ROAD RUNNING because the seconding points only provided water in cups . “ Like I say , you never stop learning . Two Oceans was a learning experience ... but I will be back ,” he says with determination .

Stephen is married to fellow runner ( and now also a race commentator ) Zintle Sinqe Mokoka , daughter of the late Zithulele , and they have two sons . Stephen says that his family is his rock . “ They keep things in perspective . They help ground me , and bring a peace and calmness to my life . You know , when you are young and you are running , then your whole life is running . It is not healthy . You can ’ t be only running . You need a life . And Zintle and the boys are that for me . It is because of them that I have been able to be in the game for so long .”

Nevertheless , Stephen has given a lot of thought to his career after running . He says he will go back to his studies when he hangs up his competitive shoes , but he has other ideas , too . “ I want to be involved in admin in the sport , and also become the ‘ finishing school ’ for ambitious marathon runners . I will take them for 13 weeks and fine-tune them from the previous work they have done , to ‘ finish the product ’. I also want to start learning about management in the next two years , as in how to look after a team , or a club . Because you never stop learning .”

Stephen Mokoka is not just a once in a generation athlete . He is a once in a generation role model .

Winning the 2018 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and SA Marathon titles

late father-in-law , the great Zithulele Sinqe , had opened his marathon career with a faster time than that , when he clocked 2:08:04 in Port Elizabeth in 1986 .

“ You know the marathon is a different beast altogether ... 14 years later and I am still learning about the race ,” says Stephen . Strange words from a man who has run 23 marathons thus far in his career , with an average finishing time of 2:08:24 for the iconic distance . Yet it took him 18 attempts before he came close to the SA Record of 2:06:33 set by Gert Thys in 1999 . “ You never stop learning the marathon . It took Hendrick Ramaala five marathons before he started to feel comfortable at that distance . I am 39 now , but still want that SA marathon record . But you never stop learning ,” he repeats .

If you watch Stephen when he interacts with fellow athletes , you will see how they hang on his every word . The knowledge and experience he shares is invaluable , and the next generation of runners are acutely aware of this . He is always happy to chat to fellow athletes and share this experience , and at press conferences , he will usually impart some of the wisdom gained during his long career . However , he is not settling for the role of being the elder statesman of SA running , and says he still has unfinished business on the road .

“ I know I ’ ve said it already , but I still want that marathon record . I am also going back to Two Oceans next year , because I have unfinished business there !” he says . This is because , as part of his preparation for the Olympic marathon this year , Stephen entered the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon , and things did not go to plan . “ I needed to learn how to run the hills , as Paris was not going to be a flat course . But Two Oceans showed me flames , and I can ’ t leave it at that . Next year I will be back , and a podium position is the very least I expect .”

He adds that it was not only the climbs at Two Oceans that were a struggle for him , as he was also dehydrated after struggling to get enough water on the route ,

National Titles

Amongst his 26 national titles on road or track , Stephen has won both the 10,000m and Half Marathon titles eight times each ! 1500m 2010 5000m 2013 , 2015 , 2016 10,000m 2009 , 2010 ; 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2015 , 2016 , 2018 10km 2009 , 2010 ; 2014 , 2015 Half Marathon 2008 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 Marathon 2018 , 2021

International Honours

Stephen has represented his country 36 times on the world or continental stage , and won a total of six medals .

• World Road Running Champs 2023 – Team bronze medal , Half Marathon

• African Championships 2016 – Gold medal , 10,000m

• World University Championships 2013 – Gold medal , 10,000m 2011 – Silver medal , 10,000m 2013 – Silver medal , Half Marathon 2007 – Bronze medal , 10,000m

Stephen says is still learning more with each race

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