ADVERTORIAL
An Unforgettable Return
Soweto Marathon 2022
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the Soweto Marathon once again hit the streets on the 6th of November , welcoming 20,000 runners to its start line across the marathon , half marathon and 10km races . This made it the biggest one-day running event in South Africa for 2022 , and from four in the morning and the start of the build-up , till three that afternoon when everything was wrapped up , runners were presented with one of the best-organised editions of the People ’ s Race .
The 27th edition of the iconic event saw runners and walkers from far and wide grace the streets of Soweto in colourful attire , and with boundless energy , beaming smiles and determined attitudes , and all were warmly welcomed by the local residents who came out to support them , as has been the case since the first race in 1991 .
Also , with big corporates like MTN , African Bank , Hollywood Bets and Discovery taking over key water points , it meant runners were treated to fantastic activations that brought a terrific vibe to the People ’ s Race . The runners then finished inside the iconic ‘ Calabash ’ FNB Stadium to celebrate their victory at having conquered whichever distance they had taken on , making it a day to remember !
CHASING LINE HONOURS
The marathon was dominated by Ethiopian runners , with Daba Ifa Dbele taking the men ’ s title in 2:18:58 , and compatriot Chaltu Bedo Negashu doing likewise in the women ’ s race with a 2:40:56 winning effort . The top four in the men ’ s race and top eight in the women ’ s race were all foreign runners , with the first South Africans over the line being fifth-placed man Ntsindiso Mphakathi ( Entsika , 2:21:21 ) and ninth-placed woman Adele Broodryk ( Murray & Roberts , 2:57:16 ).
In August , Broodryk was also the first South African female runner to finish the 2022 Comrades Marathon , and after running the Soweto Marathon for the first time , she had nothing by praise for the People ’ s Race . “ Comrades was a race full of camaraderie , and today I could just feel that sense of camaraderie and spirit
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