'It's all about believing in your training' - Pulinyana makes dream debut in Maxed Elite colours at Capital City Marathon
Ultra-marathoner Lekhotla Pulinyana made a resounding debut in Maxed Elite Running Club colours when he clocked 2:18:58 to win Capital City Marathon on Sunday 23 February in Pietermaritzburg. Running his first race since joining the Mr. Price Sport backed club from the Hollywood Athletics Club earlier this month, the Lesotho international produced a good performance to set a new course record. Yet despite his sensational effort, Pulinyana who also ran a 42km lifetime best, failed to go beyond the 2:14 required for the R12 000 time bonus set by the race organisers. Speaking after the race, Pulinyana thanked Maxed Elite Running Club Elite Manager Martin Ngwenya for giving him the opportunity to run in red and black.
"I'm very happy to win my first race for Mr Price. I feel at home now and I'm very thankful for making a good start. I'm grateful to Martin Ngwenya for recruiting me earlier this month. This victory is my way of showing that I'm grateful of the opportunity he has afforded me," said Pulinyana, who was third at the same race last year.
As the only athlete to break 2:20 on the day, the man who trains with two-time Two Oceans podium finisher Nkosikhona Mhlakwana was completely dominant as he finished more than five minutes ahead of second placed Mohau Masoenyane (2:26:23) who was donning the colours of Black Diamond AC for the first time. Entsika AC's Maphatso Nadolo took third in 2:26:39. Pulinyana credited God for his dominant performance saying that remains his driving force.
"I also want to thank all my friends who have been supporting since I started running professionally. Plus my family for being there for me all the time. God has been throwing some blessings my way and its all happening because of him. The win is a good morale boost for the season ahead and I expect to perform very well going forward," he told #TheTopRunner.
The 32-year-old had a wonderful 2024 year including winning the Prince Mangosuthu 52km race in an excellent time of 3:01:00 before ending the year with a good performance at the Africanbank Soweto Marathon where he achieved 11th position. He says his next target is to make a successful Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon debut.
"I've got a few plans and to start well indicates that I'm on right track. The next step for me is to train hard for the Two Oceans Marathon. It will be my first time running the race. I think with my performance here (Capital City Marathon) shows that I'm in the great shape to do well in the race. It's all about believing in your training."
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