While the spotlight at the 2025 Comrades Marathon burned brightest on champions Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn, another victory was quietly—and resolutely—etched into the annals of history.
Amidst the roar of the crowd and the thunder of elite strides, 83-year-old Johannes Maros Mosehla shuffled with steady determination across the finish line, rewriting the record books and inspiring a nation.
In 2023 he was the oldest competitor in the field at 81 when he became the oldest-ever runner to finish Comrades, beating out the record held by the legendary Wally Hayward, who finished the race at the age of 80 in 1989. Hayward was a five-time winner of Comrades during his heyday.
Finishing in 11 hours, 47 minutes, and 27 seconds, Mosehla once again became the oldest person ever to conquer the gruelling ultra-marathon. Not just a return to glory—but a reaffirmation of resilience, discipline, and the unyielding spirit of a man who has long defied the ticking of the clock.
The longevity legend
Representing the Polokwane Athletic Club, Mosehla is no stranger to barriers—both physical and historical. His journey with Comrades began in 2005, already in his 60s, a time when most athletes have long hung up their shoes. But for Mosehla, it wasn’t about defying age—it was about honoring the dream denied to him decades ago.
I always wanted to do the Comrades Marathon. But in the early 1980s, apartheid laws wouldn’t allow us to participate.
Those were years where his running shoes waited, untouched by the starting line, his dream paused by systemic injustice. It wasn’t until freedom came and opportunity knocked that Mosehla stepped forward—never looking back.
He has now completed 10 Comrades Marathons, each one a stride in protest of time, prejudice, and probability.
The secret to his endurance?
Ask Mosehla the secret to running strong into his eighties and he’ll smile with humility—and wisdom.
When you love something, you continue to do it well. Most people my age are no longer with us. I’m proud to still be moving. I’ve been active since primary school, since 1963.
But it’s more than love that fuels his finish-line moments. Mosehla attributes his long-running success to a simple, but profound philosophy: balance and discipline.
The key is to listen to your body and do everything in moderation. Know what to eat and drink. Don’t force anything. If you don’t respect your body, it won’t take you far.
He prefers the down run despite its notorious brutality on the legs—especially the dreaded Polly Shorts, which he describes as the race’s “final exam.”
But with the stride of experience and a heart beating with purpose, he tackles even the toughest inclines like a man still chasing his very first dream.
It's never too late to start
For younger runners—or older ones still sitting on the sidelines of their aspirations—Mosehla’s message is both clear and uplifting:
It’s never too late to start. You must know where you sleep and with whom. Don’t sleep around with many partners—you don’t know where you can pick up diseases.
In a world obsessed with youth and speed, Mosehla is an ultra-marathoner of meaning. His every step echoes a truth many forget: that the road is long, but not closed; the dream delayed, but not denied.
He may not have the pace of the podium finishers, but in the grand tapestry of the Comrades Marathon, Johannes Mosehla is more than a runner—he is a symbol of staying power, a beacon for those who think their time has passed.
The road ahead
As for the 2026 Up Run?
Hopefully, yes. I would like to—but it’s not up to me. My body will tell me.
Johannes Mosehla doesn’t run to chase medals. He runs to honour a promise to his younger self, to stand as a monument to perseverance, and to whisper to all of us: the finish line is not just for the fastest. It’s also for the faithful.
So lace up. Whether you’re 23 or 83, the road is still open. And as Mosehla has shown us— the spirit of Comrades is not in the speed, but in the soul.
