CENTRAL GAUTENG
Thursday 13 February Singles Run 5km , PWC Bike Park , Bryanston , 7pm , www . wannadoo . co . za
Friday 14 February Hot 91.9FM Valentine ’ s 10km Night Race , Randburg Central Sports Complex , cnr Republic Road & Malibongwe Drive , Randburg , 7pm , Michelle Knotzer 079 844 7156 , www . entryninja . com
AdventureRun Avianto Valentine Night 10km & 5km , Avianto Club House and Sports Park , Villa Road , Muldersdrift , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Sunday 16 February Pirates Half Marathon , Pirates Club , 25 Braeside Road , Greenside , 6am , Race Organiser 011 568 0922 ( w ), www . entrytickets . met
Tuesday 18 February AdventureRun Krugersdorp Golf Club Night 10km & 5km , Krugersdorp Golf Club , I Nightingale Crescent , Krugersdorp , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
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RACE CALENDAR
Welcome to SA ’ s biggest and most complete running and walking race calendar , containing all road and trail runs , as well as other running-related disciplines . Just remember to always check with the organisers before driving to an event , as some details may have changed since going to print . – COMPILED BY TOM COTTRELL & LEANNE HALL
Pirates Half Marathon , Central Gauteng , 16 February
Thursday 20 February Killarney Night Run 10km & 5km , Killarney Country Club , 5th Street , Houghton Estate , Johannesburg , 7pm , www . wannado . co . za
Jackal 10km & 5km Night Trail Run , Jackal Creek Golf Club , Boundary Road , Roodepoort , 7:15pm , www . webticket . co . za
Saturday 22 February AdventureRun Avianto 21km , 15km , 10km & 5km , Avianto Club House and
ISSUE 127 FEBRUARY 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za
Cape Peninsula Marathon & Half Marathon , Western Province , 16 February
Sports Park , Villa Road , Muldersdrift , 7am , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Rover Run 46km , 25km , 15km & 7km , Central Park Trails , Modderfontein Reserve , Arden Road , Lethabong , 7am , Race Organiser 063 686 7315 , www . entryninja . com
Sunday 23 February Township Marathon , Half Marathon , 10km & 5km , Eldorado Park Stadium , Cumming Road , Eldorado Park ,
5:30am , 6am & 6:25am , Joe Morris 082 443 3777 , www . entryninja . com
Tuesday 25 February AdventureRun Kempton Park Golf Club 10km & 5km , Kempton Park Golf Club , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Prison Break Trail Run # 2 10km & 5km , Leeukop Golf Club , cnr Candican & Kliping Roads , Sunninghill , 7pm , Race Organiser 083 277 4700 , www . entryninja . com
Thursday 27 February TrailAdventure Royal Johannesburg Kensington Golf Club 10km & 5km Family Fun Night Run , Royal Johannesburg Kensington Golf Club , 7pm , Race Organiser 011 640 3021 ( w ), www . entrytime . com
Sunday 1 March Hineini 5km Charity Run , Sandton Sports Club , George Lea Park , 11 Holt Street , Parkmore , 11am , Dani Bloom 082 818 2888 , www . entrytickets . net
The Campus Run Series # 1 , 10km & 5km , The Campus , Sloane Street , Bryanston , Time TBC , www . wannado . co . za
Heritage Site , Johann Rissik Drive , Groenkloof , Pretoria , 7am , 7:30am
15km , 10km , 5km & 2km , The Big Red Barn , Nelson Road , Olifantsfontein ,
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Have Your Say
Got something on your mind that you want to share , a burning question you want answered , or a good story to tell ? Then send it to letters @ modernathlete . co . za , and add a pic if you can . Letters should preferably be no more than 300 words long , and pics should be high-resolution . ( Note that letters may be shortened due to space limitations .)
EDITOR ’ S PICK
NEW OUTLOOK ON RACES
The standard answer to why we aren ’ t having road races is the cost of organising them with small fields . It ’ s argued that it is not viable for clubs to put on races with small fields because of the costs , which go with putting them on . So , I have a few questions , but the main one is this : Is this not the time to reassess how races are organised ? Is it necessary that only a club can organise an event ?
THE TEARS WILL FLOW FREELY …
The approach is that clubs must be protected , so they are the only ones allowed to be organisers of athletics events . But , are we protecting the athletes by not having events at all ? Here in Cape Town , can we not have low-cost , smaller field events in different parts of the city on the same day ? Cape Town has a population of over 4.5 million people . Parkruns have proven that this can work .
Until the pandemic has passed , is it not time to let organisers who are not clubs put on athletics events ? Not a free-for-all , but properly managed by the federation , so that athletes are not ripped off and that safe , quality events are put on ? Trail running has taken the gap , as event organisers are free to put on events . I am not saying road races should charge the same as trail events , far from it , just that maybe it ’ s time event organisers were given more freedom to fill the gap until the sport is back on its feet .
I am not disputing that COVID-19 infection rates are increasing – everyone needs to be careful – but that does not address the issue of how life can go on safely while this pandemic plays out . If we just stop everything and then suddenly have big groups getting together , how can we not expect the virus to spread ? If we have managed events that are smaller , then the risk is way , way less . What do we do when this third wave is done ? Still sit with nothing happening ? – James Evans , Cape Town
The running industry and community have been debating this topic for 16 months now . I have heard different opinion , like no races because they will be super-spreaders , versus get back to racing as soon as possible because running promotes health , athletes will be out in the open and spread out , and it can be done without becoming a super-spreader . I agree with the latter view , and I agree with you , James , that we should be looking at all options to get the sport back up and running . There are enough athletes , organisers , officials , and even sponsors out there to make it possible . – Ed .
Was thinking about eventually getting to run Comrades again , for what will be my tenth race … If I thought the previous races were emotional , not sure I ’ ll be able to keep it together now singing the National Anthem at the start with thousands of runners , knowing what we have all been through with COVID and recently with the unrest and looting . As a healthcare worker , this has been a lot , but the vision of running from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and conquering the race again – like we as a nation get up and conquer again and again – literally gives me goosebumps . I love my country , and especially KZN ! – Catherine Anne Miller , Pietermaritzburg
The rest of the country sat transfixed , horrified , watching what went on in KZN , but then we saw the people stand up , join arms and turn things around . To me , that ’ s exactly what happens in the Comrades Marathon , when runners who are total strangers pull together and help each other to get to the finish . The Comrades has always been a metaphor for this country , and I , too , cannot wait for its return . – Ed .
WHERE ’ S THE CALENDAR ?…
I have noticed that you no longer have races in the magazine . Any reason for that ? – Teresa Coetzee , Krugersdorp
Start Your Engines !
Start Your Engines !
RACE CALENDAR
Saturday 15 February Sunday 23 February
Bestmed Tuks Marathon , Half
Phobians Pretoria Marathon , Half Marathon , 10km & 5km , Hillcrest Marathon & 10km , PHSOB Club , Sports Campus , Pretoria , 5:30am , Hofmeyr Park , cnr Kings Highway & 6am , 6:20am ( 10km Wheelchair race ), Queens Crescent , Lynwood , Pretoria , 6:30am & 6:40am , Prof Vollie Spies 6am , Rory Baker 072 023 1177 , 082 821 6952 , www . entrytime . com www . entryninja . com
AdventureTails Rock Walk / Run 21km , AdventureRun Zoo Walkies 10km 15km , 10km , 5km & 2km , Rock Falls & 5km , Pretoria Zoo , Boom Street , Ranch , Main Road ( R26 ), Hoekplaas , Pretoria , 7am , Shane Gouldie Centurion , 7am , Glizelle Langerman 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com 083 264 3931 , www . entrytime . com
Wednesday 26 February
AdventureRun Barn Sunset
AdventureRun Barn Pizza Night 10km & 5km Run , The Big Red Barn , 10km & 5km , The Big Red Barn , Nelson Road , Olifantsfontein , 5pm , Nelson Road , Olifantsfontein , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 ,
Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www , entrytime . com www . entrytime . com
Sunday 16 February Saturday 29 February
Fresh @ Klapperkop Trail Run AdventureTails Barn Run 21km ,
15km , 10km & 5km , Fort Klapperkop
Hi Teresa , we have always had the most detailed and complete monthly race calendar in SA in this mag , but we put it on hold when all events were cancelled last year , and to be perfectly
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020
GAUTENG
honest , we haven ’ t found the time and resources to get the calendar up and running again yet . However , with more races coming back online or being added to the calendar – granted , more so in trail than road – I think it is time to get going with fixtures in the mag again soon . – Ed .
Images : Sean Falconer , Stuart Mann & courtesy race organisers
Tuesday 3 March AdventureRun ERPM Golf Club Night 10km & 5km , ERPM Golf Club , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Wednesday 4 March Black Diamond 8km & 4km Night Trail Run , Bryanston Country Club , Bryanston Drive , Bryanston , 7:30pm & 7:40pm , www . entryninja . com
Sunday 8 March Edenvale Marathon , Half Marathon , 10km & 5km , Edenvale High School , Linksfield Road , Edenvale , 6am , Joe Do Couto 082 441 3278 , www . championchip . co . za
Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 March TLC Trail Running Festival , Day 1 : 6km or 10km & 5km Night Trail Run , Day 2 : 25km , 16km , 10km & 5km , Warthogs Bush Camp , Magaliesburg , 8am & 6pm , more info : www . entryninja . com
Sunday 15 March Gallopers 15km , 5km & Street Mile , Alston Primary School , cnr Heather Road and Klipspringer Avenue , Leondale , Germiston , 7am , Lucky Miya 082 887 9596 , www . entrytime . com
Run for Water Half Marathon , 10km & 5km , Elkah Stadium , 7am , Boitumela
& 8am , Eloff Hoffman 083 399 9564 , www . freshtrails . co . za
AdventureRun Hennops Pride 15km , 10km & 5km , Hennops Pride Lifestyle Resort , Hartbees Road , off R511 , Lanseria , 7am , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Wednesday 19 February Zwartkop Nite Race Series # 3 10km & 5km , Zwartkop Country Club , Old Johannesburg Road , Lyttleton , Centurion , 6pm , www . entryninja . com
AdventureRun Rietvlei 15km , 10km & 5km , Rietvlei Dam , Nelmapius Drive , Pretoria , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Friday 21 February
Mofokeng 072 952 5567
GoSport Trail Run # 2 , Multiple distances , 6pm , Race Organiser 082 453 0096 , www . entryninja . com
Saturday 22 February
Friday 14 February
AdventureTails Ingaadi 21km , AdventureRun Kimiad Adventure Night 15km , 10km , 5km & 2km , Ingaadi Run 10km & 5km , Kimiad Golf Course Spa and Events , Portion 53 Farm , and Driving Range , Wekker Road , Rietfontein , Garsfontein Road , 7am , Moreleta Park , 7pm , Shane Gouldie Glizelle Langerman 083 264 3931 , 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com www . entrytime . com
GAUTENG NORTH
Bestmed Tuks Marathon , Gauteng North , 15 February
7am , Glizelle Langerman 083 264 3931 , www . entrytime . com
Medihelp Sunrise Monster 32km , Half Marathon , Mini Monster 10km & Baby Monster 5km , Harlequin Club , Totius Street , Groenkloof , Pretoria , 6am , Geoff Hesse 082 896 4377 , www . championchip . co . za
Sunday 1 March AdventureRun Barn 21km , 15km , 10km & 5km , The Big Red Barn , Nelson Road , Olifantsfontein , 7am , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Wednesday 4 March AdventureRun Owl Night 10km & 5km , Irene Country Club , Main Road , Irene , 7pm , Shane Gouldie 082 332 9552 , www . entrytime . com
Saturday 7 March Buco Bobbies 3-in-1 Half Marathon , 10km & 5km , Hatfield Plaza , 112 Burnett Street , 6am & 6:15am , Race Organiser 072 993 7980 ( WhatsApp only ), www . entrytime . com
AdventureTails Barn Irene Market Run 21km , 15km , 10km , 5km & 2km , The Big Red Barn ,
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