Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 50, September 2013 | Page 36

Race Report S ong! g str ridin t WHAT THEY SAID Modern Athlete was at the race to meet the runners and get some feedback on the race. Sean Mcculla: “I missed the loop but it was very nice on the day. A little off-road and hilly, but very well supported. It’s the middle of winter, so it’s a little easier for some runners.” Christopher Wessels: “I really enjoyed the race. I started running last year and keep looking for these races. There were a few hills, but I’ll de?nitely come here again next year!” Arnold Gehts: “It’s about 12.9km, but that’s good enough! Some parts of the estate were just stunning and this would be a great venue for a cross-country race.” Goodman Thaba: “The route was great and it was well organised. The race was in a good shape and it was very beautiful testing us out on downs and ups. I’m very happy!” error, the 15km runners missed out a loop, which meant that the race ended up being only 12.9km long. While most runners took this in their stride, others were quite upset with the shorter route. “We did issue a general apology to all runners of the race due to this and other mistakes on the day,” says Duane. “I received over 160 e-mail replies to my apology letter. On the whole, most runners understood that mistakes are made and understand that races are organised by a group of volunteers who do it for the love of running.” Race convenor Kebu Kotolo says the club has noted the restrictions on the route, notably the dual start, and says there are plans in place to choose a new venue for next year. “It was a harsh lesson for us as race organisers, changing the venue without fully understanding all the restrictions that would be placed on route design,” he says. But while there were some complaints, there has also been a lot of positive feedback received from both newbie and experienced runners. It also must be noted that this was SA’s ?rst carbon-neutral race, so watch this space for a bigger and better event in 2014. Breakthru Midrand Striders 15km and Morningside Rotary 5km, Central Gauteng, 21 July De