Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
ZIMBABWE marathon legend Isaac Mpofu is already planning life beyond the track. The national record holder has revealed that he is preparing to transition into coaching as he approaches the final years of his decorated running career.
At 37, Mpofu admits age is catching up, prompting him to plot an immediate move into coaching once he hangs up his racing shoes. He is currently among 12 coaches enrolled in a World Athletics middle and long-distance coaching course at White City Stadium, guided by renowned German coach Gunter Lange.
“I have decided to take a step into coaching,” said Mpofu. “At my age, I think I am aging. So the plan is that when I retire, I go straight into coaching. I want to help athletes achieve the goals I achieved and even do more than I did.”
The move underlines Mpofu’s determination to remain influential in Zimbabwean athletics long after his competitive days are over. But the veteran insists he is not done racing just yet.
Currently in his off-season, Mpofu is set to resume training next week as he targets major international marathons next year, despite the absence of global events such as the Olympics or World Championships.
“There are no major championships next year, but there are big international races,” he said. “I am targeting three of them, starting with the Boston Marathon.”
Mpofu has been a model of consistency on the world stage, one of the toughest arenas in athletics. He clocked 2 hours, 10 minutes and 9 seconds on his Olympic debut in 2024 and has consistently held his own against the globe’s best marathon runners.
He finished 10th at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this year, repeating his placing at the 2022 championships in Eugene, United States.
Such performances have firmly established Mpofu as one of Zimbabwe’s most reliable marathon runners. While the country has celebrated distance-running icons like Tapfumaneyi Jonga, winner of the 1981 London Marathon, and Cuthbert Nyasango, who placed seventh at the 2012 London Olympics, none have matched Mpofu’s sustained presence at the highest level.
Back-to-back top-10 finishes at the World Championships, a national marathon record, and consistent sub-elite times strengthen the argument that Mpofu is Zimbabwe’s greatest-ever marathon runner. He remains a quiet achiever in a discipline largely dominated by East African athletes.
With coaching already on his radar, Mpofu is positioning himself to pass his knowledge to a new generation, ensuring Zimbabwe stays competitive in distance running for years to come.
“Coaching will be my way to give back,” he said. “I want to help young athletes reach levels I never thought possible. That is my next challenge after racing.”
As Bosso fans cheer on their track star one last lap at a time, it is clear that Isaac Mpofu’s legacy will stretch beyond medals and records. The running may slow, but the impact will run forever.
