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ADVERTORIAL
GREAT RACES TO PUT IN YOUR DIARY
Modern Athlete is partnered with a number of terrific events each year, including these great road races in early 2017. Get your entries in, put them in your diaries, and we’ ll see you there! More info at www. modernathlete. co. za / events.
Pick n Pay Marathon, Half Marathon, 8km & 4km When: Sunday 12 February Where: Saheti School, Civin Drive, Senderwood, Johannesburg
PICK THE BIG DADDY
Attracting a field of well over 6000 athletes, this absolute gem on the Central Gauteng calendar is a regular go-to for runners looking to get a challenging long run in before the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, or a solid qualifying time for Comrades. The marathon is a double-lapper that takes athletes around Bedfordview and Edenvale, starting with a tough first 10km that features several inclines, but it’ s all downhill past Gillooly’ s Farm in the last stretch, which is what everyone looks forward to. Just don’ t get carried away, because the last kilometre has a nasty little uphill …
Now in it’ s 34 th year, this race gives athletes a little bit of everything: A tough 42km or 21km( one lap of the 42km), as well as the popular 8km and 4km fun runs around Senderwood. There is even a mini-marathon for the smallies. For entries and information, visit www. pnpmarathon. co. za or www. championchip. co. za.
Cape Gate Vaal Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 5 March Where: Dick Fourie Stadium, Klipriver Drive, Three Rivers, Vereeniging
BRING YOUR PARTNER!
Old Mutual Om die Dam Marathon Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Saturday 18 March Where: Schoemansville Oewer Club, Waterfront Street, Hartbeespoort
2017 marks the 43 rd running of this ever-growing event, which is a annual highlight on the Gauteng running calendar and a popular Comrades qualifier. The event will once again start and finish at the Dick Fourie Stadium, and the double-lapper route gently meanders through four suburbs of Vereeniging and includes a section along the banks of the Vaal River. As with any marathon, you will need to work all the way, but on this fast and flat course a new PB is very much there for the taking!
This is therefore an ideal event both for competitive and more social runners and walkers, with the 10km being especially beginner-friendly. Also note that this race has a special promotion, whereby the organisers say that if you bring your + 1, your significant other, you and your partner will get a special discounted entry price, matching race numbers, temporary licenses( if needed) and a special edition interlocking + 1 medal.
The Old Mutual Om die Dam 50km is the largest inland ultra-marathon in South Africa, and the event also offers 21km 10km and 5km options, which means that runners of every age and ability can be part of the action. Unsurprisingly, this spectacular event thus attracts over 10 000 participants each year, thanks mainly to the scenic routes around or alongside the Hartbeespoort Dam.
SA’ S LARGEST INLAND ULTRA
The ultra and half marathon events will once again be timed with the ChampionChip system, so runners must make sure they have their chips on their shoes at the start. The bonus is that all ultra finishers’ times will automatically be sent to the Comrades Marathon for upload to their database, so if this your Comrades qualifier, your time will be automatically submitted. Gold medals will be awarded to category winners in the ultra, with silver medals to men under 3:45 and women under 4:10, and bronze to all other finishers.
READY TO CROSS THE LINE?
Birchwood Cross the Line Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 26 March Where: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Johannesburg
Clear your diary in preparation for this wonderful race, which starts and finishes on the 52 sprawling hectares of gardens at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg. Now in its seventh year, this event aims to promote health and exercise combined with fun, for a healthy family lifestyle, and the 21km and 10km races can cater for a combined total of 2500 entries, with a further 500 runners / walkers in the 5km race, so don’ t wait too long to enter.
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Many runners now make this event an annual family tradition, as the race includes a children’ s play area, food and refreshments, a post-race massage zone and live music on the manicured lawns of the hotel. Both the start and finish of the race will be times using the ChampionChip system, ensuring accurate results and digital monitoring.
See you there!
ISSUE 91 FEBRUARY 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za
Images: Courtesy race organisers