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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, so get your entries in and we’ ll see you there! More info at www. modernathlete. co. za / events.
Sarens Edenvale Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 4km When: Sunday 12 March Where: Edenvale High School, Linksfield Road, Edenvale, Central Gauteng
The popular Sarens Edenvale event consists of marathon and half marathon races along with the Shipshape 10km and Kidneybeanz 4km fun run. The proceeds of the 4km run are donated to the Kidneybeanz Trust, a non-profit organisation supporting children with lifethreatening kidney disease, and their families. This is also a real family event, with market stalls to entertain everybody after the run.
SOUND OF THE SARENS CALLING
The routes for the three longer distances remain largely unchanged, apart from a new start location, but the fun run has been completely revamped, with its own start and finish. The marathon runners will do two laps of the undulating 21km course, which starts with an easy downhill section for much of the first 6km, then hits a short, sharp hill. Between the 6km and 11km markers there are three small bumps, preparing the runners to climb to the highest point at the 14km mark. From there it’ s pleasantly downhill to 16km, followed by another 2km gentle pull, and then a most rewarding downhill finish.
Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Saturday 18 March Where: Schoemansville Oewer Club, Waterfront Street, Hartbeespoort, North West North
This 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 is your Comrades qualifier, your time will be automatically submitted. Just remember to save energy in the first half of the ultra, because the monster called Saatjie’ s Nek is waiting for you at the 38km mark … but the view over the dam will more than make up for the tough climb!
Birchwood Cross the Line Half Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 26 March Where: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, Johannesburg, Central Gauteng
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. Now in its seventh year, this event aims to promote health and exercise combined with fun, for a healthy family lifestyle. 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.
READY TO CROSS THE LINE?
Many runners now make this event an annual family tradition, as the race includes a children’ s play area, food and refreshments on sale, a post-race massage zone and live music on the manicured lawns of the hotel – a perfect setting for a post-run picnic! Both the start and finish of the race will be timed using the ChampionChip system, ensuring accurate results and digital monitoring.
PRETORIA’ S PRESTIGIOUS ULTRA
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Modern Athlete Irene Ultra-marathon, Half-Marathon, 10km & 5km When: Sunday 2 April Where: Agricultural Research Council, Irene Campus, Pretoria, Gauteng North
This amazing 48km ultra is perfect for Comrades Marathon hopefuls who still need to qualify, or those hoping to get a better seeding, as the ChampionChip system is used to record times at both the marathon mark as well as the finish at 48km, and whichever time best benefits the runner will be automatically submitted to the Comrades Marathon entries database.( The Comrades qualifying times table includes an entry for 48-50km, but is actually calculated on the full 50km distance, so a 48km race effectively gives runners two‘ free’ kilometres.)
The ultra and half marathon routes through Irene’ s suburbs are not too tough, with no significant climbs to speak of, and there is also a 5km fun run, which takes place entirely within the Irene ARC campus, making it well-sheltered and safe for younger runners. Meanwhile, a big picnic area, enclosed kiddies entertainment area with supervision, exhibitions and food stalls will keep the non-runners busy while they wait for their loved ones to return.
See you there!
ISSUE 92 MARCH 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za
IRENE ULTRA
Images: Courtesy race organisers