Paul Kasu of Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) delivered an impressive performance at the 42nd Johnson Crane Hire Marathon, finishing fourth overall in a time of 02:31:31.
The January 26 marathon, held from Willowmoore Park in Benoni and organised by Benoni Harriers, attracted over 13 000 runners.
Despite his strong finish, Kasu narrowly missed his personal goal of completing the marathon in under 02:30.
“I was aiming for 02:30:00, but I missed it by a minute. I trained hard for this, so it’s a bit disappointing but I’m still happy with my effort.”
Challenges
Kasu faced some hurdles during the race, including stomach cramps that could have derailed his performance. However, his determination kept him going.
It was also an important comeback for him since injuries kept Kasu out of last year’s event.
Reflecting on his return to form, he praised the course conditions: “The route was very good, not too steep,” he said, adding that the relatively flat terrain helped him maintain a steady pace throughout.
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A promising start
Kasu’s performance at Willowmoore Park builds on his recent success at the Springs Striders Race on January 19, where he finished fifth in the men’s 32km race in a time of 01:55:24.
He pointed out that the race served as a key fitness test as he ramps up training for the Comrades Marathon on June 8.
“It’s the beginning of the year. I’m fit as we start training for Comrades,” Kasu said after the Springs event.
“It was a nice race because it’s flat, but it took more out of me because I had to work throughout. These are challenges we need.”
Kasu is confident that his current fitness level and injury-free start to the year will allow him to improve on his personal best (PB) for the Comrades down-run, which stands off 6:37:25, achieved in 2023 when he finished 177th overall.
Looking ahead
As part of his preparation for the 2025 Ultimate Human Race, Kasu has set a target of running at a pace under 06:15.
He also plans to compete in several build-up races, including the Om die Dam Ultra Marathon on March 15 and another 42.2km event before June.
“I’ve started this year without injuries. I need to keep training and trust the process,” he said.
Also Read: In Pictures: The 42nd Johnson Crane Hire Marathon
