ROAD RUNNING
ASA Road Running Chairman , Enoch Skosana , enjoying himself during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in April
The Chairman ’ s Report
Former top SA athlete and now ASA Road Running Chair , Enoch Skosana , has sets his sights on the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series , and is inviting all-comers to join him on the roads of the country ’ s major cities . – BY JACKY McCLEAN with SEAN FALCONER
In the 1990s and 2000s , Enoch Skosana was a force to be reckoned with in South African athletics . With personal best times of 13:40.47 ( 5000m ) and 27:57.49 ( 10,000m ) on the track , and 28:21 ( 10km ) and 1:04:06 ( 21.1km ) on the road , he was one of the country ’ s leading middle- and longdistance runners , and that saw him selected to run for his country 10 times . He competed in the 10,000m final at the World Championships in Spain in 1999 , where he finished 23rd , and took 12th place in the 5000m final at the All Africa Games a month later in Johannesburg .
In cross country , he ran in the Green and Gold at four World Championship events from 1993 to 1999 , with a best finish of 26th in the Under-20 race in Spain in 1993 , a 47th place in the senior long race in Morocco in 1998 , and 50th in the senior short race in Northern Ireland ( Great Britain ) in 1999 . He also ran for SA in the World Half Marathon Champs in Belgium in 2002 , and once he had turned his full attention to the road later in his career , he posted a marathon best of 2:24:16 in George in 2011 , as well as 2:53:29 for 50km at the Om Die Dam Ultra near Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West Province .
Encouraging Participation
Today , Enoch serves as the Chair of the ASA Road Running Commission , and in this capacity , as part of his efforts to help grow road running in the country , he has set his sights on encouraging more people to participate in the sport , by joining him in running all five of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series events in 2023 .
He got his campaign off to a great start with a 54:55 finish at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 2 April , finishing with one of the official Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Pacesetters . He followed that up with a 51:31 finish in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on 15 May , posting an even faster time than Gqeberha , in spite of the extremely strong south-easterly wind that blew into the runners ’ faces for much of the race in the Mother City .
“ I loved running with the masses at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races ,” says Enoch . “ In Gqeberha , we ran as a group led by bus driver Ras Jabulani Dube , who set the perfect pace and persistently encouraged us through the race . Close to the finish line , we took a small breather , and although many runners passed us , we managed to catch up with them , crossing the finish line ahead of them . I mention this occurrence to emphasise the importance of working together as a team . Being in a team was the best experience for me – it brought people from different walks of life together and motivated us to rely on one another to get to the finish .”
Benefits of Running
Skosana goes on to say that events like the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series are not only great opportunities to exercise , but they also provide many other benefits , including improved health and emotional state , to mention just a few . However , as a former elite athlete , it is no surprise that he also focuses on the elite racing at the front end of the field .
“ The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series helps to identify elite athletes in the five cities ,” he continues . “ The Series gives athletes the opportunity to experience and be challenged by the different climates of the five cities , while allowing them to improve their performances . The 10km also builds speed , while granting elites the opportunity to earn some money . These athletes are also able to earn points that contribute to World Athletics rankings , and create opportunities for recognition .”
“ On the social runner side , the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series brings camaraderie and companionship to five iconic cities . It encourages teamwork , which makes progress easier , and allows groups of people to overcome obstacles . The 10km is an achievable distance for social runners , and does not require immense preparation or time .”
Enoch taking selfies during the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG10K
Open Invitation to All
In closing , Enoch adds , “ The message that I would like to give to the road running community is that they should continue to participate in road running events . Work together , but run your own race . Reach for your personal goals , enjoy the company of all the other runners , and encourage your family and friends to join in on the fun . I would like to thank the road running community for their involvement in the sport that we love . I had a fantastic time getting to know so many runners at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races in Gqeberha and Cape Town , I cannot wait to do the same in Durban , Tshwane and Joburg . I invite all runners , both elite and social , to join me .”
The next Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series event takes place in Durban on Sunday 9 July . More info and online entries are available at www . runyourcityseries . com .
Images : Action Photo SA & courtesy Enoch Skosana
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