SECUNDA – More than 20 daring Eswatini athletes successfully navigated the gruelling Kosmos 3-in-1 marathon in Mpumalanga, South Africa, this past Saturday.
The event is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most eccentric and punishing endurance tests. Competitors are required to complete three distinct races in a single day: A full 42.2km marathon at dawn; a 21.1km half-marathon at 1pm; and a final 10km sprint as the sun sets.
Leading the charge was a formidable 16-member contingent from the Zithande Athletics Club, guided by the seasoned Coach Nsizwa Thwala. For Thwala, this marked his 11th successful completion of the trilogy—a feat of consistency that earned him a prestigious special medal during last year’s landmark 10th finish.
Reflecting on the day’s achievement, Thwala emphasised that the race is far more than a physical trial; it is a psychological battle. “The race is a perfect test of patience and discipline,” he noted. “Runners should enter to apply what they have practised in training, rather than simply seeking content for social media.”
The performance of the Eswatini runners did not go unnoticed by the local elite. Thwala revealed that several South African professional athletes reached out to express their admiration, stating they were stunned by the sheer endurance displayed by the visitors.
Among the seasoned veterans was Khetsiwe Hlophe, the Eswatini Comrades Ambassador, who celebrated finishing her eighth Kosmos race. For Hlophe and many others, the Secunda event serves as a vital barometer for the upcoming Comrades Marathon, providing the high-intensity mileage necessary for the ‘Ultimate Human Race’.
As the sun went down over the 10km finish line, the sea of Eswatini vests proved once again that the Kingdom’s distance running scene is a rising force within the region’s athletic landscape.
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