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Welkom marathon runner, Nkhetheni Masupa has accomplished a mind-boggling feat by completing two 42 km races 24 hours apart.
With Nelson Mandela’ words – it always seems impossible until it is done, etched in his mind.
He first did the aQuelle Jo’burg North City Marathon (42 km) in 02:52 on Saturday, 10 February.
The next day he completed the Jeppe marathon (42 km) in 03:34.
In the aQuelle Masupa’s overall position was 11th.
“Nelson Mandela’s words lingered in my head for the better time of my running on Saturday morning. After the race I went to register for the Jeppe Marathon.”
Masupa and the Welkom runners left for Johannesburg late on Friday evening to compete in the hilly marathons, the aQuelle Jo’burg North City Marathon, and then the group clocked into the Marks Sports Park in Emmerentia.
“During my first 21 km lap I felt so great and I started digesting the idea to register for the Balwin Jeppe half marathon happening the following day in Senderwood, Ekurhuleni. After 21 km in the aQuelle and I still felt strong and that’s when I said to myself – why not? I can do the Back2Back Marathons by running another 42 km the following day,” he said.
“After completing the aQuelle I went back to the hotel and did a 5 km treadmill jog in 20 minutes as my recovery sessions. This was in preparation for another tough marathon on Sunday morning. I told myself that I was going to cruise nicely with this one, but was so surprised by the way my body responded to the torture. I effortlessly managed to complete my second marathon the next day.”
During that weekend various Welkom runners went all across the country to participate in different official races in the running calendar.
“We had athletes at our local Valentine’s night race on Friday, Jo’burg North City and Jeppe marathons both in Johannesburg, Kloppers in Bloemfontein and the Klerksdorp Marathon,” says Masupa.
