Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 25

ADVERTORIAL
HILLCREST Hits 40
with THRESHhold
The THRESHhold Hillcrest Marathon & Half Marathon celebrates its 40th anniversary on 10 February with a
new title sponsor, but the same great race that has become a firm favourite amongst KZN runners.
I
t was 1978… On Robben Island, Nelson Mandela celebrated
his 60th birthday, unaware that in 17 years’ he was destined to
become SA’s first black president. Meanwhile, we filled cinemas to
watch Superman and Grease. Dallas kept us riveted to TV screens,
which had only been in the country for two years. Our own Margaret
Gardiner was crowned Miss Universe, and pop royalty Queen were
chanting ‘We Will Rock You’ – on vinyl records, of course.
And in KZN’s sleepy town of Hillcrest, with less than 5000 residents,
the fledgling Hillcrest Villagers Athletics Club with all of 25 members
staged its first club race on 5th February 1978. Roughly 500 entrants
took on the 24km from Hillcrest’s rugby fields through the barely
developed countryside to Forest Hills and back, and the race was
won by DAC’s John Cafetero in a time of 1:24:32.
40 years later and it’s all very different today. In 2019 we’ll probably
download the blockbuster Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody to
watch on our smart TV’s, which grew out of their clumsy bunny ears
decades ago. CD’s came and went. Now we stream music performed
by artists who weren’t even born in 1978. We just recently had a
second Miss Universe in Demi-Leigh Nel-Pieters. And Hillcrest is a
thriving suburb which, along with Kloof and Gillitts, is now home to
about 20,000 residents.
MODERN, VIBRANT CLUB
As for Hillcrest Villagers Athletics Club, it is now 350 members strong
and one of KZN’s most vibrant multi-disciplined running clubs. But
that club race, now called the THRESHhold Hillcrest Marathon, has
stood the test of time. Although the route changed some years back,
February 2019 will see the 40th running of the race, and for the past
30 years, this race has also been the first local marathon qualifier for
the Two Oceans and Comrades ultra-marathons.
“It’s undoubtedly one of the most popular races on the KZN calendar
and the 3000 entries go quickly,” says club chairman Marc Allen.
“Runners like to test their legs early in the year and take some
pressure off by achieving their qualifying times for Two Oceans and
Comrades early. It’s a
relatively fast run, too. Last
year’s winning times were
2:31:57 for Tsholwane Jane
in the men’s marathon and
3:04:36 by Lisa Collett in
the women’s race. The
route plays a big part in
its attraction, because
it’s a very scenic two-lap
course through a tree-
lined, shaded route into
Winston Park, and the
crowd support is always
good.”
“We still have a few of the original members from 1978 in the club and it’s
fascinating to hear their stories. The Club’s 42 years old this year, so it’s older than myself and
many of the members, but all of us really feel that sense of tradition keenly, so to be putting on
the race for the 40th time, and with a new headline sponsor in THRESHhold, is very exciting.
We’re pulling out all the stops to ensure this year is extra memorable.”
THE IDEAL SUPPLEMENT
THRESHhold, which is a natural supplement that’s clinically proven to provide support and
protection for joints, cartilage and ligaments as well as relief of pain and inflammation, comes
on board as headline sponsor after co-sponsoring the event in 2018. Made from the world’s
best researched and purest form of MSM (OptiMSM), THRESHhold is particularly beneficial
to runners who often experience joint and muscle strain or injury with inflammation, especially
as the season progresses. Used daily, THRESHhold helps to prevent injury and strain plus
enhances performance by acting as an antioxidant, stimulating muscle and tissue repair, and
shortening post-exercise recovery time. In the event of injury or strain, THRESHhold is also an
effective natural anti-inflammatory that helps repair connective tissue damage.
If that doesn’t already make THRESHhold seem the perfect running partner for the Hillcrest
Marathon, this may: MSM was first discovered by Harvard-educated Dr Stanley Jacob of the
Oregon Health & Life Sciences University in the US in… you guessed it, 1978!
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