A punishing week’s training in the Lesotho highlands alongside star 10km runner Letlatsa Nape has given Fort Hare’s Thabang Mahlala a spring in his step ahead of the athletics season.
It is the second year in a row the 21-year-old LLB student and Border cross country runner chose to spend a portion of his well-earned holiday testing his mettle across the Mountain Kingdom’s dramatic alpine terrain.
He was to be mentored by Tebello Ramakongoana, who placed seventh at last year’s Olympic marathon, but the latter’s international commitments – including the prestigious Boston and Hong Kong 42.2km races – put paid to those plans.
Mahlala, however, found a top-drawer replacement in Ramakongoana’s compatriot, who won the Amor Grills 10km Challenge and placed second in the Orca’s 15km Challenge in KwaZulu-Natal in July and December, respectively.
The Fort Hare blitz, who hails from Matatiele, met Nape as a novice and stayed in contact over the years. With the border a mere 30km from the Eastern Cape town, it is relatively easy for them to meet up.
“I go there because it is so mountainous,” Mahlala explained. “There are no flat parts in Lesotho, so running there really builds your strength.”
Hardiness, he said, was an aspect Nape had hammered home during their daily training sessions. A mountain goat like Ramakongoana, for example, runs sub-2:10 marathons because he is used to pushing himself in these tough conditions.
Thabang Mahlala tested the full extent of his running abilities in the mountains of Lesotho over the festive season. Photo: Supplied
Mahlala and Nape ran two hours in the mornings and 30 minutes in the afternoons, using the time in-between to discuss race strategies.
“He is very good at time-keeping and knowing when to use your speed,” the second-year student said.
Mahlala enjoyed a breakout year in 2024, winning provincial colours for the first time and running a PB of 13:37 in the 4km at the University Sports South Africa cross country race.
He also earned a highly-credible bronze in the 10km (35:02) discipline at the Border champs, which were hosted by Fort Hare for the first time last year.
Mahlala is confident that his experience in Lesotho will give him the impetus he needs to mount a serious challenge this season.
While he will again be seeking to dominate in cross country, he really wants to make a big impression in the half-marathon at both student and elite level.
Placing in the top five in these 21.1km events was among his lofty goals for 2025.
Having learnt a lot from Nape over the summer break, he will naturally also look to up his game in 10km road races.
The plan for now is to cross the border as often as possible between semesters.