ATHLETE FEATURE
Jenna Challenor on returning to the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon in 2025
Jenna Challenor is set to make her long-awaited return to the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon in 2025, racing for the first time in Nedbank Running Club colours. After facing a challenging road back to competitive running due to suffering from long Covid, she shares her excitement, mindset, and goals for the race.
Excitement to Return“ How am I feeling about racing the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2025? Well, I’ m really, really excited! It feels like it’ s been a long time since I last raced the ultra and it’ s one of my all-time favorite races.
It’ s not called the world’ s most beautiful marathon for nothing. I absolutely love Cape Town— it’ s no secret how much I love racing there. So, being able to come back is an absolute honor. I’ ve missed the Two Oceans, and I’ m so excited to race it again.”
A Tough Journey Back“ Returning to the Totalsports Two Oceans is really special for me. I’ ve missed not racing it over the last two years. Since Comrades 2022, when I crawled over the finish line, I’ ve been struggling with health issues. I’ ve had so many viruses, and it’ s been a really tough journey. I won’ t sugarcoat it— if rock bottom was a place, I was underneath the ground.
Just being able to run again, painfree, and managing my health is a huge victory. I still have tough days and have to focus a lot on my health, nutrition, and recovery. But it’ s all worth it to make it to the start line. I have little expectations other than to go out there, smile the whole way, take in the views, and soak up the vibes. When I was really sick, I didn’ t know if I’ d ever be able to run again, let alone race. So, I’ m not taking anything for granted. To race against such strong women again is so special— I just hope I can hang tough when the times get hard and finish with a smile on my face.”
Mindset Shift and Lessons Learned“ I don’ t think my mindset has changed entirely since my last Two Oceans, but I’ ve learned a lot about my body through my illnesses. I’ ve learned to respect it more, to train smarter, and to rest. That’ s a big thing. I’ ve learned to be okay with resting and not pushing through everything. So when I say I haven’ t got a different mindset, I’ ve got the same mind set. I still want to go for my goals and chase my dreams and push my limits and just absolutely soak up the race and enjoy it. But at the same time, I’ m hoping that I am a more experienced, maybe smarter athlete in my old age and after what I’ ve gone through.”
So while my goals and determination haven’ t changed, I believe I’ ve become a smarter, more experienced athlete. Hopefully, I can race with more wisdom and truly appreciate the journey from start to finish. Just being on that start line is already a win for me.”
First Two Oceans in Nedbank Running Club’ s colours“ This will be my first Two Oceans running for the Nedbank Running Club, and honestly, it’ s a dream come true. Since I started running, I have always looked at Nedbank and thought,‘ I’ d love to be part of that team.’ It’ s always been run so well, and Nick Bester does an amazing job.
“ Since signing with them, they’ ve been incredible— helping me with seconding, making travel arrangements, and taking off so much of the stress