By Adnaan Mohamed
Ryan Mphahlele will defend his Boxer Super Run Durban 5km title on 18 October knowing he is not at the fitness level that powered him to victory a year ago.
The Tembisa-based runner won both Durban and Johannesburg in 2025, but says this year’s race will serve as a measure of where he stands against a strong elite field.
“Whenever I line up at a race, I want to win,” Mphahlele said. “But my fitness isn’t anywhere near where it was at this time last year. I’ll definitely compete for the win, but I’ll also use the race to see where my fitness is now and how I compare with the other athletes.”
Mphahlele returns to a fast, flat Durban course he favours, although his previous victory offers little comfort ahead of another fiercely contested race.
Last year’s win required a fight to the finish, and the defending champion expects the competition to be tougher this time.
“I enjoy the fast, flat course and expect the tactics to be similar to last year,” he said. “The standard was already very high, and the win didn’t come easily.”
The attractive prize purse adds another incentive to an elite race that has already attracted a sold-out field.
Stillwater Sports managing director Michael Meyer said Mphahlele’s return would add further intrigue to the contest, particularly given his candid assessment of his preparation.
The elite women’s race starts at 09:45, with the elite men following at 10:00 at Snell Parade near Blue Lagoon Park.
For Mphahlele, the race offers two targets: another title and an answer to a more immediate question about his form.
The stopwatch will provide the answer.
The Boxer Super Run Johannesburg takes place on Sunday, 15 November, with entries also sold out.