"Everything just came together" - Johannes Kekana reminisces about Comrades 2013
- Thathe Msimango
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Many will find it difficult to believe that Johannes Kekana only decided to compete in the 2013 Comrades Marathon just a few months before securing a memorable fifth place finish on debut. Reminiscing about his remarkable 2013 performance where he achieved a time of 5:46:27 on the Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, the renowned South African long distance runner revealed to #TheTopRunner that he only decided to participate in the event just 10 weeks before race day.
"I still struggle to pinpoint how that performance came about on the day. Everything just came together and I delivered even though I entered as a dark horse. To be honest, I also didn't expect to finish inside the top 10," says Kekana who produced a 2:15:28 clocking as a member of the marathon team that represented SA at the 2009 World Championships.
Kekana says that his decision to participate in the Comrades Marathon was motivated by his eighth-place finish overall in the Two Oceans Marathon where he clocked a commendable 3:12:40 run that year. His club - the now defunct Bonitas Athletics Club - persuaded him to attempt Comrades. Having agreed, he threw himself into a training camp in Mpumalanga, in preparation for The Ultimate Human Race on Sunday, 2 June.
"I think after doing well at Two Oceans that year, I decided to give Comrades a try. Also, the club I was running for specialised in the ultra distances. So to secure a contract, you had to commit to ultra running," explains Kekana who rose to prominence by winning the 2003 All-Africa games marathon title.
"I then attended a camp in Graskop, Mpumalanga for a full seven weeks to prepare for the big day. The camp was valuable as I learned a lot and we were well taken care of. I think that’s one of the main reasons why I managed to perform so well. Sadly, the club closed the following year which hit me hard and I failed to replicate that success. To run Comrades successfully, you need proper guidance and support. Without these, your chances of success are slim," says Kekana who was involved in a memorable battle with eventual winner Claude Moshiywa during that 2013 Up Run. Although he was never able to earn another Comrades gold medal, his impact on South African distance running has been a lasting one.
Although he is still a competitive runner - he broke the SA Masters 10km record in 2022 - the 54-year-old who also coached SA Half Marathon champion Lucky Mohale, has turned his attentions to producing the the next generation of top runners. Kekana is a key figure in the Moloto Athletics Club, a development club based in the small western Mpumalanga town of Moloto. According to Kekana, although nurturing the youngsters of the club which he co-founded with Mthetho Goxo requires a great deal of patience, it is well worth the hard work.
"I have been struggling with the injuries in recent years. I still love running so that’s why I train the kids. I started the project in 2018 when I left Tembisa. We have a group of around 20 athletes so far. The progress is a bit slow because they sometimes miss training. But you have to be patient and passionate to be successful in running. I'm hoping one day we will have a big sponsor to help us. Overall, I'm happy with the way the group is growing."
Asked about Mohale's chances in Comrades this year, Kekana responded positively, stating that the man who ran as a pacemaker last year and claimed a Two Oceans podium finish in 2025, has what it takes to deliver a surprise performance.
"It's all in his hands to perform. He is an athlete who is not afraid to run upfront and lead the race. His approach has worked over the years. He is brave and if he can apply it then I have no doubt that he can succeed."
Comments