'I'm quite positive that I'm going to do well' - Mulaudzi looks forward to richest 10km race in SA

South African long distance top runner Colleen Mulaudzi says he is in great shape and is confident of recording a new 10km lifetime best when he tackles the third edition of Hollywoodbets Durban 10k. The event which will take place on the 3rd of September at the Kings Park Stadium carries a whopping R35 000 winners' cheque for the first man or woman across the finish line. And with a total prize purse of R342 500, it makes it the richest 10km race in the country.

"I think the training has gone quite well for me," he told #TheTopRunner. "The difficult part I'm facing at the moment is trying to balance the two training programs as I have two different distances that I'm preparing for at the moment," explained the man who represented South Africa at the World Cross Country Championships in Australia in February.

Mulaudzi who is a 1:00:51 half marathon performer at his best, is starting to find good form again. On Saturday 12 August the Hollywood AC won the Eyethu Athletics Club Fitness Test 21km race in a comfortable 1:13:04. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"As I have a Marathon that I'm going to run in six weeks' time, I must try to prepare for it too. I won't mention the name for now but soon I'll reveal the details. So in the mornings I do a 20km long run, then in the afternoon I run 8km. On other days I have to do track for the speed. So it is a very tight program, but I'll manage fine. Overall, I'm quite positive that I'm going to do well."

The 32-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club top runner is expected to battle against 27-minute 10km runners in Thabang Mosiako and Kabelo Seboko as well as the experienced Elroy Gelant who have confirmed their participation in the much anticipated race. Although his primary focus remains on using the race to improve his 28:26 10km personal best, as the first winner of the Hollywoodbets 10km race back in 2021 where he clocked a winning time of 28:30, Mulaudzi knows that Durban is his happy hunting ground.

"To win it again will be priceless for me. That would mean, I have won the race twice before anyone else does that. It would be a piece of history. I missed last year's race due to family commitments but if I can be on the podium then I would be happy. At the start of the year, I told myself I set the target to run sub 28 minutes but in this race, I want to run 28 minutes early. A new personal best time will mean I'm getting close to reaching a target."

In the women's race, Comrades Marathon reigning Champion Gerda Steyn and the improving and in-form Cacisile Sosibo have confirmed their participation.