Pio Mpolokeng – Why runners are turning from the marathon to the ultra
4th September 2025
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Renowned long-distance coach Pio Mpolokeng believes the growing exodus of elite athletes from the standard 42.2km marathon to ultra-marathons is driven largely by financial reasons.
Mpolokeng, who mentors top names such as Thabang Mosiako, Lucky Mohale, and Onalenna Khonkhobe, says the traditional marathon is at risk of losing depth as more athletes chase better prize money and club contracts that favour the longer distances.
Speaking at the launch of the City-to-City 50km ultra-marathon—where his athletes Mohale and Khonkhobe will be among the frontrunners—the Nedbank Running Club coach admitted he is not surprised by the trend.
“In our country, most of our athletes are leaving the marathon for the ultra because of finances and the club contracts that make it compulsory for them to feature in ultras,” Mpolokeng told SABC Sport.
He warned that if the prize structures for marathons are not improved, the event could “die a painful death.”
“I can’t stop athletes from switching to ultras for money. I started with development runners who were focused on shorter distances, but they eventually left for the marathon or ultra. Right now, I only have one athlete, Thabang Mosiako, preparing for the Cape Town Marathon. The rest of my squad prefer the ultra and have no real interest in standard marathons anymore,” said Mpolokeng.
Based in Klerksdorp in the North West province, Mpolokeng continues to work extensively with ultra-marathon athletes preparing for major races such as the Two Oceans, Om Die Dam, and the Comrades Marathon, using specialised programmes tailored for the gruelling distances.
“If nothing changes financially, more athletes will switch to ultras—that’s the honest reality about the two distances,” he concluded.
Mpolokeng is backing his athletes, Lucky Mohale and Onalenna Khonkhobe, to claim victory in the City-to-City 50km ultra-marathon on 28 September. The race kicks off at 6 am from Marlboro Gautrain Station and concludes at Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane.
Confident in their preparation for the demanding route, he draws further encouragement from Mohale’s impressive debut at the Two Oceans 56km in Cape Town earlier this year, where he secured a third-place finish.
