Nkosikhona Mhlakwana ready to make his mark in the Two Oceans Marathon

The 30-year-old has dedicated himself fully to his goal of winning the 56km ultra-marathon this year. While confident he can improve upon his second-place finish from two years ago, he admits to feeling some nervousness.

A member of the Hollywood Athletics Club for the past four years, Mhlakwana is part of one of the country's fastest-growing clubs.

This could be the year he rises to the challenge and surprises the top contenders in South African road running, and speaking to SABC Sport he believes he's up for the task.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of long runs lately, and I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for myself since I’ve lost some weight. Back in December, I was 63kg, and now I’m down to 59kg. I’m curious to see what I’ll weigh by the time the race comes next month. It’s a bit scary, but I know it’s a normal feeling. Right now, all my focus is on the Two Oceans, and I’ll share more of my goals after that.” Mhlakwana told SABC Sport.

Mhlakwana has posted impressive personal bests across various distances: 28:58 in the 10km, 1:05:10 in the 21.1km, 2:16:23 in the marathon (42.2km), and 2:47:33 in the 50km ultra-marathon. With each race, he continues to improve, and all eyes will be on him to see if he can claim a major title in Durban.

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Confident in his fitness and preparation, he is ready for the 54th edition of the race.

The Purple Team boasts some of the finest runners in the sport, yet they have struggled to make an impact in major races.

Mhlakwana acknowledges the pressure but points out that, as a smaller group, they are up against powerhouses like Nedbank Running Club and Mr Price Sport Running Club.

“While it’s a large club in terms of social runners, the elite section is relatively new, and we're competing against well-established brands. I've secured two podium finishes at Two Oceans, and others have done the same at the Comrades. It’s only a matter of time before we win both the Two Oceans and Comrades Marathons. I was the first runner to earn a gold medal for our team at Two Oceans, and I truly believe this could be the year we take both titles,” Mhlakwana explained.