A young Goldfields running star is rising in the world of South African marathons, and with her feet planted firmly on terra firma, she is bettering her time – marathon for marathon.
Dikeledi Magara (30) has been running since her primary school days. It is her passion.
“I train twice a day and stick to a rigid training programme. My trainer is Goodman Mokhathi of the Sibanye Stillwater Running Club. He has taught me everything I need to know to be excellent in this sport. I admire him and am grateful for his expertise,” she says with pride.
This young woman bursts with energy and her love of running shines from her every pore.
This past weekend she ran the Spar Women’s Challenge in Pietermaritzburg (10 km) on Sunday, 18 August, finishing in third position in her own best time of 35:15.
“Running is all I want to do,” she enthuses.
This year, she has completed both the Two Oceans Marathon (56 km) and the Soweto Marathon (42,2 km) in position 12.
Magara says the Soweto marathon was a killer. She competed against mainly international runners.
“There was only one South African among the Top 10, and myself in the Top 12.”
Two weeks before the Spar Challenge, she ran the Prince Mangosuthu Marathon (52 km) and ended in position 5.
“The first time I competed against international runners I was very scared, then I realised: I am a runner, they are runners. I am just as good as them, if not better.”
Dikeledi will be running the Cape Town Championship Marathon (42,2 km) in October.
“I am aiming for a top position. From this challenge, they will select top runners to represent South Africa internationally.”
Her 2025 challenges include the Comrades, and making the Top 10 in the Soweto marathon.
Magara has firmly set her sights on improving her personal best (PB) times.
“I am going to challenge myself to be the best I can be. I will improve my PB in the 10 km to 0:34, in the 21,1 km to 1:16, and in the 42,2 km to 2:40. Nothing is impossible.”
I train twice a day and stick to a rigid training programme.
– Dikeledi Magara
