'The long term plan is to win Two Oceans' - Sehohle targets PB at Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

After running a time of 3:15:22 to finish in 11th position at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon in what his first ultra marathon race, Flavio Sehohle was looking forward to successful 2024 ultra marathon season. Working with renowned Comrades Marathon coach John Hamlett, the former SA 1 500m champion decided to tackle the gruelling Comrades in June. Despite good preparation and being tipped amongst the gold medal favourites, Sehohle failed to finish the race. Reflecting on the events of the 9th of June months later, the 33-year-old believes he learned valuable lessons. 

"My Comrades experience was one of a kind. In a sense that it helped me discover and unleash new physical and emotional capabilities," he told #TheTopRunner.

Sehohle grits his teeth during the last kilometre of the 2024 Totalsports Two Oceans 56km race, where he earned an 11th place finish. Photo Credit: Two Oceans Media.

“Because of the training I did building up to it, a top 10 finish was on the cards. But this year, I just wanted to see how the training was working for me and to go back to the drawing board. What also made that experience special is the intensity of it all. Not just the actual training, but the mental and emotional commitment that is required to be in camp for so long away from your family and support system can be challenging. The planning and preparation for Comrades can make or break some people, and fortunately for me, it was a platform to test how much I can take and how far I can go," he explained.

The time spent in Dullstroom training under Hamlett has seen their relationship blossom to more than just coach and athlete. The man who has guided scores fo athletes to Comrades gold medals, recently employed Sehohle to work at his John Hamlett Wellness and Sport organisation as a fitness officer as he begins to lay the foundations for life after sport. 

"My role at PAN Africa is to introduce and instil the culture of a healthy and active lifestyle through running. I recruit, facilitate and train people for their wellbeing and to hopefully help them realize their fitness goals. It's all about taking care and giving back to our own which is why we also involve members of the local community. I'd say I’m fortunate to have received this opportunity to be an advocate of this initiative. Healthy people, healthy town. That's our slogan.”

Sehohle offers some advice to one of his young athletes from Barberton at a cross country race. He coaches the juniors under the unbrella of the John Hamlette Professional Coaching with support from Pan Africa where he works as a Sports and Wellness Officer. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Even though he is planning for the future, Sehohle has not given up on his ambitions of improving as an athlete. With a personal best of 2:16:42 over the marathon distance set during 2022 Durban International Marathon, he wants to improve his time because he believes speed will be a major factor if he wants to dominate ultras. 

"The long term plan is to win Two Oceans in the next 2 years and dominate in Ultras. And it has now become evident that the ultras are no longer just about endurance, these guys are becoming faster. So, to be competitive I need to run fast marathons which is why I have the Cape Town Marathon on my calendar, so I can improve on my previous marathon times,” he concluded.