Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 102, January 2018 | Page 41

ADVERTORIAL Great Races to Put in Your Diary Modern Athlete is partnered with a number of terrific events each year, including these great road races in early 2018. Get your entries in, put them in your diaries, and we’ll see you there! More info at www.modernathlete.co.za/events. What: 36 th Johnson Crane Hire Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 28 January Where: Willowmoore Park, Harpur Avenue, Benoni, Central Gauteng T he good news is that the popular Johnson Crane Hire event will take place for an incredible 36 th consecutive year at the end of January, but the bad news is that entries for the 42km and 21km closed at the end of November. You may be lucky to get a late entry for the 5km and 10km at race number collection. There are several reasons for the event’s popularity, starting with the fact that the double-lapper route is relatively flat, allowing runners to push hard for a PB time or a Comrades Marathon sub-5:00 qualifier. Another reason is that it is one of the first marathons of the New Year in the Gauteng area, and makes a great way to really kick-start the year’s long distance running – but for those who are still easing into things in the New Year, there are 21km, 10km and 5km options as well. Note: Both the marathon and half marathon will be timed using the ChampionChip system, so make sure your chip is attached to your running shoe’s laces before you leave home! The Bonus for Comrades entrants is that your marathon time will automatically be uploaded to the Comrades Database. THE BEST OF BENONI Web: www.johnsoncranemarathon.co.za | E-mail: [email protected] What: Modern Athlete Bobbies Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 4 February Where: Greenstone Shopping Centre, Modderfontein Road, Greenstone Hill, Edenvale, Johannesburg, Central Gauteng I YOU’RE WANTED BY THE BOBBIES f you will permit us to be a bit creative with running puns, this event is a great opportunity to run with the bobbies (police) instead of from them. Just kidding, but now that we have caught your attention, why not sign up for an undulating run through Edenvale, Illiondale and Greenstone on what is considered a fast and flat route, where a PB is on the cards? Come on, just go for it. This event caters for the whole family, with three distances on offer, and more good news is that while online entries close on 28 January, you will still be able to enter in selected sport shops (with an additional R20 charge) until 31 January: SweatShop Dunkeld and Bedfordview, Sportsmans Warehouse Park Meadows and Stoneridge Mall, and Run-A-Way Sport in Pretoria. Entries will be limited to 3000, however, so to be safe, it’s best to enter soon as you can. Note: This race will also be timed by Peak Timing using the ChampionChip system, so remember your chip come race day! Web: www.bobbies21.co.za | E-mail: [email protected] GO ON, PICK THIS RACE! What: Pick n Pay Marathon, Half Marathon, 8km & 4km When: Sunday 11 February Where: Saheti School, Civin Drive, Senderwood, Johannesburg, Central Gauteng T his event really does cater for the whole family thanks to all the distances on offer – marathon, half marathon, 8km fun run, 4km fun run, and even a shorter dash for the toddlers. Just take note that the marathon and half marathon races are limited to a total of 6000 athletes, which are already sold out, while the two fun runs are limited to a combined 3000 entries, which will still be taken at pre-race registration and on race day if the entry capacity has not yet been reached. The event is put on by the Jeppe Quondam Athletics Club at the beautiful Saheti School, and promises an undulating course, which also makes it a great Comrades qualifier or long training run ahead of the Two Oceans and Comrades ultras. And due to the race being timed by ChampionChip, all marathon finishing times will automatically be uploaded to the Comrades database, so you don’t even need to submit your time if this is your new or fastest qualifying time. Note: Entries for the Pick n Pay Marathon & Half Marathon will close on 31 January, or when the entry cap is reached, so to avoid potential disappointment, rather get your entry in early. Web: www.pnpmarathon.co.za | E-mail: [email protected] 41