Nike Soweto Marathon Route Celebrates Soweto Heritage

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#PeoplesRace tells the story of 20 years of freedom

Runners have no excuse not to register for the Nike Soweto Marathon taking place on 2nd November. Not only will they have the option of three distances, 10 kilometer, 21.1 kilometer or 42.2 kilometer, but the routes unveiled today showcase Soweto’s best landmarks. Organisers have also confirmed that spots for each category are filling up quickly and that runners must register before the 1st October to secure their spot in this world class race.

Celebrating the rich heritage of Soweto, six significant sites have been selected and will be dotted along the 42.2 kilometer marathon route and these include: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Walter Sisulu Square, Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Morris Isaacson High School, Vilakazi Street and Hector Pieterson Memorial.

Banele Sindani, Chief Executive of the Soweto Marathon Trust and 2014 Race Director commented, “The Nike Soweto Marathon is much more than just a race, as it is about bringing people together and reminding them how far we have come as a nation. Runners really do get the best of both worlds – a memorable experience and a personal challenge. We are proud to have these and other iconic landmarks integrated on our two key routes.”

Starting and ending at Nasrec Expo Centre, runners will see snippets of Soweto as they take on the challenge of one of three routes during the Nike Soweto Marathon. Hydration spots have been strategically placed every three kilometers along the routes, with marshals taking care of runner’s health and safety during the day.

Sindani continued by stating that the routes were selected in order for runners to be physically challenged but also to provide the race organisers full control of access points. He pointed out that the half marathon and the full marathon routes would be the Soweto Marathon’s most challenging to date. “This is one of the reasons why the 42.2 kilometer category in this year’s Nike Soweto Marathon has been selected again as a qualifier for the ultras including Comrades and Two Oceans.”

With 21,000 runners expected and hundreds of spectators and support staff on duty participants are advised to arrive early at Nasrec Expo Centre on 2nd November as the first event kicks off at 06h00. Traffic alerts will be shared during the course of the day to make arrival and departure as smooth as possible, but with ample parking available and access into the area made easy via the N1 highway organisers are confident that there will be no issues on the day.

Keeping with the theme of celebrating the country’s rich heritage the Nike Soweto Marathon has selected Constitutional Hill as the race collection venue. Runners will receive a race pack including their race number and a commemorative t-shirt which can be collected between 30th October and 1st November.

Runners are also advised to follow all the updates on Twitter via @SowetoMarathon and to be part of the conversation by using #werunsoweto or #PeoplesRace.

Don’t forget about the 1st October registration cut-off. Registration for one of the three categories can be done on www.sowetomarathon.com or in store at Nike Stores at The Zone @ Rosebank and Sandton City. Runners can also register at Orlando Community Centre in Soweto, Run-aWay Store in Pretoria and The Sweat Shops in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The Nike Soweto Marathon 10 kilometer race fee is pegged at R100.00 for the open category, and R75.00 for students and grand masters. The half marathon, 21.1 kilometer race fee is pegged at R130.00 for the open category, and R90.00 for students and grand masters. Marathon athletes can register for R170.00 for the open category or R125.00 if they are a student or grand master.

http://www.sowetomarathon.com/

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