Runners of Hope athlete completes first Comrades Marathon in under 10 hours

Runners of Hope member Lesiba Moganedi completed his first Comrades Marathon on June 14, crossing the finish line at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg in an impressive 9:53:53 after starting at Durban City Hall.

For Moganedi, making his Comrades debut was about more than completing one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons.

It was an opportunity to test his limits, believe in himself, and prove that with determination, hard work, and God’s grace, anything is possible.

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Although the Comrades Marathon was not part of his original plans, everything changed after he completed his first marathon. Curious to see how far he could push himself, he set his sights on the iconic 89km race.

Moganedi spent six months preparing, training from January to June. His programme included five days of running each week, covering at least 70km through a combination of endurance and strength-building sessions, while Fridays and Sundays were reserved for rest.

His biggest challenge was balancing training with family life, work and his studies.

Despite his demanding schedule, he remained disciplined. Although he did not follow a specialised diet, he focused on proper recovery, took supplements, and made sure to respect his rest days.

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On race morning, Moganedi admitted he felt nervous, excited and emotional. He stuck to a clear race strategy, running the opening 30km conservatively, avoiding pushing too hard on the hills and pacing himself according to effort rather than speed.

The most difficult section came after the 60km mark, the furthest distance he had ever run.
Even then, giving up never crossed his mind.

“I just wanted to keep moving,” he said. “The support around me kept me going.”

To stay mentally strong, he broke the race into smaller milestones instead of focusing on the full distance.

His first goal was to reach 30km feeling strong. The next was the 50km mark, where his wife and son were waiting to cheer him on. From there, his only focus was reaching the finish line.

One of his most memorable moments was the atmosphere before the race began.

“I will never forget the emotions at the start. I had goosebumps,” he said.

Seeing his wife and son along the route gave him an extra lift, while running alongside teammate Phillip helped him remain focused. He also credited his Runners of Hope teammates and supporters for carrying him through the race.

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His favourite section of the route came after passing the club’s water point, when he knew it was time to make his final push towards the finish.

Crossing the finish line was an emotional experience.

“I was happy, emotional and ecstatic. It only really sank in the next morning,” he said.

Looking back, Moganedi said completing the Comrades Marathon taught him that, with God’s grace, he can achieve anything he sets his mind to.

The experience has also given him greater confidence to face life’s challenges.

His advice to anyone considering their first Comrades Marathon is simple: “Run your own race.”

Although pleased with his finishing time, Moganedi admitted he surprised himself with his performance.

If he returns, he plans to be slightly less conservative while continuing to respect the demanding nature of the course.

He is already planning to earn his back-to-back medal next year and has also set his sights on another major endurance challenge, the Washie 100 Miler.

As for the final kilometre before the finish, there was only one thing on his mind.

“All I was focused on was getting to the finish. I ran my best split of the day there. I flew.”