'I want to run a lot of 10km PB's to improve my marathon' - Jobo Khatoane ready for Absa JOBURG 10K

Known more for his accomplishments as a marathoner, Jobo Khatoane has spent 2023 improving over 10km and the half marathon. After taking third place at the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon in April in 1:04:11, the Maxed Elite Running Club top runner improved on his 10km personal best by over 30 seconds when he grabbed a perhaps unexpected top ten finish at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10k.

Jobo in action during a location KZN Athletics road race. Photo Credit: Instapix.

"I ran very well indeed," he told #TheTopRunner after clocking 28:35 to take eighth place on a fast and flat route eThekwini. "It was a particularly good run because I always tended to struggle on flat courses. But today I saw that my body is responding well since I started being coached by Martin Ngwenya. He has helped me a lot and I'm happy."

Improving on his 10km lifetime best and coming within 40 seconds of his fastest ever 21km performance (1:03:31) when he finished on the podium at Two Oceans, means that the man who was seventh (2:23:38) at last year's Soweto Marathon will know that he is capable of a first official sub 2:20 clocking when he races 42,2km on a flat course in cool European conditions.

Khatoane in the centre of the lead bunch during the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon in April. Photo Credit: Totalsports Two Oceans Media.

"My main objective is to run a marathon PB which would open doors for me to race more overseas. That would help be a great deal," explained the man from Lesotho who is also based in KwaZulu-Natal for part of the season. And because he lives and trains in South Africa for many of his big competitions, Khatoane has identified the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series as an important part of his overall marathon buildup. On Heritage Day, the 32-year-old will take on the 10km specialists such as Kabelo Mulaudzi and others at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K.

"I'm ready to race a lot of 10km races. I've even entered the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. My body is feeling good which means that even if my focus remains on the marathon distance, I want to run a lot of PB's over the half marathon and 10kms. That is what will give me the confidence to run well on a flat marathon course in October.