Van Zyl aims to carry good form into Cape Town
After spending much of the year sidelined with an injury, Irvette Van Zyl has shown some good run of form on the road of late, as she prepares for the 10km at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Peace Run.
In September, she produced a scintillating 34:34 clinching third spot in a tough Absa Run Your City Joburg 10k. Then on the 1st of October, she responded with another third-place finish in the final leg of SPAR Women’s 10k race in Johannesburg.
The 36-year Hollywood Athletics Club elite runner, who represented South Africa in the marathon in the World Athletics Championship in August and finished 45th overall, says she has surprised herself with these wonderful performances.
“I didn’t expect to place third in both races recently because the competition is tough. I am doing loaded weeks of mileage for marathon training, so I’ve been racing on tired legs. I’m super happy the training is paying off. I have had four weeks of good consistent training after the World Championships that was at the end of August. I’m happy with the progress and the speed is slowly catching up as well, ” she said.
The former 50km World Record holder will be hoping to maintain her red-hot form when she tackles the 10km distance at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Peace Run on the 14th of October.
“I am excited to race in Cape Town. The past two races I have done now were in Johannesburg, and it was very hilly. Cape Town will be flat and fast. Fingers crossed if the weather is good, I can run a good time.”
Van Zyl has fond memories of running the race and hoping for favourable results on race day.
“I have run the marathon twice and the 10km once. I have good and bad memories racing there, but mostly good. The atmosphere is fantastic, and it is a special race to be a part of. Cape Town is a beautiful city to run in and I am hoping to run sub 33 minutes and place on the podium. If I can manage to do both, I will be super happy.”