Gerda Steyn, Givemore Mudzinganyama, Stephen Mokoko - Two Oceans Ultra Marathon runners to watch
Have you placed your bets yet on the favourites to win this weekend's Two Oceans Marathon?
Gerda Steyn, Two Oceans Marathon winner 2023
John Maytham talks about the Two Oceans Marathonto with Mike Finch, editor of 'Runner's World'.
The 56-kilometre Ultra Marathon is on Saturday 13 April, while the 21-kilometre Half Marathon is the next day on Sunday the 14th.
Both races start in Claremont along Main Road and Dean Street, and finish at UCT's upper campus rugby fields.
The Ultra is scheduled to start at 5.15am, while the Half Marathon is set to for a 6.15am start.
RELATED: Two Oceans Marathon road closures
Finch says 13,000 runners have entred the Ultra, and 16,000 are set to be on the raod for the Half Marathon.
But who will take first place?
Current women's champion, Gerda Steyn, is top of mind, and Finch is 'excited to see if she breaks her own record this year'.
Steyn's current record sits at 3:29:06, which was 'extraordinary' to see in 2023.
RELATED: Gerda Steyn, Two Oceans Ultra Marathon record-breaker, focused on 5th consecutive win
In the men's category, Stephen Mokoko, former South African marathon champion and 'arguably the fastest runner in South Africa', is a top contender, according to Finch.
Finch says Mokoko represented South Africa in the Olympics and is competing in the Two Oceans Ultra for the first time, as part of his training for the Olympics in Paris later this year.
However, will Mokoko's efforts be enough to beat current champ, Zimbabwean Givemore Mudzinganyama, who won with a time of 3:09 last year?
RELATED: Firefighters to run Two Oceans marathon in full gear for charity
"The Two Oceans Half Marathon established itself as the main half marathon to win in South Africa, so it's one of the top half marathons to win in the country."
Mike Finch, editor of 'Runner's World' - Two Oceans Marathon
Scroll up to listen to the full conversation.