“My Leg Had Been Going Numb for Seven Years” – Van Zyl

The race at the 2019 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN on Sunday, 13 October 2019, is shaping up to be arguably the most fiercely contested in the three years of the event.

Already confirmed are the defending champion, Stella Chesang and the world’s fastest for 2019 and second fastest ever, Sheila Chepkirui. On the South African front, in form Glenrose Xaba, the darling of South African road running, Gerda Steyn and new Zimbabwe record holder, Fortunate Chidzivo have already been confirmed.

Now, 2018’s third-place finisher, Irvette van Zyl and Kenya’s Beatrice Mutai have been added to the line-up. For van Zyl, 2019 has not been the easiest year. For years she has struggled to identify an injury that she seemed to be running with that forced her to walk on her long runs. “After copious amounts of tests, we finally figured out that my left iliac artery was trapped by a ligament. My leg would just go numb when I ran hard or long. In races I ran through it, but in training it was a different story,” says the 32-year-old.

After surgery on 1 July, van Zyl started the long road to recovery. “It hasn’t been easy. My leg had been going numb for seven years, so now with the blood flowing easily I am experiencing cramps. I am still learning to recover properly.”

“I am optimistic that I will give a good showing of myself.” – SA Runner, Irvette van Zyl

But van Zyl is already showing signs of getting back to her best. On 18 August, six weeks after surgery, she was back on the roads, finishing 7th in the ladies’ race in Pietermaritzburg, clocking 34:21 on not the easiest of courses.

“I am looking forward to returning to Durban.  I am of course not in the same kind of shape as I was in 2018 (van Zyl clocked a PB and came desperately close to breaking 32 minutes when she finished in 32:06), but I am optimistic that I will give a good showing of myself. This is such a fantastic race and there are always really good athletes in Durban, so I am excited and am looking for a 32 again.”

Van Zyl is renowned as a tough, hard racer and a fighter with a never say die attitude. She says she still has some time left to hone her form for the big day on 13 October and South Africans can be confident that she will deliver her best come race day.

Joining the illustrious line up is Kenya’s Beatrice Mutai. Like van Zyl, Mutai is 32-years-old, an age that seems to be delivering some scintillating performances. Mutai boasts a 10km best of 31:28, run in Tilden (Texas) in 2017. She finished 4th in Kabarnet, Kenya in the 10km on 24 August this year, clocking 33:46. Kabarnet lies at an altitude of 1800m, showing that Mutai will be in good form come 13 October. “I want to knock off a big chunk from my PB time. I am looking for a sub 30.25 which gives me a shot at the win.”

Sheila Chepkirui has gone 29:57 on 7 September this year, the second fastest time ever and the best of 2019. Chepkirui will be sure to set a fast pace on the fast and flat course of Durban. With the stacked field and with more athletes to be confirmed, the women’s race will be a big showpiece for 2019.

Photo 1 Caption: Irvette van Zyl on her way to a third-place finish at the 2018 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN. Photo: Tobias Ginsberg

With editing by gsport