ROAD RUNNING

With a second event launched in Tshwane this year , alongside the second edition of the Durban leg , the Boxer Super Runs saw some of the fastest times ever run on SA soil posted in this fun , all-inclusive and official 5km race series . – BY JACKY McCLEAN with SEAN FALCONER

It was a double birthday celebration for the SA 10km Record-holder , Precious Mashele , as he added the fastest 5km time run on SA soil to his fastest ‘ local ’ 10km time , at the Boxer Super Run in Durban .

The elite men ’ s start in the Tshwane leg of the Boxer Super Run Series

“ I ’ m very happy to have won today , especially since it ’ s my birthday . I had some doubts , as I haven ’ t been racing well in recent months , but I reminded myself that it ’ s my birthday , and this win is a gift to myself ,” said a beaming Mashele . “ The Boxer Super Run holds a special place for me – Boxer Superstores and Stillwater Sports take such great care of us athletes , so performing well here means a lot . The race was exciting . We ran the same route as last year , but this time without the wind , and all of my Boxer teammates were fierce competition , pushing me hard , but in the last two kilometres , I made sure to up the pace so they couldn ’ t catch me .”

Unexpected Win

In the women ’ s elite race , Karabo More took top honours as she crossed the finish line in 16:16 , with Gerda Steyn coming home second in 16:25 , and Cacisile Sosibo finishing third in 16:28 . The first , fourth and fifth women all posted new PBs . “ I ’ ve been off the racing scene for a while , so today was all about regaining my confidence ,” said a delighted More . “ As part of my comeback , I ’ ve decided to enter races as they come , just to gauge where I am in my training , and my strategy was to stay with the pack , work with the other women , and then really push in the last two kays . I didn ’ t expect to win today , because I was running with

the big girls , who are very strong , and it wasn ’ t until the last kilometre that I thought , I ’ ve got this .”

The Boxer Super Run Durban started at Snell Parade , passed through Lagoon Drive , and finished at Blue Lagoon Park , with batch starts for all levels of participants , from elite athletes to casual joggers and leisurely walkers . The event also featured an impressive prize purse of R147,200 , with the Elite Race winners each receiving R20,000 and prize money being paid out to the top eight men and women , as well top three overall in the Open Wave and top three in all age categories of the Open Wave .

Top five results in the Boxer Super Run Durban on 13 October .

A big Durban start-line wave by the Super Social Wave

Images : Gavin Ryan , Tobias Ginsberg

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