Adam Lipschitz talks big, then blows the record away as purple queen Irvette Van Zyl storms back.
Adam Lipschitz came with a big mouth and an even bigger engine. By the time he crossed the Gun Run finish line, the record was toast.
The Social Runners Club KZN speed merchant did exactly what he promised before the OUTsurance Gun Run Half Marathon, turning his pre-race swagger into a blistering 1:02:21 course record.
Talk is cheap in running. Seconds are expensive.
Lipschitz paid in full.
The 2025 Gun Run 10km winner hit the Cape Town roads with the course record in his crosshairs, using a series of fartlek-style surges to keep his rivals guessing before dropping the hammer with about 19km remaining.
The field could only watch his heels disappear.
Hollywood Athletics Club’s Joseph Seutloali had owned the previous record. Now Lipschitz owns the bragging rights.
Seutloali finished second in 1:02:53, with teammate Tsépo Ramashamole third in 1:03:13.
Lloyd Bosman, a former Gun Run winner, was fourth in 1:03:28, while local hope Anthony Timoteus finished fifth in 1:04:06.
And then the Hollywood purple brigade produced another knockout punch.
After seven years away from the Gun Run Half Marathon, Irvette van Zyl returned like she had never left, powering to victory in 1:14:03.
At 39, the veteran showed the youngsters that experience still has plenty of mileage in its tank.
Van Zyl admitted the race was tough, with Friday’s rain leaving Cape Town humid and the redesigned route throwing plenty of surprises at her.
The course served up undulating pavements, cobblestones and a two-kilometre hill that disrupted her rhythm.
“I would have hoped to run closer to 73, but I just couldn’t get my rhythm going the first 12-ish kilometres,” she told The Ahlete on Sunday.
Once she conquered the hill and reached the road and promenade, the purple locomotive finally found its tracks.
“I’m happy with today and happy with the win,” Van Zyl said.
Her warning for a future Gun Run should concern the field: knowing the route next time could mean an even faster performance.
Defending champion and clubmate Busisiwe Chamane was second in 1:17:24, with former champion Fortunate Chidzivo third in 1:18:23.
Hollywood’s purple party had already started rolling on Saturday when veteran Stephen Mokoka, 41, blitzed the 10km in 29:36.
Awethu Ntsotho finished second in 29:49, while Eersterivier AC junior Beautin Van der Westhuizen took third in 30:02.
The women’s 10km belonged to Olga Firsova, who stopped the clock at 35:17. Yandiswa Shange was second in 38:12, followed by Nadia Turton in 39:08.
The Gun Run lived up to its name.
The bullets were fired. The records fell. And Hollywood’s purple army left Cape Town owning the weekend.
17km Trail Run Winners
Images: Courtesy of OUTsurance Gun Run and AAC
FIND OUTSURANCE GUN RUN RESULTS HERE:
