Border’s top marathon runner Malixole Kalideni is returning to run the Total Sports Two Oceans Marathon in 2025, having skipped 2024 due to his superlative performance at the London Marathon and after his 11th place finish in Cape Town at the 2023 event.
Buffalo Runners AC’s Ayanda Jam pointed out in a media release for the club’s eighth edition of the BRAC Half Marathon and 10km taking place from Lovedale College on Saturday that the race, with its uphill nature followed by meaningful downhills “is beautiful training for runners attending the Two Oceans on Saturday, April 5”.
The Daily Dispatch interviewed Kalideni this week and the Old Selbornian runner said exactly the same.
“The BRAC Half Marathon is tough in the first half and great for Two Oceans training, but you can fly over the last 7km or so,” he said.
He is hoping for a top 20 at the classic race, which has been a Cape Town favourite and drawcard for well over 50 years.
Kalideni says it is going to be a fast race in 2025, with many of SA’s top marathoners in the field.
Speaking of this week’s local race, Kalideni singles out Sinethemba Jilingisi, of Haven Hills AC, Luyolo Ngcongolo, of Powered Up Runners, and 2024’s winner, Habtamu Mishamo Desale, as the men to watch.
Speaking of his prospects, he says “I have been working 7am to 5pm”.
In other words, training times have had to be adjusted.
He was much more circumspect in his predictions for the women’s race, saying that if they are running on Saturday, Hanlie Botha and Andrea Ranger would be two of his favourites, though he suggests the Easy Equities Born2Run team as a whole, which will include the in-form Cindy Nel, have been pushing hard and are impressive to watch.
The 21km race starts at 6am and the 10km at 6.15am.
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