Majors, Maturity and Marriage: Gelant reflects on 2025 as he targets Marathon Major debut in 2026

Reflecting on another successful season during which he broke Gert Thys' 26-year-old SA Marathon record, Elroy Gelant attributes the mercurial highs he experienced over the last two years to his excellent support structure whose cornerstone is his wife Tamzin Thomas. After popping the question to his SA & African Champion 100m and 200m sprinter finance last November, the fastest couple in South Africa were married at a private ceremony in Stellenbosch this past weekend. The 39-year-old says the stability of this relationship has allowed his athletic career to flourish. 

"Tamzin has been supporting me," he told #TheTopRunner. "Taking the next step towards marriage is important because it gives me good foundation. Once you set all these things in place, your performance will also go up. I'm happy and I'm looking forward to the future," said the Northwest University Human Resources Lecturer.

Gelant successfully defends his Thembisa Mile 10km title. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

Gelant was speaking after ending of his last race of 2025, which was just seven days before his nuptial celebration. While other grooms would have been busy with the final few wedding arrangements, the Boxer Athletic Club top runner was running the inaugural Boxer Super Run Joburg 5km, where he clocked 15:01 to grab seventh position in a fast race won by Ryan Mphahlele. Having started as a cross country and middle distance athlete on the track, Gelant said he couldn't skip this important event even if it was to prepare for his own wedding.

"I took it easy. It was one of the race where I came out to support my club and all the kids that are here, just to be part of this excellent development initiative. We need these 5km races in South Africa for the development of our athletes. Our running community is a little bit more focused on the longer distances, so we need these 5km and mile series for the development of our future stars."

Gelant with wife Thomas at her graduation from the Northwest University in April, 2025. Photo Credit: Supplied.

With the wedding and 2025 season now behind them, Mr and Mrs Gelant can now turn their focus to 2026. The Höerskool Outeniqua product had been ready to run last month's cancelled Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which has forced him to target an early season 42km race in 2026 before racing Africa's first Major in May 2026. Gelant revealed that negotiations are at an advanced stage for him to make his World Marathon Major debut.

"I'll call it a year. I've already got my plan for next year and it's so nice that we are already sitting planning a few months ahead. My first race is a 21km in the Netherlands on the 18th of January which will serve as preparation for a marathon. We looking at Tokyo or Osaka depending on confirmation."