'You must learn to endure pain' - Kubheka becomes first man to complete 100km inside 6 hours

South African athlete Sibusiso Kubheka set a new benchmark for lure distance running when he completed 100km run in 5:59:02seconds, setting a to become the first man to finish the distance in under six hours. This groundbreaking achievement took place during an Adidas event held at the Nardo Ring in Lecce, Italy. Charles Lawrence from the United States finished second with a time of 6:03:04, while former world record holder Aleksandr Sokorin secured third place with a time of 6:04:10. All three runners finished under Sokorin's previous world record of 6:05:35 set in May 2023.

The race which aimed to have the first man break the six-hour barrier, started at midnight on Monday, 25 August where runners wore a range of innovative Adidas ClimaCool gear in order to accommodate the hot weather conditions and featured innovative high stack height super shoes with intermittent pacemakers on an uncertified course. It means although noteworthy, Kubhea’s achievement cannot be ratified as an official world record. Speaking to #TheTopRunner after his historic accomplishment, Kubheka expressed his joy and excitement at etching his name into the history books.

A tired Kubheka after completing the 100km time trial. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I'm over the moon to win the race. Being the first athlete to run under six hours is a piece of history and a life-changing moment in my career. The race was well organized, and all the water points were perfectly positioned. Regarding the hot conditions, the organizers ensured we were well prepared by scheduling the race for midnight," said Kubheka, who competes in the colours of Xcel Running Club in KwaZulu-Natal.

Although no stranger to ultra marathon distances given that participated in the 2021 Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km race, finishing fifth with a time of 2:42:56, this was the first time that the 27-year-old raced over the 50km mark. Kubheka believes that the secret to running fast over very long distances is the ability to take the pain.

Lipschitz leading the pacers. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"In the first 30km, I experienced an upset stomach, but I managed to push through. The key takeaway from this experience is that over long distances, you must learn to endure pressure and pain. Sometimes you might have a rough start, but you can recover as the race progresses," he said reflecting on the event known as Chasing100 where sub 2:10 SA marathoner Adam Lipschitz ran as a one of the pacers.

Kubheka noted that accepting the challenge of running 100km was not an easy decision and credited his coach, Xolani Mabhida who coached Bongumusa Mthembu to Comrades Marathon success, for his support.

Kubheka with his coach Xolani Mabhida. Photo Credit: Xolani Mabhida.

"Accepting the invitation to run 100km was a tough choice, but I told myself that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. This brave decision has indeed turned out to be life-changing for me. In the end, I want to thank my coach, for always pushing me. I trust his expertise when it comes to ultra distance racing. This achievement wouldn't have been possible without Cuan Walker as well, who recommended me to the Adidas team. I'm also grateful to my training partners for their support, I can’t express how much they motivated me."