By Adnaan Mohamed
When you’ve conquered the country’s toughest ultra-marathons and shattered records with a stride as smooth as a metronome in motion, you earn your place on the throne. Gerda Steyn, South Africa’s undisputed road running royalty, has not only rewritten the record books—she’s redefined what’s possible on tar. Now, the multiple Comrades and Two Oceans champion is shifting focus from gold medals to guiding the masses.
This spring, as the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon gears up for a historic run at World Marathon Major status, Gerda is inviting every runner—novice and elite alike—into her inner circle with a powerful new tool: the Road to Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Training Plan. It’s a 14-week roadmap forged in the fires of experience, designed to take South Africans on the journey of a lifetime, one stride at a time.
The Queen’s Plan
“Training for a marathon is as much about mental preparation as it is physical,” says Steyn. “With this plan, I’ve created a programme that supports runners every step of the way, from their first training run to the finish line. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this journey and to help more South Africans believe in their potential to go the distance.”
And that’s what makes this plan more than just a schedule—it’s a philosophy. It blends structured weekly runs, long runs, strength and recovery sessions, mindset tools, and nutrition guidance into a holistic system that speaks to real athletes with real lives. It’s not just about chasing times—it’s about building belief.
Available to adiClub members via points redemption in the adidas app, Gerda’s plan gives Modern Athletes across the country access to world-class coaching—without the price tag of a personal trainer.
Run With Purpose: Road to a World Major
With adidas as technical sponsor, this year’s Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is on a mission much bigger than the race itself: it’s aiming to become the first African race to achieve World Marathon Major status by 2026. That goal hinges on hitting a key milestone in 2025—15,000 marathon finishers.
That’s where Gerda’s training programme, comes in.
To help rally the community, adidas has re-ignited its Run for Africa campaign. Back for the third consecutive year, the initiative rewards every runner who starts, runs and finishes the full 42.2km in adidas Running footwear with a R2,000 adidas online voucher.
“Run for Africa is more than a campaign, it’s a call to action to unite, uplift and inspire runners across South Africa and beyond,” says Tom Brown, adidas South Africa’s Senior Brand Director.
“As we work toward World Marathon Major status in 2026, we want every runner to know they’re not just chasing a finish line—they’re part of something historic.”
Whether you’re aiming for a sub-3 or just trying to finish before the cutoff, your presence on that start line matters.
adidas Boston 13: The Shoe with a Story
No journey is complete without the right gear—and adidas has delivered with the Adizero Boston 13 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Edition. This limited-edition racing shoe is more than just tech—it’s a tribute to the city, the route, and the runners chasing greatness.
Draped in vibrant lucid red, it features a map of the marathon route on the insole, a flame logo symbolising Africa’s ambition on the medial tab, and custom printed shoelace aglets for that extra touch of class. It’s available at R3,299 online and in select adidas stores.
Fast. Fierce. Functional. It’s built for Boston… but inspired by Cape Town.
Join the Movement
Cape Town is calling. Not just to seasoned elites, but to everyday runners, weekend warriors, and first-timers itching to prove something to themselves.
With Gerda Steyn as your coach, adidas as your supporter, and Cape Town’s golden streets as your stage, the next 14 weeks could redefine your limits.
Because this marathon is about more than medals. It’s about movement. Momentum. And making history.
Download the adidas app. Join adiClub. Follow the plan. And lace up for your marathon moment.
#GerdaSteyn #RunForAfrica #CapeTownMarathon
