primary focus, as his immediate attention now shifts back to the track ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled from 23 July to 2 August.

“The plan this year was to do just one 10km. Maybe next year I will do two, and then in the third year I can move to the road permanently,” he explained.

“I am trying to move gradually – I started with 800m, moved to 1 500m, and now I am focusing on the 5 000m on the track. I know there is a lot of money on the road, but I don’t want to skip steps. 

"I respect the process. I cannot jump to the 10km and leave the 5 000m. I want to improve my 5 000m first, especially for the Commonwealth Games.”