6:15am . However , as the throng of about 2000 eager runners rapidly swelled at the start line , it was clear that few people could wait an extra 15 minutes to get Gauteng marathon running going again !
Speaking of Cape Town , I understand that Gauteng runners who support ( openly or secretly ) the Western Province rugby team , flock to join Boksburg Athletics Club , because of their blue and white hooped vest . Well , just after the half / full marathon split , I found myself sandwiched between a pack of Boksburg runners . Now this would make most runners feel very uncomfortable … unless you ’ re running through a particularly dodgy part of town , in which case it is highly recommended to find a bunch of Boksburg runners for protection . However , I was completely relaxed , explaining to Huntley Harris ( the only male member of the Boksburg gang ) that my Cape Town upbringing gave me a nostalgic , affinity amongst the Boksburg ‘ Streeptruie ’. His response to my observation made it clear that he is still in the closet when it comes to which rugby team he supports .
Jokes aside , we were running at a similar pace and it was good to burn down several kilometres with some pleasant chatter . Every time I caught up to Huntley , or he caught up to me , the conversation would resume , and every time this happened , the three Boksburg ladies would drop back . For them , I imagine it was like having your kid making friends with another kid in the Spur playpen , meaning that you can happily savour a few minutes of peace , quiet and adult conversation whilst the kids entertain each other . One of the Boksburg ladies was Huntley ’ s faster wife , Caronn , who at one point apologised for “ my husband ’ s sense of humour ,” but I said it was all appreciation on my side . I think it ’ s a travesty of the modern age that so few people appreciate a steady barrage of dad jokes !
The race is the brainchild of Graham Block and is run under the auspices of the Run Zone Athletics Club , which he also founded , and which has quickly become one of the largest clubs in the country . Graham put a great deal of time and attention into plotting the perfect marathon route . You can ’ t avoid hills in the north of Johannesburg , but with careful planning and empathic consideration , the longest , steepest hills can be avoided – but Graham has deftly evaded all the long , steep climbs by squashing every short hill in the greater Randburg area into his marathon route .
However , Graham does provide instant gratification , and has been quite deliberate in ensuring that every hard pull is rewarded directly afterwards with a recovery downhill . On top of this he has managed to pack in more shade than a solar eclipse over the course – which is a lifesaver for a February marathon on the Highveld .
Speaking of which , much later in the race , whilst on a slow , solo meander up one of the many hills , I did come up with what I thought was a rather fine dad joke , but sadly , there was no one receptive within earshot to share it with . However , I did unleash it on my family once back home , where it received the highest possible praise a dad joke can receive in our household when my eldest daughter evaluated it as , “ Dad , that ’ s actually not that bad .” So I thought I ’ d share it here before we get to Northcliff . Question : The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are found dead in their home . How did they die ? Answer : Sewer-cide
Chats Make the Kays Fly
I much prefer single-lap routes , but they are something of a rarity in Gauteng , so it ’ s great to have a ‘ one-and-done ’ option close to home . Another aspect of this course that I enjoyed was running past most of the scenic highlights in this part of South Africa ’ s largest city . ( Yes , Capetonians , there might not be any mountains or beaches , but there are plenty of attractive parts in Johannesburg .)
Nearing Northcliff
On the subject of things that can kill you , Northcliff is a suburb that strikes terror into the legs of the Highveld distance runner . The Pirates 21K is run up and down Northcliff , and is known for being the toughest half marathon in town . All the running clubs in the area have at least one Northcliff route for hill training , and regardless of the running club , if the route goes through Northcliff , it is known as “ The Northcliff Route .”) However , to my knowledge , no marathon has ever had the audacity to traverse the Northcliff rockface .
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The scenic highlights along the route include Zoo Lake For once , not a tough decision at the split