Coetzer sees improvement after impressive Absa Run Your City Joburg performance
She clocked 36:55 for sixth place in the elite women's race.
Bardene middle-distance runner Samantha Coetzer believes her hard work is starting to pay off after securing a top-10 finish at the Absa Run Your City Joburg 10k at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown on September 24.
Coetzer impressed with a sixth-place finish in the elite women’s race, clocking 36:55 – just 20 seconds shy of a podium spot.
“My goal was to get into the top 10 and I didn’t actually think of sixth place at all. Although there was a section where I knew I should have pushed harder, there was also the fear of unknown hills, which never appeared,” Coetzer said.
Reflecting on the race, which started at the Museum Africa entrance and wound through Braamfontein, along the M1 and M2 highways, into Jeppe and the Joburg CBD before finishing at Mary Fitzgerald Square, she said she was pleased with her overall performance.
“The speed training is definitely working, and adding more hills into my daily runs is helping. I think cross-country has really helped with mental toughness. I definitely need to improve on strength training – the hills felt easier to run, but I struggled with adding power on them,” she said.
This follows a strong run of form for the Nedbank Running Club athlete, with a third place at the ASA Half-Marathon Championships in Phalaborwa in July, and a 10th-place finish at the national cross-country champs last month, where she also helped Central Gauteng Athletics to team silver in the senior women’s 10km.
“From where I was and where I am now, I can see the improvement. The best feeling is that the training is slowly paying off, especially in the half-marathon where I can see massive improvement. I am actually super excited for my goals next year.”
Although the season was far from easy, the Central Gauteng athlete said consistency, rest, and discipline were her biggest takeaways.
“Enjoy the journey even if it’s slow – you will get there. Surround yourself with people who have the same goal as you; they make a difference in your life. Lastly, listen to your body. Rest is as important as the training you put in.”
Also Read: Boksburg’s Coetzer elated with third place at half marathon national champs
Also Read: Coetzer chuffed after qualifying for national half marathon champs
