The energetic 24-year-old Bayanda Ntshangase from eMtunzini kwaQwayinduku in the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, successfully qualified for the popular Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2024. Ntshangase is a Durban University of Technology (DUT) alumni, he completed his Diploma in Sport Management in 2019.

The Two Oceans Marathon is Africa’s biggest running event by economic impact, contributing R672 million annually to the Western Cape economy. It has earned a reputation as the world’s most beautiful marathon.

Ntshangase cannot wait to take part in the prestigious 56 kilometre ultra-marathon in April 2024. He expressed his excitement as a beginner racer. “I am very excited, honestly I can’t wait for it. I like challenges, so the Two Oceans Marathon 2024 comes with Chapmans Peak Hill which is three kilometres of elevation and another two kilometres in Constantia Hill near the end of the race. It is almost every athlete’s dream race, it is a well organised and epic race, the biggest ultra-marathon in the country,” said Ntshangase.

Ntshangase further explained that he is looking forward to enjoying his first Two Oceans Marathon 2024 which he said is also his dream race. He ambitiously has set himself a target to finish in a time of four hours 30 minutes. Ntshangase is planning to challenge himself further by joining the ultimate human race that is the gruelling Comrades Marathon 2024.

Currently, Ntshangase does not have any sponsors, but he is an Adidas AdiClub member, which rewards all its members with discounts based on how often one buys from Adidas or gets points as it tracks their training activities; and his running club is Discovery Team Vitality.

“I had planned to run my first Ultra Marathon in 2025 but all that changed when my half marathon numbers were good, and the training was even better so I told myself I can’t wait any longer, this is it. I applied for an entry and submitted my half marathon numbers then I was successfully drawn, now they are waiting for my full marathon results which I will submit after running the Sanlam Cape Town marathon in October.  I believe I will do well because my training is going well then 13 April 2024 will be the day,” he said enthusiastically.

Ntshangase mentioned that he trains three or four times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday depending on the intensity. On Mondays he does an easy run just taking out lactic acid from weekend’s long run. On Wednesdays he usually focuses on speed, or a tempo run, then on Saturday he does a short distance sprint run for a warmup like seven or eight kilometres. He then goes for a long run on Sunday. Diet wise, Ntshangase avoids eating foods with high sugar, high fats and sticks to protein for muscle repair, recovery and growth. He also eats carbs for fuelling the body and muscles.

Pictured: Bayanda Ntshangase

Nikiwe Sukazi