Professional trail runner Landie Greyling, victoriously crossing the finish line at this year’s RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town. PICTURE: STEPHEN GRANGER
South Africa’s professional trail runner Landie Greyling may have crossed the finish line of the 55km RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town just five seconds in front of Germany’s Kimi Schreiber, but the mother-of-two says it was the race of her career.
The Cape Town Trail Marathon which she won in October was her focus for the second half of the year, but Ms MGreyling said she was always “going to decide after that if I had one more race left in me,” after she had completed the 46km race.
“RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town is always a highlight on the calendar, it is such a great event community-wise and showcases Cape Town to the international runners,” she said.
“I decided to use my fitness and motivation after Cape Town Trail Marathon to give it one last shot for the season.” Her decision was sealed after Ultra-trail Cape Town race director Stuart McConnachie, sent her an invite, and she confirmed her participation in the new 55km event.
“I was excited about the route and the opportunity to line up against internationals, as with young children I didn’t have the chance to travel this year.”
Ms Greyling, who is married to professional trail runner and coach Christiaan, said she had overcome many obstacles between the two races. “I had personal challenges, missed key training sessions due to being emotionally, mentally, and physically tired.
I was very doubtful whether I should race in that state of mind.” Getting sick five days before the race didn’t help. “I got the green light from my doctor prior to the race, but there wasn’t much time to get myself mentally race-ready.”
The day before the race, feeling refreshed, she completed a run, sprint, and strides and “my body felt amazing, and I knew I would be disappointed if I didn’t line up and give it my best shot”.
Her race strategy was simple – to run her own race, start conservatively and use her past 14 years of trail running experience to her benefit.
“Although I started conservatively, two of the international athletes started very fast, and by the first check point I was already in third position trailing the leaders by one minute, and at the Hout Bay station, I was between four and five minutes behind.”
Ms Greyling didn’t feel like she was having her best day, “but I also knew I was holding back, so I hoped I would make up time as I went along.”
Like any endurance athlete, she had a section which was particularly difficult. “Between the Hout Bay and Constantia stations, I had a really tough time, I couldn’t eat or drink much and lost a further 10 minutes.” Fortunately, her form returned from Constantia Glen and she started feeling really good.
“I managed to keep the pace and maintain the gap with the front leader. At that time, I was in lying second, so I tried to keep the gap as small as I could, hoping I would have a better second half and catch up.”
With just 10km to go at the University of Cape Town station, she learned that the gap to the front was a “gigantic” 17 minutes. “I was also told that the third lady was only two minutes behind me. At that point I told myself ‘Landie, you are so far in, you’ve worked so hard these past few years, you can’t give up now - fight for the front.’ I knew there was no reason not to race my heart out.”
Without holding anything back, she said she completed the last 10km as if it was a 10km race. “I did the Block House climb like it was the start of the race. I took a gel and a crampnot and went as hard as I could.”
With seven kilometres to the finish line, Ms Greyling came upon the woman’s race leader, Ms Schreiber, standing still. “As I passed her, I asked if she was okay and she didn’t respond, so she must have been in agony. I decided to do my thing and race.”
Realising that victory was within her grasp, Ms Greyling ran “conservatively hard”, knowing that a runner behind her could still triumph. Just three kilometres from the finish line, Ms Schreiber appeared. “She had led the whole day and didn’t want to give up. My animal instinct kicked in, I bolted onto the boardwalk, managing to get a little gap, and finished a few seconds ahead of her.”
Overwhelmed with her dramatic victory, Ms Greyling said everything had come together in a unique way. “I would never have anticipated that this would be how my year ended – with the race of my career. I am relived and grateful for support of the trail community and my sponsors for believing in me and backing me.”