With two podium finishes from two attempts, Hollywood Athletics Club elite runner Nkosikhona Mhlakwana returns to Cape Town next month for the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon to make it three out of three and this time, climb the top step of the podium.
“I have finished third, and I have finished second at Two Oceans so the simple maths says that 3 minus 2 equals 1 so that is the obvious goal that I have for Two Oceans this year and that is to win,” laughs Mhlakwana after completing yet another grueling training session in Underberg, where he has based himself in camp to prepare.
“As you know because you have been here with us, Underberg is our Dullstroom of this province and we don’t need to go far to be here. There are so many champions who have trained here, and I aim to follow in their footsteps and call myself a champion of a big race.” Together with training partners Lindelani Mjwara and Makwande Mngcwengi, Mhlakwana has based the majority of 2025 in the quiet town.
“Last year I skipped the Two Oceans Marathon because I wanted to put all of my focus on the Comrades Marathon,” says Mhlakwana. It was a move that that paid off initially, with Mhlakwana picking up the national title over the 50km distance but things didn’t quite go to plan at Comrades.
“Together with my coach Prodigal Khumalo, we decided to hold off on Comrades for a few years and really work on speed, especially over the marathon distance because we noticed that even at Comrades, the winner is a guy that can run a fast marathon these days.” It was a move that bore fruit early, with Mhlakwana smashing his personal best over 10km when he ran 28:58 at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.
“There is a lot of mileage in my body and muscle memory, but what was lacking was the speed element so besides winning Two Oceans which will be the furthest I compete for now, I want to run a fast marathon and go as close to 2:10 as I can.”
Meet the unstoppable Nkosikhona 'Pitbull' Mhlakwana! 🇿🇦💥
— Hollywood Athletics Club (@HWAthleticsClub) February 28, 2025
A true long-distance specialist, this Hollywood Athletics Club Elite Athlete is carving his name into South Africa’s running history.
With a 10km PB of 28:58 and a marathon PB of 2:16:23, Nkosikhona takes speed and… pic.twitter.com/wbRmYPL40S
With a host of fast marathon runners descending on Two Oceans this year, the race will either be fast from the start or more tactical which Mhlakwana feels will play into his hands. “The fast guys are scared to go off quickly because they fear the distance,” says Mhlakwana. “They prefer to sit in the bunch and then see how things go. When we pass 46km at the top of the climb, that is when most of the breaks are made, and you immediately will see who has done their homework properly and has the legs to take them all the way through to the finish the fastest.”
It takes a team to make a victory and Mhlakwana has a strong one behind him. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of so many people in my corner and my club Hollywood who have supported my vision of winning Two Oceans this year and assisted with the camp. There are so many people behind the scenes and a win on the day will be a victory for each and every one of them,” he added.
