Local ultra-marathon runner Nkhetheni Masupa is overwhelmed after he received a guaranteed entry for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon.
“I am speechless and overwhelmed by getting an invitation to run one of the majors is something huge. I am truly honoured and grateful. There is a very slim chance to get an entry in this major marathons, almost 1% chance. Why me?”
But the downside is that Masupa is actually thinking of turning down this invitation as he will be doing the Chicago Marathon on 11 October.
“This year’s New York Marathon will be my second run of this Abbott Major. The New York is on 1 November. That means two American trips in less than 20 days. This will be exhausting. Doing the Chicago will get me five out of six stars of original Abbott Major marathons, with only Tokyo remaining to complete the Big 6.
8 June.
“I have already done the Berlin Marathon twice – in 2023, my very first World Major, and 2024. My next Abbott Major is the Boston Marathon on 20 April followed by the Chicago Marathon in October,” says Masupa.
He says his biggest event in 2026 wil be the Comrades Marathon.
“I will be doing my 10th. It is every Comrades runner’s dream to get the green number and I am so excited.”
His first Comrades marathon was in 2015, just two years after discovering the love of running. He has never looked back since.
“I am happily 52 years old now even though my Garmin watch says I am 44 according to my training behaviour. This encourages me to even work harder.”
Masupa went down to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to participate in this year’s instalment of the annual Nelson Mandela Bay Gqeberha 50km Ultramarathon on 1 February.
“I was so excited to finish 50km in 03:29:58, attaining an overall position 16 and number 2 Age Category that took me to the podium prize.”
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