South African runners really are blessed with a terrific race calendar, with so many great races to do, so check out these events for the coming month, including road and trail runs as well as other running disciplines, and make your racing plans! – BY TOM COTTRELL AND SEAN FALCONER
GAUTENG: CENTRAL GAUTENG
Sunday 6 December
Soul City Half Marathon & 10km, Katlehong, 7am, Arnold Rathutulu 079 135 4566
Wednesday 9 December
Jackal's Night Trail Run Series #8, Jackal Creek Golf Estate, Boundary Road, Northriding, Johannesburg, 7:45pm, Race Organiser 011 053 9153 (W)
Sunday 13 December
Orlando Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Orlando Communal Hall, opposite Orlando Stadium, Soweto, 6am, Johannes Mashigo 073 944 2571
Wednesday 16 December
Wobblers & Wigglers Hat Race Fun Run 7.8km, Pirates Club, Braeside Road, Greenside, 8am, Ainsley Williams 083 235 2118
GAUTENG: GAUTENG NORTH
Saturday 5 December
Great Weskoppies Series #4 10km & 6km, Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital, Ketjen Street, Pretoria West, 7am, Race Secretary 076 480 3435
Sunday 6 December
Spur Gauteng Summer Trail Series #4 13.8km & 8.7km, Leeuwenkloof, Broederstroom, 7am & 7:21am, Race Secretary 072 438 3242 NEW DATE – WAS 29 NOVEMBER
Saturday 12 December
Nedbank Skosana Legend 10km, 5km & Street Mile, Pretoria Correctional Services, Kgosi Mampuru Street, Pretoria, 6:30am & 8:30am (mile), Enoch Skosana 082 825 8001
Wednesday 16 December
Silverton Live Running 25km, 12.5km & 5km, Voortrekker Park, Jasmyn & Van Wyk Streets, Silverton, Pretoria, 6am, Peter Mokhare 082 968 1150
Wednesday 31 December
Cid to Cid Old Year's Race 10km & 5km, Rietondale Park, Van Der Merwe Street, Pretoria, 5pm, Daan du Toit 082 572 4169
GAUTENG: VAAL TRIANGLE
Thursday 31 December
Nedbank Ou Jaar's Party 10km, 8km, 6km, 4km & 2km, Kollegepark Primary School, cnr. Theo Wassenaar & Generaal Froneman, Vanderbijlpark, 6pm, Dawid Jordaan 082 364 1954
WESTERN CAPE: BOLAND
Saturday 5 December
Full Stride Summer Trail Run 15km, 12.5km, 7.5km & 5km, Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, on R44 about 10km from Stellenbosch, 7am, 7:15am, 7:30am & 7:45am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)
Wednesday 9 December
Extreme Lights Night Run Series 11km & 6km, Knorhoek Wine Estate, Knorhoek Road, off R44 about 12km from Stellenbosch, 7:30pm & 7:45pm, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)
Lusan Night Run Series #3 10km & 5km, Neethlingshof Wine Estate, on M12 Stellenbosch Arterial Road, near Stellenbosch, 7pm & 7:15pm, Amoija Events 083 267 8164
Saturday 12 December
United Bulk Prison-to-Prison Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Brandvlei Correctional Services, Brandvlei Dam (between Rawsonville and Worcester), 5:30am, Kosie Botha 083 991 3915
Sunday 13 December
Falke Trilogy Trail Run 15km, 10km & 5km, Warwick Wine Estate, on R44 about 10km from Stellenbosch, 7am, Dirtopia 021 884 4752 (W)
Saturday 19 December
Onrus 10km & 6km, Milkwood Restaurant, Onrus River Beach, 7am, Carina van der Merwe 082 823 8632
Baytown 12km & 6km, Miems Restaurant, Pringle Bay, 8am, Sonja du Toit 084 850 0681
Saturday 26 December
Betty's Bay Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Bettys Bay Boat Club, Stony Point, 7am, Race Secretary 079 413 6610
Thursday 31 December
Danger Point Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Gansbaai Primary School, Main Street, Gansbaai, 7am, Boats van Staden 072 789 3627
WESTERN CAPE: SOUTH WESTERN DISTRICTS
Saturday 5 December
Mossel Bay Mall Add Hope Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Mossel Bay, cnr Louis Fourie & Melkhout Streets, Heiderand, Mossel Bay, 5:30am, Antoinette du Preez 071 549 4000
Wednesday 9 December
Love Life Run 10km & 3km, Wilderness Green, in front of Wilderness Hotel, 6pm, Helena Ferreira 076 593 9636 NEW DATE – WAS 10 OCTOBER
Ernst Louw Memorial 10km & 4.5km CANCELLED
Saturday 12 December
Palm Tyres Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Palm Tyres, Courtenay Street, George, 7am, Alf Zemke 083 650 5098
Wednesday 16 December
Knysna Marathon Club Nite 10km & 5km, Loerie Park Sports Complex, George Rex Drive, Knysna, 6pm, Margi O’Connor 072 330 2593
Saturday 19 December
Somerson Half Marathon, 10km & 5km, Diaz Beach, Mossel Bay, 6am, Jacob Karelse 073 081 7484
Wolwedans Trail Run 12km & 2km, Kleynfontein Lapa, Jonkersberg, Great Brak River, 8am, Janine Swart 083 662 2022 NEW DATE – WAS 24 JANUARY
Attakwas Trail Run 29km & 7.5km, Paardebont, Oudtshoorn to Bonniedale Guest Farm, Mossel Bay, 8am & 8:30am, Linda Durand 044 279 1013 (W)
Monday 21 December
The Wreck Challenge Trail Fun Run 4.5km & 1.5km, Glentana Main Beach, Glentana, halfway between Mossel Bay and George, 8:30am, Janine Swart 083 662 2022
Wednesday 23 December
Mossel Bay Nite 10km & 4km, Correctional Services, Mossel Bay, 6pm, Jacob Karelse 073 081 7484
Saturday 26 December
Total Great Brak River Moordkuil 15km & 4.5km Trail Run, Friemersheim Sports Ground, Great Brak River, 7am, Pierre van Schalkwyk 082 771 5562
Sunday 27 December
Coreen Fourie Eco-Adventure 5km, Bat Cave, St Blaize, Mossel Bay, 7am, Pierre van Schalkwyk 082 771 5562
Wednesday 30 December
Pennypinchers 14km & 5km Trail Run, NMMU Saasveld Campus, Saasveld Road, George, 8am, Janine Swart 083 662 2022
Thursday 31 December
Swift Engineering Oujaarsdraffie 10km & 5km, Hartenbos Ampitheatre, 7am, Nerida Lubbe 074 589 5361
Stilbaai NSRI 10km, NSRI Building, Stilbaai Harbour, Nico Steenekamp 083 264 3071
WESTERN CAPE: WESTERN PROVINCE
Wednesday 2 December
Metropolitan 10km, Parc du Cap, Mispel Road, Bellville, 6:30pm, Race Organiser 071 149 5765
Saturday 5 December
Beachcomber 15km & 5km PLUS 10km Walk, Strandfontein Sports Field, Spine Road, Mitchells Plain, 7am & 7:30am PLUS 7:10am, Pro Arumugam 082 926 5840
Sunday 7 December
ACSA 10km, Cape Town Airport, 7am, Jennifer Smith 082 377 4717
Wednesday 9 December
Correctional Services Night 10km, Pollsmoor Correctional Facility, Tokai, 6:30pm, Sipho Sithole 072 312 4489
Saturday 12 December
Avbob 15km, Pick n Pay Shopping Centre, cnr. Blaauwberg & Otto du Plessis Road, Table View, 6am, Leon Thelander 083 999 6450
Wednesday 16 December
RCS Gugulethu Reconciliation Day 10km & 4.2km, NY49 Stadium, Gugulethu, 7am & 7:10am, Marshall Moiloa 084 650 8758
Thursday 17 December
Growthpoint Properties Sundowner 10km, V&A Waterfront (outside Table Bay Hotel), Cape Town, 6:15pm, Top Events 021 511 7130
Saturday 19 December
Velocity Marathon, Half Marathon & 10km PLUS 10km Walk, Silverstroomstrand, 5:30am, 6am, 6:15am PLUS 6:35am Mario Philander 072 254 1880
Saturday 26 December
Tokai Manor House 16km, Chrysalis Academy, Old Porter School Rugby Fields, Porter Estate, Tokai, 6:30am, Laura Hiddleston 083 964 1756
Thursday 31 December
Runners' Memorial 8km, Greenpoint Lighthouse, Mouille Point, 6pm, Stephan Roux 082 433 0230
KWAZULU-NATAL
Saturday 5 December
KZNTR Summer Series #3 22km, 12km & 6km, Hilton College Sports Centre, near Pietermaritzburg, 7:30am, Lauren Booth 082 791 7069
Sunday 6 December
Bearing Man Stainbank Cup 15km PLUS 10km Walk, Yellowwood Park Sports Club, Swallow Road, Pelican Place, Durban, 6am, Fred Schoon 083 384 4053
Stihl Sharks Trail Adventure 18km & 9km, Summerveld, near Shongweni Dam, 6:30am & 7am, ROAG Events 086 100 7624
Thursday 10 December
Giba Monthly Night Trail 10km & 5km, Giba Gorge, 6:30pm, Lauren Booth 082 791 7069
Sunday 13 December
Illovo Sugar 15km Christmas Challenge, Westvillle Athletic Club, 123 Maryvale Road (opposite the Westville Prison), 6am, Sharon Schubach 082 414 1783
Summer Umhlanga Festival Trail Run 18km, 12km & 6km, Millennium Stage, Umhlanga Promenade, 6am, Buzz Bolton 082 956 1608
Wednesday 16 December
Mandela Day of Reconciliation 10km, Kings Park Athletics Stadium, Durban, 6:30am, Anand Naicker 083-7836363
Sunday 20 December
The Big Hill Run Half Marathon & 10km, Sugar Rush, 6am, Barry Holland 083 252 0691
Wednesday 23 December
Ballito Night Trail 10km & 5km, Holla Trails, Ballito, 6:30pm, Lauren Booth 082 791 7069
FREE STATE
No races scheduled for this period
EASTERN CAPE: BORDER
Satuday 12 December
Kempston Hogsback Trail Run Half Marathon, 10km & 3km, Arminel Hotel, Hogsback, 8:30am, Sharon Eldridge 083 284 3781
Sunday 13 December
Jingle Bells 5km Charity Fun Walk CANCELLED
Sunday 27 December
Haga-Haga Hotel Trail 21km, 10km & 5km, Haga-Haga, 70km north of East London, 7:30am, Liam Victor 082 927 3395
EASTERN CAPE: EASTERN PROVINCE
Saturday 5 December
Aspen PE City Marathon, 10km & 5km, NG Kerk, Marne Avenue, Lorraine, Port Elizabeth, 5am, Shaun Roberts 082 711 1341
Saturday 19 December
Dromedaris Holiday 10km & 5km, Dromedaris Furniture Store, Dromedaris Street, Jeffreys Bay, 7am, Kobus Joubert 082 490 7218
Monday 28 December
Friends of St Francis Nature Areas 10km & 5km, Cape St Francis Resort, Da Gama Road, 7:30am, Joan Brady 083 398 3948
FAR NORTH: LIMPOPO
No races scheduled for this period
FAR NORTH: MPUMALANGA
No races scheduled for this period
NORTH WEST: CENTRAL NORTH WEST
No races scheduled for this period
NORTH WEST: NORTH WEST NORTH
No races scheduled for this period
NORTHERN CAPE: GRIQUALAND WEST
Saturday 5 December
Battle of Magersfontein 25km & 10km, Magersfontein Battlefield to Magersfontein Museum, near Kimberley, 6am, David Janse van Vuuren 083 443 8198
NORTHERN CAPE: NORTH WEST CAPE
No races scheduled for this period
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
No races scheduled for this period
ORIENTEERING
Sunday 6 December
Gauteng Xmas Event, Johannesburg, WitsOC: https://witsorienteering.wordpress.com
Saturday 12 December
Gauteng Sprint Cup, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg, ROC: Nick Cooper 074 188 9250
Sunday 27 December 2015 – 3 January 2016
Big 5 O-Week, All venues in Mpumalanga: 27th – Sprint Event @ Lowveld Botanical Gardens, Nelspruit; 29th – Middle Distance Event @ Kaapsehoop Rockery; 30th – Middle Distance Event @ Ngodwana, 31st – Long Distance Event @ Ngodwana; 2nd – Long Distance Event @ Pear Orchard, Kaapsehoop; 3rd – Sprint Event @ Ngodwana, Times TBC, Nicholas Mulder 082 898 7871
TRIATHLON & DUATHLON
Saturday 5 December
Woolworths Trust Charity Triathlon, Off-road event, Long Tri: 800m/25km/10km & Short Tri: 400m/12km/5km, Paul Cluver Wine Estate, Grabouw, Info: fionajackson@woolworths.co.za
Sunday 6 December
Buffalo City Tri, East London, Eastern Cape, Time TBC, Jen Petzer 082 821 6036
FNB Desert Triathlon, Ultra 1.9/90/21km, Standard 1/40/10km & Sprint 0.4/20/4km, The Mole, Swakopmund, Namibia, Yvonne +264(0)81 142 9966
Friday 11 December
Jailbreak Triathlon, Road event, Maximum Escape: 2.2km/89km/22km & Minimum Escape: 1.1km/41km/11km, Brandvlei Prison, near Worcester, 7am & 8am, tridusport 021 914 1157 (W)
Sunday 13 December
Trinity Gold Tri & Du Series #3, Road event, Standard Tri: 1.5km/40km/10km, Sprint Tri: 750m/20km/5km, Mini Tri: 400m/20km/2.5km, Kids Tri: 200m/5km/1.25km & Young Ones Tri: 75m/1km/500m; Standard Du: 10km/40km/5km, Sprint Du: 5km/20km/2.5km, Mini Du: 2.5km/10km/1.25km, Kids Du: 1.25km/5km/500m & Young Ones Du: 500m/1km/500m; Germiston Lake, Johannesburg, Time TBC, Jaapie Boonzaaier 084 501 2712
ADVENTURE RACING
Sunday 6 December
Spur Adventure #3, Duo (individual): 20-25km MTB & 6km run; Sprint (teams of 2 or 3): 10-12km MTB, 3km run & water obstacles; Spur Eco Warrior (3-7 years): 2km MTB & 500m run, PLUS 5km Fun Run; Oak Valley, Elgin-Grabouw, Western Cape, 8am & 9am, Quantum Adventures 021 789 0188 (W)
Kinetic Adventure, 25km (MTB/trek/paddle), Teams of 2, Venue TBC, Heidi Muller 082 564 6468
TRACK AND FIELD
Saturday 5 December
WPA Little Athletics, Blue Downs, Cape Town ,Western Cape, 8am, Waleed Donough 082 396 6504
Friday 11 – Saturday 12 December
SALGA Kwanaloga Games 2014, Venue TBC, KwaZulu-Natal, 8am, KZN Athletics 031 312 9374 (W)
Saturday 12 December
Tygerberg NLC Summer Series, Parow Athletics Track, Parow, Cape Town, Western Cape, 10am, Mariana Meyer 082 777 4050
Monday 21 December
UCT Track Meeting, Green Point Stadium, Cape Town ,Western Cape, 12pm, James Evans