"I'm maturing nicely" - Puleng Khumalo back on the scene and showing ultra marathon promise

While it was Comrades Marathon gold medalist Shelmith Muruiki who stole the headlines when she clocked 03:24:49 to win her fourth consecutive Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi 52km Ultra marathon title at the Nquthu Sportsfield on Sunday 16 August, Puleng Patience Khumalo announced herself as a serious contender for future ultra marathon success.

Competing in her very first Mangosuthu 52km race which is run between the northern KwaZulu-Natal towns of Dundee and Nquthu, Khumalo delivered an impressive performance, finishing fourth in a time of 03:44:01.

"Coming here, I knew that the competition would be tough and I kinda expected more strong ladies. But with the way I have been training I knew that the top five finish was something I was willing to fight for."

Khumalo in action at the 2026 Comrades Marathon. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

"The race was fine. The plan was to maintain the pace without going hard in order to finish strong. I was doing well till the closing stages of the race when I started cramping. I was forced to drop the pace from 4 min/km to 4:30 min/km. I would say it’s a very nice course especially because I was running it for the first time,” she told #TheTopRunner.

The 38-year-old former 10km specialist has been on the come back trail after serving a doping ban in 2017 and giving birth to her second child. Since returning to the sport, Khumalo has decided to try her hand at the ultra marathons. The results have been encouraging. She won he Tshwane North Ultra 50km in April in 03:38:49 and then also took line honours at the Miway Wally Hayward Marathon on the 1st of May in 02:52:46 before clocking 06:39:41 to take 16th position at the Comrades Marathon in June.

Khumalo also won the Miway Wally Hayward Marathon on 1 August which she used as last long training run before taking on the The Ultimate Human Race on 14 June - an 85,777km Up Run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Photo Credit: SMacPix.

"I didn't do well at the Comrades Marathon. I got injured within the first five kilometres. So the fitness was still there and I felt I needed a race and my coach suggested this one, since it pays very well. Plus it's a nice province to run in. I love racing here. Next year I'm definitely coming back to this race with the aim of getting a top three as I missed it by small margin. If it wasn't for the cramps I think I could have caught Jenet Mbhele,” said Khumalo who is coached by Harry Maredi, the founder of the Tshwane-based Legends Road Runners AC.

With the shorter ultra marathons going well, Khumalo is ready to take a second bite at the Comrades cherry during next year’s Down Run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, which will also be the 100th edition of the world’s most famous ultra marathon.

"I'm definitely going back to Comrades next year, since it’s the big one. I need to qualify early in order to train hard for it. This is why I'm going to do the Masingita Marathon in Limpopo next month. My plan (for Comrades) is to secure a top 10 finish. I'm maturing nicely and I have learned big lessons from the two Comrades I have done so far.”