'I can smell good things' - Lebogang Edwin Khonkhobe upbeat ahead of ASA Marathon Champs

Although his story is without the highs of winning the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon or Africanbank Soweto Marathon like his nephew Onalenna Khonkhobe, Lebogang Edwin Khonkhobe hopes his build-up to the current road season will help him achieve his goals. 

The wheels to achieve his ambitions were set in motion in Nasrec when he finished fifth in 1:42:18 during the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) 30km marathon trial, won by Bennet Seloyi on January 18.

"My plan was to average 3:25min/km in the first 12km and then drop to 03:10 or less afterwards. Considering that the athletes I competed with are short distance runners, as an ultra-distance runner, I had to position myself early," he told #TheTopRunner.

Lebogang Edwin Khonkhobe is targeting victory at the ASA marathon champs in Cape Town on February 18. Photo: Supplied.

Together with Seloyi, Samuel Moloi, Kabelo Melamu, Gladwin Mzazi and Aaron Moate, they were selected to represent CGA at the Athletics South Africa marathon championships in Cape Town which have been incorporated into the Balwin Sport Peninsula Marathon taking place on Sunday 16 February. The Nedbank Running Club athlete has not made his national marathon champs ambitions a secret. He's ready to mount a challenge but he knows it won't be an easy task given the depth of talent across the country.  

"I am happy with my progress and believe that with full support, my performances will improve. I gave my best performance at the CGA trials. This tells you that I'm ready for the big race - the ASA marathon champs."

The marathoner is pedantic and his obsession with the minor stuff is the reason he started preparing for the 2025 road running season in early October. His preparations included a third place finish (1:08:22) at the Johnson Crane Hire Half Marathon in late January and culminated in a 3000m time trial at the North West University in Potchefstroom on Tuesday 11 February where he took second place behind Moate in an encouraging 8:48.

Khonkhobe on the podium at the Johnson Crane Hire Half Marathon where he took third position. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

"My preparations went as planned and my performance at the trials showed that. This performance is going to help me achieve my goals. I don't really put myself under pressure. I take things one step at a time. I believe in myself and my training. I trust the process and overall, I can smell good things for this year," said Khonkhobe who will no doubt look to improve on his Comrades Marathon personal best of 5:48:32 set in 2023, by earning his first gold medal at The Ultimate Human race.

Khonkhobe is eager to see his name counted among the best long distance runners in SA, but he’s under no illusion that it's an easy task. "I want to see myself perform at the highest level and win one of the biggest races in our country. For now, I'm targeting the SA marathon title."