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South African half-marathon champion Thabang Mosiako has confirmed to SABC Sport that he will compete in the Cape Town Marathon on 19 October.
The two-time national 21km winner will take on the 42.2km distance for the second time in his career, alongside seasoned marathoner and three-time race winner Stephen Mokoka.
The former national 5000m champion is gradually adapting to the longer distance and is eager for another test in one of South Africa's biggest marathons, but he refuses to set a lofty target for himself.
“I can confirm that I’m ready and looking forward to the Cape Town Marathon. It will be my second marathon, and I’m excited to run it here at home," Mosiako said.
"This time I’m more focused. We’ve adjusted my training to prepare better. Last year, I cramped after 27km, but now I’ve learned from that experience.
"I’m not chasing a specific time, I just want to run well without pressure.”
The North West-born athlete, who made his marathon debut at last year's Abu Dhabi Marathon – where he impressed with an eighth-place finish in 2:09:14, is fresh from winning his second national half-marathon title at the ASA Road Running Championships.
At 30, the Nedbank Running Club athlete is in the midst of a steady transition from shorter distances to the marathon, and has already qualified for the World Half-Marathon Championships in Latvia later this year.
"The transition is challenging, but I’m embracing the journey. I’m not in a rush—it’s all about learning and enjoying the process,” Mosiako added.
“Cape Town is the next step. My goal is to finish strong and gain more experience.”
