Gerda Steyn shares her philosophical approach to ultra running success as she prepares for the Comrades Marathon, emphasising the importance of a dedicated lifestyle and clear goals. Picture: Gerda Steyn/Facebook
Image: Gerda Steyn/Facebook
As the Comrades Marathon edges ever closer to its June 14 start, women’s race favourite Gerda Steyn has taken a moment to reflect on her training journey.
With the gap between Two Oceans and the Comrades Marathon relatively small for recreational and elite runners alike, it’s especially important to manage training for both races extremely carefully.
That’s not an issue for the Smiling Assassin though, as Steyn has incredible attention to detail in her approach as a professional athlete.
In a post accompanied by a picture of Steyn standing in front of a picturesque mountain range in France, Steyn gave insight into her current mental state.
“POV: This is your 9 to 5,” said Steyn.
“Except, I left out the 99% of work that is required to make it happen. And I am not talking about motivation, I am talking about a lifestyle that allows you to dedicate your time and energy to staying healthy, getting fitter, and being able to keep at it, uninterrupted.
“It’s about making decisions that will favour your endeavours and even more important: Saying no to anything that doesn’t support it.
It’s not hard though, when your goals are clear.
“Find what you love.
Give it all you’ve got.
Don’t quit too early.”
Sage words indeed from the queen of ultra running in South Africa.
Steyn’s confirmed earnings for 2026 currently stand at R380,000, following her victory at the Two Oceans Marathon in April.
The big financial swing in Steyn’s 2026 season though, is likely to come at the Comrades Marathon.
For the 2026 race, the winner’s prize stands at R925,000, with the first SA runner bonus also standing at R242,000. That means Steyn could potentially earn R1,160,000 from victory.
And that’s before factoring in additional incentives such as pace bonuses, hot spot primes, or course record rewards — which historically have pushed her total well beyond the base prize.
For context, Steyn earned over R1.6 million from her Comrades victory in 2025 once all bonuses were included, highlighting how lucrative a dominant run can be.