From Two Oceans success to another strong showing on the road, George Kanjuchi (28) continues to quietly build one of the most inspiring amateur running journeys in South Africa.

Kanjuchi delivered another personal breakthrough at the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, finishing in a notable 2:33:00, improving his previous best of 2:39 by six minutes.

For Kanjuchi, the result is more than just a new personal best. It is confirmation that consistency, discipline, and belief are paying off.

“I feel so proud. It doesn’t feel like it was a week ago. It feels like it just happened now. It feels like a dream fulfilled,” he said.

A race built on belief and a revised strategy

Going into the marathon, Kanjuchi and his coach, David Ashworth, set an initial target of 2:35, with a controlled first half planned around patience and pacing.

But once the race began, Kanjuchi sensed something different.

“As I started the race, I felt different. I felt motivated. At 21km, I knew we were on track for something better than 2:35.”

That instinct proved accurate as he pushed beyond the original plan and crossed the finish line in 2:33:00.

Cramps, control and the ‘dead loop’ challenge

Despite the strong finish, the final stages tested him physically. A demanding section of the course, known among runners as the ‘dead loop’, brought severe cramping.

“I started cramping, but I never stopped. I just slowed a little bit,” he explained.

With fatigue setting in, Kanjuchi adjusted his pace from around 3:35 per kilometre to roughly 3:42, prioritising finishing strong over risking a complete breakdown.

“If I tried to push and maintain the same pace, I would have stopped and not finished.”

Consistency behind the improvement

The six-minute improvement from his previous best did not come from drastic changes, but rather from disciplined, structured training.

Kanjuchi pointed to consistency as the key factor in his progress.

“We didn’t do a lot of mileage. We just did clean workouts, stayed consistent, and kept waking up early even when tired.”

He believes those small, repeated actions over time are what produced the breakthrough performance.

From setbacks to progress

The Cape Town Marathon also carried emotional weight after Kanjuchi was forced to miss the previous year’s edition due to extreme winds that led to a cancellation.

This year’s result felt like redemption.

“There’s nothing that doesn’t change. There’s nothing that doesn’t improve. This confirms that hard work pays off.”

His improvement from 2:39 to 2:33 now stands as a clear marker of steady progression since he began structured marathon training.

A village behind the runner

While Kanjuchi continues to improve individually, he remains vocal about the support system behind him.
He thanked coach Ashworth, training partner Wandisile Nongodlwana, and the PPT family for accommodation and support.

He also acknowledged Dumbo School for assisting with travel logistics, Natasha for helping source ASICS shoes, and several individuals who supported transport and race arrangements.

“The whole family of Alberton and Brackenhurst is behind me. It’s not about me; it’s about us. We did it, not I did it.”

What comes next

With a new personal best secured, George now plans to focus more on shorter distances such as 21km and 10km races, aiming to build speed and sharpen his racing ability.

“I want to get faster and improve my time. This is just the beginning.”

He also hopes his recent performances will open doors for sponsorship and further support as he continues to develop as a competitive long-distance runner.