Soweto Marathon Digimag Official Race Magazine | Page 11

LACE UP. CONQUER
YOUR HARD
The People’s Race
The Soweto marathon is no ordinary race. Dubbed The Peopleʼs Race, it is now the biggest one-day,
multi-distance running event in South Africa, with 40,000 runners set to line up on the start line this year. It
is also the only race of its magnitude set in a township where some of South Africaʼs greats have walked.
The Soweto Marathon honours this heritage by taking runners past iconic landmarks and significant
Heritage Sites that form an important part of the history of South Africa:
• Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the third-largest hospital in the world.
• Walter Sisulu Square, birthplace of 1955's Freedom Charter, which emphasised a
non-racial society, liberty, and individual rights.
• Regina Mundi Catholic Church, also referred to as "the people's church" due to its role
in the anti-apartheid struggle.
• Morris Isaacson High School.
• Vilakazi Street.
• Hector Pieterson Memorial.
This route also celebrates some of South Africaʼs ʻGreats,ʼ including State President Nelson Mandela,
Walter Sisulu, Chris Hani, Hector Pieterson, Credo Mutwa, Tsietsi Mashinini, Winnie Mandela, Regina
Mundi, Morris Isaacson and many more. These Greats walked, worked and lived on the streets of Soweto,
and while they are no longer with us, their legacy lives on. In light of their spirit, the baton has been
passed to us to carry out their vision.
At the same time, runners themselves are Greats in their own right, and thus we encourage everyone to
lace up their shoes and be part of The Peopleʼs Race. The Great streets of Soweto are calling for the Great
in everyone, whether participating or supporting.
There is a saying that goes, “The hard is what makes it great.” Well, our runners have their own internal
ʻhardʼ that motivates them, be it in running, living a healthy lifestyle, or life itself. That is why we call on
them to Lace Up and Conquer Their Hard at this yearʼs Soweto Marathon. We believe this iconic race,
now in its 26 th year, is an absolute must-do for every South African runner.
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