Cape Town – South African kwaito star and pastor Kabelo “Bouga Luv” Mabalane has successfully completed his 14th Comrades Marathon, adding another milestone to his long-standing relationship with the iconic ultramarathon.
Mabalane shared his achievement on social media following the 2026 edition of the race, describing how close he came to not participating this year due to the extreme demands of the event.
He admitted that he nearly pulled out, saying, “I nearly bailed this year because, quite frankly, this race is a beast.” However, the presence of his children on the sidelines gave him renewed motivation to continue.
He explained that the thought of having to explain quitting to his children pushed him forward. “‘So Dad, when things get tough, we can just quit?’ Yeah… no thanks,” he wrote, adding that he chose to “dig deep, keep moving, and get it done.”
Although still recovering from the gruelling race, Mabalane has already turned his attention to the 2027 Comrades Marathon, which will mark the 100th edition of the historic event. “Now to recover, forget how painful it was, and start looking forward to the 100th edition in 2027,” he said humorously.
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The 2026 Comrades Marathon, widely known as “The Ultimate Human Race”, took place on Sunday, 14 June 2026 and marked the 99th running of the event. The race followed the traditional “up run” route from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
South Africa’s George Kusche won the men’s race in a record-breaking time of 5:15:56, while Gerda Steyn claimed the women’s title in 5:51:19, securing her fourth Comrades victory.
Mabalane first completed the Comrades Marathon in 2006 and has since become a regular participant, often reflecting on the life lessons drawn from long-distance running.
In his autobiography I Ran For My Life, he detailed how running played a key role in helping him overcome drug addiction and adopt a healthier lifestyle, marking the sport as a central part of his personal transformation.
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Picture: Instagram/ Kabelo Mabalane
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
