Seen here: Elroy Gelant in action during the 2018 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN where he placed 6th in a time of 30:23.
Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg
South African 5000m record holder, Elroy Gelant is looking to wind down a very successful 2019 at the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN with a fast time on Sunday 13 October 2019.
Gelant has been in scintillating form this year with two wins, a second place and a 7th place at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN on the road.
“The FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN is the perfect way for me to wind down my year. I know that the race is fast and the target for me in particular in Durban is to run fast. If a sub 28 is on the cards, then that is what I want,” says Gelant.
Gelant is a regular at the FNB Run Your City Series, having missed only the 2018 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN due to an operation. For Gelant the series is always part of his annual race planning. “I have travelled to Europe and other parts of the world to race. You get tired. So being able to race amongst the best in the world on home soil, with full road closure is brilliant. I am rested. Having such deep competition contend at home raises my standard and that of South African road running. Joshua Cheptegei has raced in Durban twice and has run a low 27. That is good for us. I know that I will need to be in good shape, because the race will be fast.”
Gelant’s assessment of the FNB Run Your City Series is accurate. With two IAAF Label races, the series has a fully-fledged Elite Invitational Programme, where not only international athletes are contracted to compete in the three races that make up the series, but so are South Africa’s finest.
“You really have to take your hat off to Stillwater Sports for how they put on the races and how they look after us,” said Gelant. “We are flown to the events, we are made good offers to compete in the races and we know we will face a deep field. This is a really good initiative.”
The FNB Run Your City Series’ Elite Invitational Programme secures athletes to compete in the series, allowing South Africa’s best to showcase their talent. A fast time on an accurately measured course means that South African athletes are more and more being invited to international road races, a clear sign that one of the series’ objectives of improving the standard of South African Road Running, is working.
In spite of running a marathon the week before the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN, Gelant is still looking to give a good account of himself in the Johannesburg race on Heritage Day. Gelant has twice finished 6th here and is keen to improve on that. “The race is at altitude, the course is tough and there are some serious climbs. So the main objective is always to run for position. Last year’s race, however, was won in 29:27 showing that a fast time is possible in Joburg. There will again be international athletes that will want to push the pace and make this a fast race. Even if I am running a marathon the week before, I will want to give a good account of myself.”
Gelant is in the best shape of his career. The 33-year-old opened his season with a 61:57 half marathon in April this year off only a solid 13-week base training block. Two weeks later he won the Two Oceans Half Marathon in 63:20. This is a tough course, with the second half of the race virtually uphill all the way, making his time even more impressive. In July this year, Gelant ran his fastest half marathon in five years when he clocked 61:00 at the National Championships, an improvement on his previous best by 10 seconds. Clearly the changes in his training have started to pay off and his goal of getting as close to a 28min 10km, or even under, in Durban in October should be taken seriously.
The FNB Run Your City Series consists of three events: the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN (5th anniversary in 2019), FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN (4th anniversary in 2019) and FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN (3rd anniversary in 2019). Exhilarating mass participation road races, each event celebrates the splendour of its host city. Runners (and walkers) will be treated to a journey that will highlight iconic landmarks and feature lively performances on route.
Over the short period of 5 years, the series has grown to over 40 000 runners in the three cities and has attained IAAF Bronze Label Status in two events. The Durban race is now chasing Gold Label Status. The significance of that cannot be underestimated. Label Status means that the FNB Run Your City Series will attract some of the best athletes in the world, which means that South Africa’s top athletes get to race the best on home soil. As a result fast times will be recorded on the African Continent.
Over the past 5 years the series has delivered compelling racing and fast times which will now be shared with the world through the process of a Livestream. The FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN will be livestreamed as was the Cape Town leg of the FNB Run Your City Series.
EVENT INFORMATION:
Event: FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN
Date: Tuesday 24 September 2019 (National Heritage Day)
Venue: Start – FNB Bank City in Johannesburg / Finish – Mary Fitzgerald Square (Newtown)
Charities: When entering online runners can choose to support one (or all four) of the event’s charities: 1. Cotlands, 2. Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, 3. Johannesburg SPCA and 4. Reach For A Dream Foundation.
Prize Purse: R250 000 / View the entire Prize Purse Breakdown CLICK HERE
Website: www.joburg10k.com
Event: FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN
Date: Sunday 13 October 2019
Venue: Start – Blue Lagoon (Athlone Drive) / Finish – Beachfront Precinct (near The Bike and Bean)
Charities: When entering online runners can choose to support one (or all five) of the event’s charities 1. The Reach For A Dream Foundation, 2. TREE, 3. Durban & Coast SPCA, 4. LIV Village and 5. iThemba Lethu.
Prize Purse: R250 000 / View the entire Prize Purse Breakdown CLICK HERE
Website: www.durban10k.com
IN THE NEWS: The FNB Run Your City Series has implemented a Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Management Campaign that aims to drastically reduce the usage of single-use plastics by 85% at all three events. “The aim of the FNB Run Your City Series’ SUP Management Campaign is to drastically reduce the usage of single-use plastics by 85% at all three events. Our ultimate goal is to host a mass participation road running series that is plastic free,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports.
About the FNB Run Your City Series:
FNB is proud to once again bring you the FNB Run Your City Series which comprises of three unique mass participation events that integrate business involvement, family, diversity, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants, both individuals and businesses alike.
Each of the races are developed to take participants through the historical routes around each city, thereby adding a tourism element to each race, making it more than a race but an economic opportunity for each community.
The FNB Run Your City Series is made up of three races around South Africa, namely, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN.
For further information please visit www.runyourcityseries.com
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