Johannesburg will turn purple on Saturday as 8,000 runners flood the streets for the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10K. And leading the charge are two multiple Comrades Marathon champions, Gerda Steyn and Tete Dijana.
The second edition of the popular race starting and finishing at the Wanderers Club in Illovo on Saturday morning will be Broadcast Live on SABC from 07:30.
Steyn, the four-time Comrades (89km) and six-time Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56Km) winner, lines up in Hollywood Athletic colours against 10km specialists Cacisile Sosibo, Karabo Mailula and Ntsoaki Mohlahlu.
Hollywoodbets Joburg 10k Female Elite Athletes Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
For her, it’s less about medals and more about sharpening up for next month’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.
“This course isn’t flat as a pancake …it’s got hills that bite,” she said.
“I think also to have a race like this where you not so focused on time is something that you can learn from. You don’t just have to focus on having the exact same split on your watch for every kilometre.
“It’s about maintaining and gauging your effort. There is also the racing strategy and the dynamics around managing yourself against the rest of the competitors.
Steyn describes the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10k as the perfect race to manage effort and strategy instead of chasing splits.
“This race almost forces you to focus on something slightly different than just the time on your watch and the splits through every 5km.
“I think you can only learn and grow from that. Those are the lessons I need going into race day at Cape Town Marathon,” added Steyn.
A heated battle is expected in the men’s race where Dijana, the three-time Comrades Down Run champion, admits he’s out of his comfort zone over 10km.
Against the jet-heeled Thabang Mosiako, Stephen Mokoka and Cwenga Nose, the Mafikeng marvel is realistic:
Hollywoodbets Joburg 10K Males Elite Athletes Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
“I don’t have the speed of guys like Thabang Mosiako or Stephen Mokoka,” he laughed.
“My best is 32 minutes is slower than Glenrose Xaba! But racing them makes me stronger. If they step into Comrades territory, I’ll show them.”
At just 38kg, the Nedbank star saves his energy for the long haul.
Tete Dijana Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
“You can’t juggle Two Oceans, marathons and Comrades in one year. Only Stephen Muzhingi did that. I’ll always choose Comrades.”
Saturday’s Joburg 10K may belong to the speedsters, but with Steyn and Dijana on the line, the city gets a rare treat with two ultra legends testing their legs on the challenging hilly route.
