'This race is ideal for a fast Comrades qualifier' - Mthembu to open 2025 season at Best of the Best

South African ultra marathon legend Bongmusa Mthembu will open his 2025 road running season at the Best of the Best Marathon which is scheduled for the 2nd of March. The race which first took place in 2019 is one of the fastest growing races in KwaZulu-Natal, staged by one of the most vibrant running clubs, AmaRavens Athletics Club.

Popular with social and top runners alike, the event has managed to attract some of the country's top elite athletes including the likes of TotalSports Two Oceans Marathon runner-up Nkosikhona Mhlakwana who set the course record of 2:16:37 during the 2022 edition of the race. This year, in addition to the winner's purse of R15 000 on offer for winners of the 42km, organisers have added an additional R20 000 to be split by winners if they manage to beat the course records. Men will have to run under 2:16:37, while women must finish faster than the 2:40:59 recorded by Comrades gold medalist Jenet Mbhele to win the 2022 race.

Mthembu speaking at the launch of the 2025 Best of The Best Marathon which enjoys support from the Durban University of Technology. Photo Credit: Best of The Best Marathon.

Mthembu who was last week presented to the media as the race ambassador believes that the race can produce even faster times as the time bonus incentives are good motivation for the top runners. "It's an honour to be part of the race as an ambassador. This is one of the fastest growing events in the province and is ideal for those who want to run faster Comrades Marathon qualifying times as it has a fast route."

"The bonus is that the race is a two-lapper which allows runners to see what's coming in the second half. The money that has been put on offer for the times indicates that runners must improve and be more competitive. These days athletes are running fast times so as South Africans we must match keep pace with the global standard," explained Mthembu.

 R20 000 – Split between the Male & Female 42K record breakers. R10 000 – Split between the Male & Female 21K record breakers. R10 000 – Split between the Male & Female 10K record breakers. These are time bonuses over and above the prize money.

The three times Comrades winner also confirmed that he will run the race as the part of his Comrades preparations.  "I'll personally going to run the Best of the Best Marathon as part of my preparations for the Comrades Marathon. Each year, we plan with me team on which race to use in order to test myself before Comrades. This race is ideal. I promise that I'm not going to jog. I want to run a fast time. I'll also bring my training partners and my team mates to the race to participate in various distances from 10km, 21km and the marathon."

Regarding his plans for the year ahead, the 41-year-old remains committed to do well at The Ultimate Human Race. Last year he placed sixth overall to grab his tenth Gold medal in seventeen starts at the famed 90km ultra marathon. "I'll run Two Oceans Marathon as part of my training. It has been a plan for all these years. Two Oceans is the good fitness test before Comrades as the field is always strong. I'm going to stick with what I have been doing over the years. Comrades Marathon remains the ultimate race for me."