'I have surprised myself big time' - Mjwara in fine form as he targets gold on Two Oceans debut
South African road running starlet Lindelani Mjwara is confident that he will deliver a remarkable performance in the upcoming Totalsports Two Oceans 56km Marathon which is scheduled for 5 April in Cape Town. Mjwara will be lining up for the historic ultra for the first time in his career. In the past he has produced some solid ultra marathon performances including a 6:03:56 in last year's Comrades Marathon to finish 53rd overall. Coached by Comrades Marathon gold medalist Prodigal Khumalo, and training alongside Two Oceans double gold medalist Nkosikhona Mhlwakana in the KwaZulu-Natal mountains of Underberg, Mjwara says they have done all the necessary preparations to be ready for the big day.
"We are done with the training to prepare for the race next week. I think we have covered everything that we were hoping to do in training. The only thing we are waiting for is race day," said a confident Mjwara.
"I think training with someone like Nkosikhona who has previously done well in the same race gives you a certain confidence that you have covered all the bases heading to race day. So I have learned a lot from him as he's got so much experience in running. He is also such a good athlete too. Based on what we have done in training, I can safely say I have a good chance of delivering a good performance," he told #TheTopRunner.
The 28-year-old athlete who hails from Impendle near the town of Bulwer, has been in fine shape this year. In February, he managed to win the Hillcrest Half Marathon by over two minutes when he clocked 1:08:34 and then he followed that performance with a 2:24:01 clocking to take fifth place overall at the Balwin Sport Peninsula Marathon which incorporated the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Marathon Championships. Then last weekend, he took eighth in a new personal best of 1:05:40 in the 21km race at the Harry Gwala Marathon in Umzikhulu. He says he has surprised himself with his 2025 performances on the road.
"I never expected to have such great performance so early in the season. After I did well last year, I thought by now, I'll be feeling a bit tired. But things have been falling into place quite unexpectedly and I have surprised myself big time. From representing the province at the national Championships and being able to finish inside the top five, to winning the race (Hillcrest) earlier this year. The way I have started the year is good and I'm hoping to keep it that way," said the man who produced a 2:18:18 42km lifetime best to take third place the 2024 Tswelopele Kaapsehoop Marathon on 2 November.
For his wonderful performances on the road, Mjwara who joined Hollywood Athletics Club in the middle of last season last year, has been upgraded from Sub-elite to a full-time elite athlete status with all it's benefits. He says his ambitions in Two Oceans is to earn a gold medal. "Two Oceans Marathon is one of the races I have been long wishing to run. Now since, I have a support from my club I'm going to be able to finally live my dream. My target is to be able to finish inside the top ten. If I can accomplish that I will be very happy."
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