Local man runs with purpose as he conquers the Two Oceans
From tough training sessions, to Cape Town’s breathtaking scenery, Paul Mahabe’s Two Oceans Marathon journey highlights his resilience, teamwork, and readiness for the Comrades.
From a desire to improve his life, to conquering the Two Oceans Marathon, Paul Ndiviwe Mahabe has shown that running is not just a sport, it’s a way of finding purpose, discipline, and joy.
Born in the Eastern Cape in 1986, Mahabe is the sixth of eight siblings. Today, he lives a full life in Johannesburg, with his wife Kabelo and their three children. When he’s not running, he works as a software developer at Standard Bank. It was a few years ago, during a difficult period in his life, that Mahabe decided to lace up his running shoes.
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“I was tired of drinking all weekend because I had nothing to do. I needed something that could keep me busy and improve my life, and running did that for me,” he shared.
Mahabe was drawn to the Two Oceans Marathon because of its mental challenge. “Running is a mental battle. I wanted to test myself, and this race gave me a sense of what the Comrades might feel like.”
While this was not his first race, he ran the Rand Water Vaal River City Marathon in 2024 and finished in 03:36:11, the Two Oceans presented a different kind of test. He finished in 05:02:29, narrowly missing his target by just under three minutes. “I didn’t know I had missed my target time until afterwards, but I was proud. It was a long training run for the Comrades, and we executed our plan well.”
In the months before the race, Mahabe trained hard alongside his club, Run Zone, and with Team Titanium, under coach Tumelo Mosia. “Training was tough. Some sessions were mentally draining. Imagine being left behind in the first 3km of a 30km tempo run. But something in me kept fighting.”
Mahabe doesn’t follow a strict diet, but he watches what he eats and stays away from alcohol. He credits his success to consistency and the support of those around him. “My wife, my teammates, my friends, and colleagues, they all stood by me. My kids, too. If I win, we all win,” he smiled.
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On race day, Mahabe was injury-free and in good spirits, though nervous. “That’s normal for runners. But seeing my family and old friends in Cape Town lifted me. The route was beautiful and the support was amazing.”
However, not everything was smooth. The infamous Constantia Nek proved to be the toughest part of the race. “It’s so unforgiving. But our coach had prepared us, and I had a walk/run strategy in place.”
Crossing the finish line brought Mahabe a deep sense of fulfilment. “I felt proud. I couldn’t wait to share my experience with my teammates. This race gave me confidence for the Comrades.”
He says the experience taught him a lot about himself. “If I put my mind to something, I can do it. This race proved that.”
Mahabe now has his eyes set on the Comrades Marathon. In preparation, he’ll take part in a 100km Easter Weekend training run, and aims to complete a marathon with the Team Titanium bus, from start to finish.
For those thinking of running a marathon, like the Two Oceans, Paul has a simple message: “Running is not easy, but if you find your ‘why’, let that be the reason you keep going.”
From late nights to early morning runs, Paul Mahabe’s story is a reminder that with determination and the right support, you can go further than you ever imagined.
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