Elroy Gelant inspires Stephen Mokoka with record-breaking marathon run

CAPE TOWN - STEPHEN Mokoka has lauded Elroy Gelant as ‘an inspiration’ following the latter’s record-breaking marathon run in Hamburg earlier this month.

Mokoka had looked the most likely athlete to break Gert Thys’ 2.06.33 record from 1999 and actually came within six seconds of doing so. But it was his former teammate at Boxer Athletic Club Gelant who smashed the 26-year-old mark in Hamburg a fortnight ago, the man from Pacaltsdorp in George running a 2.05.36.

“It’s amazing that Elroy managed to run a 2:05 and has shown us that it can be done. He is my inspiration because I’ve always benchmarked at 2.06, but Elroy has changed that plan and now I must go for a 205.

"Yes my goal has always been to run a 2.05 before I retire and now Elroy has inspired me to go for it. I believe lots of us will now believe we can do it.”

Ahead of Sunday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY Cape Town 10k that both men will be racing alongside a stellar field of top class local and east African athletes, Mokoka was in reflective mood as the race celebrates a decade’s existence.

“I’ve had some special runs in the series and I think I have four podium finishes – two when the race was still 12K and twice in the tens. For me, it was especially great joining the sub 28 minutes and what’s been memorable is running 27 minutes in two consecutive years,” the veteran runner who has won just about every title in local road running said.

“The event (Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series) has made a positive impact and elevated road running in the country. We now no longer have to go out of the country to try to run sub 27 minutes, because now the guys are putting their foot down and committing to getting fast times. In the beginning they used to get guys from outside to come pull us through but now we see a stream of local runners dominating and hopefully it grows like that and lifts the others into running faster.”

His presence in the sport has served as inspiration for many and Mokoka continues to be a role model deep into the twilight of his stellar career.  He is excited by the growth of the sport and the emergence of new talent.

“It is amazing and I wish they can continue to be committed so that one day we get world class runners out of this. For me, it is amazing and a great feeling to be with these youngsters who call me malome (uncle) when we are in the hotels or in the street but on the start line they are my opponents. They are a new generation and I just enjoy the challenge they bring and with the experience I have I give my A game no matter the results. Hopefully my legs will keep on carrying me (to be competitive).”

On Sunday, Mokoka will be out to have a better race in the Cape Town leg of the five city series than the one he did last year.

“This is the first one (race), hopefully I can run a 28 minutes and not a 29 like last year,” Mokoka chuckles “I then would have had seven to eight weeks of preparations for Durban where we’ve been running 27:55 and now the time for the incentives is 27:40 so if I can run a good 28 here (Cape Town) I will be on to a good thing in Durban.”