Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 123, October 2019 | Page 24

ADVERTORIAL The Voet Experience Awaits In 2018 the Voet van Afrika Marathon celebrated its 40th anniversary, and the focus was understandably very much on looking back... In 2019, the Voet is looking forwards, with the 41 st edition of the event on 12 October all set to launch a new era for this iconic race near the Southern tip of Africa. I n marketing they say you need to sell the experience to a prospective buyer, rather than just the product. Well, when it comes to the Voet van Afrika Marathon, the experience is exactly what it is all about. There are plenty of marathons on the SA running calendar, but there’s nothing quite like the Voet! With its route starting on farm roads near Bredasdorp, going over the tough Anysberg summit and then returning to Bredasdorp via Napier on an endlessly rolling tar road, the Voet van Afrika Marathon has a bit of everything, including stunning scenery and wonderfully energetic refreshment stations manned by the local community and businesses. But it’s the challenge, the test of your physical and mental mettle, the thrill of conquering this marathon, that makes the Voet a race that all South African marathoners want to tackle at least once in their running lifetime, and brings many back year after year. When you stand on top of the Anysberg and take in that view, you will understand. When you crest that last hill on the R316 from Napier and see the town of Bredasdorp in front of you, pulling you in to the finish, you’ll understand. When you reach that finish line, and feel the sweet satisfaction of having conquered the Voet, you will understand. This is not just another marathon, this is the Voet! Of course, if the marathon distance is a bit too much for your legs, there are also half marathon and 10km races to enter. They both offer similar routes to the marathon, with some off-road mixed with tar, and good views of the surrounding mountains and farmlands. It really is a stunning area to run through, no matter the distance you opt for. (There is also a 4km fun run, called the Toontjie, or Small Toe, that takes place the Friday evening before the race.) And with the race taking place in Bredasdorp, it’s a great opportunity for a weekend away in the Southern Cape, including a drive to the nearby southern-most point of the African continent at Cape Agulhas, where the two oceans meet! This is a challenging event that will test your legs and lungs – and after more than four decades, this is still the toughest race with the warmest heart, so come put your best Voet forward in Bredasdorp! What: When: Where: Race Website: Race Office: Voet van Afrika Marathon, Half Marathon & 10km Saturday 12 October 2019 Bredasdorp Sport Grounds, Western Cape http://voetvanafrika.co.za 061 921 1005 / [email protected] (Take note, online entries closed 30 September) 24 ISSUE 124 OCTOBER 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za SA's Biggest Running Publication