Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Lebogang to use Cape Town as her marathon yardstick
SETTING the bar high on her maiden foray into the 42.2-kilometre distance and finishing third at the 2016 Cape Town Marathon, Lebogang Phalula will have a second bite at the cherry with even higher hopes.
Phalula was the first South African to cross the line at last year’s edition posting a creditable time of two hours, 38 minutes (2:38:00).
Steeled by the experience of racing her first marathon, Phalula believes she would be better prepared for the rigours of the long-distance event.
“Last year I ran the marathon without knowing what it requires from an athlete but this year I know what to expect and where it hurts the most,” Phalula said.
“I’ve learned that, and I am willing and praying that God can give me the wheels he gave me last year so that I can do well this year again.”
Phalula has made a promising transition from middle-distance running on the track to the rigours of racing the marathon.
She has over the years established herself as one of the country’s top female athletes from two-lap racing on the track to the 10-kilometre on the road.
The 33-year-old and her twin sister Diana-Lebo have been prominent features on the local athletics scene for more than a decade with both winning the prestigious Spar Women’s Grand Prix title.
“Now it is all about position, the time will come, I am not too bothered with the time at the moment if I am going to put the pressure on myself saying I want to run a 2:30 it is not going to happen,” Phalula said.
“It will also depend on the race day how I feel and I how I will do but I am looking forward to running well like last year.”
The 2017 Cape Town Marathon could open a few doors for Phalula as she eyes an international debut and selection for South Africa at the IAAF World Championships and Tokyo Olympic Games.
“I love running at home, but if I can run well in Cape Town I may go overseas and try to qualify for the next Olympics or the world cham- pionships,” she said.
“I am looking for a new personal best, what exactly it will be, doesn’t matter, I definitely want to run between 2:35 and 2:38.”
Phalula said Cape Town would also be a gauge whether racing the distance was the right decision.
“My focus, for now, is the marathon, that is why I’ve been struggling to run PBs in the 10-kilometre races as I am doing long runs instead of speed,” Phalula said.
“If I run well that will show me I am ready for the marathon but if I still run around 2:38 or 2:39 I won’t do the marathon anymore.
“I will stick with my middle and short distances which is the 10 kilometres on the road and the 5 000m and the 10 000m on the track.”
She will be tying the knot in December when she will become Lebogang Luthuli and hopefully aid the media and the athletics fraternity in distinguishing the Phalula twins.