Category: Event Update!

Participants of the 10 kilometre route will have plenty to see while they make their way around this route.

After starting on the Golden Highway, runners will turn right at the slipway onto Rand Show Road. They will then cross the N1 and turn right into Martinus Smuts Drive.

They’ll then turn right into Tau Street, right again into Mamolaeng Street before turning left into Eagle Street.

Runners will then turn left into Owl Street, then right into Tau Street and immediately turn left into Gum Tree Street. This street becomes Eben Cuyler Drive. They’ll then turn right into Makhura Street and pass a number of intersections before turning left into Rustenburg Road.

They’ll then turn right into Martinus Smuts again before turning left into Rand Show Road. After turning right into Immink Street, they’ll pass a few more intersections before turning right into Soweto Highway facing on-coming traffic (which will be conned off).

After passing the Reya Vaya Station and going over the N3, runners will again turn right onto the Golden Highway with Soccer City on their left hand side.

They’ll then turn left into Nasrec 2, then right into Landbou Street and then turn left into gate two. The finish is only 157 metres from gate two.

Everyone who knows the route advises that you should keep something in reserve for the last part of the Soweto Half Marathon. And this year’s 21.098 km route is no exception.

After starting at Nasrec, the half marathon runners will turn right onto Rand Show Road and cross the N1.

Runners will then turn left into Masupha Street, followed by another left turn into Madhlala Street. After passing a number of intersections, runners will then turn right into Mosaka Street, then left into Kuse Street and right again into Tema Street.

After crossing over a number of intersections, runners then turn right into Madhlala Street and then turn left into Kinsley Sethole Street. After turning right into Mbambisa Street, runners will again pass a number of intersections before turning right into Moroka Nancefield Road.

They will then turn right into Klipspruit Valley Road and then right again into Sofasonke Street, followed by a left turn into Mooki Street. This road will take the runners past the Orlando Stadium before turning left into Senaone Street and then left again into Jolobe Street. Shortly after that, another left into Thibeng Street will take the runners to a right turn into Mofokeng Street.

Runners will then turn right into Madhlala Street and then left into Masupha Street. This will lead them through a number of intersections until they find themselves on the Golden Highway. They will then turn right into Exhibtion Road, then left into Landbou Street and right towards Nasrec’s Gate Two for the finish.

Stillwater Sports, the organisers of South Africa’s leading off-road triathlon, the Fedhealth XTERRA presented by Rehidrat® Sport, are excited to introduce two fun and exciting competitions, the Fedhealth Champions Challenge and the Fedhealth Ultimate Warrior Challenge.

The Fedhealth Champions Challenge will run for the duration of the 2016 series, with the winners being announced after XTERRA Grabouw. XTERRA Full Warriors that partake in all three races (Buffelspoort, Port Elizabeth and Grabouw) stand the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the XTERRA World Championships, while XTERRA Lite Warriors that partake in all three races stand a chance to win a spectacular TREK Mountain Bike.

The Fedhealth Ultimate Warrior Challenge will be event specific. XTERRA Warriors taking part in both the XTERRA Full and the XTERRA Lite races over one weekend will stand a chance to take home spectacular sponsor prizes.

“We’ve come across a number of XTERRA diehards that participate in either all three regions, or in both the XTERRA Full and XTERRA Lite races over one weekend,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. “It is for these Warriors that we introduce the Fedhealth Champions Challenge and the Fedhealth Ultimate Warrior Challenge. We appreciate their unwavering support and look forward to seeing these Warriors in action at XTERRA Buffelspoort in January.”

2016 EVENT DATES:

Buffelspoort (North West Province)

Date: Event:

• Friday, 22 January 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Kids
• Saturday, 23 January 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Full
• Sunday, 24 January 2016 Fedheatlh XTERRA Lite

Port Elizabeth

Date: Event:

• Friday, 29 January 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Kids
• Saturday, 30 January 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Full
• Sunday, 31 January 2016 Fedheatlh XTERRA Lite

Grabouw (Western Cape)

Date: Event:

• Friday, 19 February 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Kids
• Saturday, 20 February 2016 Fedhealth XTERRA Full
• Sunday, 21 February 2016 Fedheatlh XTERRA Lite

The Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw presented by Rehidrat® Sport forms part of the XTERRA World Tour. Athletes competing at this event stand the chance to qualify for the world championship final in Hawaii later in the year.

Follow us on Twitter: @XTERRASA / @Fedhealthmed
Like our FaceBook page: XTERRA South Africa / Fedhealth Medical Aid

For further information on the Fedhealth XTERRA and/or to read through the Terms and Conditions of the Fedhealth XTERRA South Africa Champions Challenge visit www.stillwatersports.com or www.Fedhealth.co.za

The Liqui Fruit Irene Half Marathon organised by the Irene Athletics Club will now be known as the King Price Irene Farm Race.

There are a few changes from last year, but the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon promises to have the same amazing atmosphere as it had last year.

After starting at Nasrec, runners will then turn right onto Rand Show Road and cross the N1.

After crossing the N1, runners will pass landmarks that include Fons Luminis School, the Diepkloof Hostel, the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus, the Soweto Teachers’ Training College, Pimville Shopping Centre, St Peter Clover School, the Soweto Golf Course, the Soweto Hotel, the Regina Mondi Catholic Church, the Moroka Police Station, Jabulani Mall, the famous Morris Isaacson High School, Molofo Park, South West Gauteng College, Ubuntu Kraal, the famous Vilakazi Street, the Mandela Museum, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, the Orlando Stadium, the FNB Soccer City and eventually back to Nasrec.

There will be hot spots at Klipspruit Valley Circle, on Chris Hani Road and at Chris Hani circle.

Look out for detailed routes of the half marathon and the 10 kilometre fun run on this page.

Runners who have not yet registered for the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon now have two extra weeks to enter The People’s Race, taking place on Sunday, 1 November 2015.

The registration date initially scheduled for 6 October 2015 has moved until midnight on 19 October 2015 to allow athletes still wanting to participate in the 10KM, 21.1KM or 42.2KM more time.

“The Old Mutual Soweto Marathon is first and foremost about its people, which is why we want to make sure that all athletes have an opportunity to enter,” said Sello Khunou, Chairperson of Soweto Marathon Trust.

Online and manual registration were closely monitored over the past week and given the influx of requests, the race organisers decided to extend the entry deadline.

“We realised that many athletes wanted to first determine their fitness levels before registering to avoid succumbing to injury leading up to the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon, given the current demanding race calendar,” Khunou explained.

This year, the race is challenging participants to be Greater than Yourself. Alive with triumph, passion and tribute, this is a race every South African should do at least once in their life, which is why the organisers are creating as many opportunities as possible to inspire and motivate everyone to be part of something bigger, together.

Runners can register at www.sowetomarathon.com or manually at the following centres: Orlando Community Centre; The Sweat Shop, Dunkeld West Shopping Centre, Fourways Crossing, Bedford Arcade, and South Downs Shopping Centre; Run A Way Store in Lynwood Ridge; Central Gauteng Athletics in Germiston; The Runners Store, Transhed Shopping Centre in Pretoria; and Running – Inn in Brookline Centre in Pretoria.

“All measures have been taken to ensure runners have an enjoyable experience, from start to finish, as partners have placed high priority on the logistical components of the race. Stringent safety and security processes along with a truly inspiring route will take the event experience to new heights and restore the Soweto Marathon to its flagship status,” concluded Khunou.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #OMSowetoMarathon2015, #PeoplesRace and #GreaterThanYourself via @SowetoMarathon.

Runners who take on the Kruger2Canyon Challenge this weekend will be rewarded with the spectacular and vast natural beauty of the Mpumalanga/Limpopo region.

The Kruger2Canyon Challenge is the newest trail run addition in the Old Mutual Wild Series.

The route starts at the northern tip of the Drakensberg in a small town called Kampersrus, goes through the flora-and-fauna-rich Blue Canyon Conservancy and along the breath-taking Blyde River Canyon.

Lying adjacent to the Kruger National Park, the Blue Canyon Conservancy is home to four of South Africa’s Big Five – just the mighty buffalo is missing – while the Blyde River Canyon, one of the great wonders of the African continent, is home to every type of primate species that can be found in South Africa. For a trail run, there can be no better setting.

Day one of this spectacular event is a 28km run over terrain that includes rocky river beds, koppies, large trees and flat open rocks. Day two is 45km long and includes taxing climbs up to the escarpment and then up and over Mariepskop, the highest point of the Blyde River Canyon.

This year the Old Mutual Wild Series has already taken athletes to the Karkloof, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and the Royal Natal National Park, which is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. These races are fun for all participants, but there is also a serious side. All events in the Old Mutual Wild Series provide an opportunity for participants to contribute to the conservation of these globally significant sites.

“Funds raised through the Kruger2Canyon Challenge will be used to support the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region, which aims to achieve a sustainable future for all life – human, plant and animal,” says Wildlands CEO Dr Andrew Venter.

The Biosphere includes unique flora and is home to elephant, rhino, lion and leopard, as well as rare antelope such as tsessebe, sable, roan and hartebeest. The region is also one of the last remaining viable habitats for the African Wild Dog in South Africa.

Karen Thomas, Old Mutual Head of Brand, believes the partnership between Wildlands and Old Mutual, and events like the Kruger2Canyon Challenge, will help draw attention to the need to conserve South Africa’s impressive and precious flora and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

“As a responsible, forward-looking business, Old Mutual has chosen to work closely with Wildlands on the Wild Series to raise awareness around environmental issues,” says Thomas. “We hope all runners enjoy the experience, but at the same time also learn something new about our natural heritage and its great value.”

In IGNITE YOUR CITY – Cape Town, PUMA will take six local runners for an ambitious dash through the streets and uphill roads of the Mother City.

The crew starts their run at the beach, and then traverses the V&A Waterfront with an inspiring view of the South Atlantic Ocean.

With Cape Town being a cultivated city that collides with geography, they soon find their bases striding through the streets of Bo-Kaap – lined with candy-coloured houses – then past the industrial neighborhood of Woodstock with its graffiti-laden walls.

They soon reach the foot of Signal Hill where they are compelled to push their limits to overcome this mountain of a challenge.

With the wind-whipped peak serving as their compass, endorphins pumping and adrenalin on overdrive, the runners surge to the last leg of their run. Their victory is rewarded by high fives and a stunning view of the City Bowl.

The IGNITE YOUR CITY film series features global running crews as they IGNITE their respective cities and push the boundaries of their runs with the IGNITE running shoe.

They do it for bragging rights, to accomplish their dream run, to inspire their city’s greater running community, and for the joy of pushing their runs to new heights.

It doesn’t matter whether you are old, young, in shape, out of shape, an elite runner or a social plodder, the Johannesburg SPAR Women’s 10 km Challenge is just for you.

Taking place at the Wanderers, Johannesburg on Sunday 11 October, this race forms part of a series of races called the SPAR Challenge which hosts five races in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Pretoria in addition to the race scheduled for next month.

This series of races is now the third most recognised road running event in South Africa, after the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon and it attracts athletes from those centres as well as the elite athletes who run all five events every year.

For winners, the races offer good prize money, but for the top South African runners, there is an additional incentive in the SPAR Grand Prix, with the top runners earning Grand Prix points according to their performance in the various Challenge races.

The best runners say they enjoy the SPAR races, which are all about women.

“When you win a SPAR race, you are the first person across the finish line, and that is special,” said Rene Kalmer, who has won more SPAR races than anyone else. If you are running in a mixed race, you often get to the finish surrounded by men, and you are definitely not the first across the line.”

There has been a real battle for that honour this year – there has been a different winner in each race. The vivacious Mapaseka Makhanya won the Cape Town race, Diana-Lebo Phalula won in Port Elizabeth, her twin sister, Lebogang was first home in Durban and Rutendo Nyahora was the winner of the Pretoria race last month. They are all in top form, and the battle for line honours will be fierce.

There will also be others breathing down their necks – runners such as Nolene Conrad, Cornelia Joubert, and the Kalmer sisters, Rene and Christine, which means the cream of South African road running will take part.

So put on those training shoes and start preparing for the SPAR Women’s Challenge on October 11 – you’ll always be able to boast that you ran with the best.

The KZN Midlands is once again gearing up to host over 1500 competitors and their families for the Midlands Ultra Triathlon on 29 November.

This biannual ultra-triathlon attracts amateur and professional athletes from across Africa and Europe to the beautiful KZN Midlands.

This exciting event is one of SA's biggest triathlon events and is part of the African National Triathlon Series, which staged the inaugural Sun City Ultra Triathlon in May 2015.

“We are very fortunate to have Midmar Dam in KZN, as it is known as one of the best venues in Africa to stage a multisport event like ours” says race director Damian Bradley from B-Active Sports.

Local professional triathlete Donovan van Gelder, who is a multiple winner of the Midlands Ultra ranks Midmar Dam as the best venue in the country for triathlon: “Midmar's water is always clean and never too cold, The surrounding KZN Midlands are breathtaking and the cycle and run are undulating and challenging, which makes finishing the Midlands Ultra a true achievement for everyone.” said Van Gelder.

“From a personal point of view, Midmar was the venue where I did my first standard (Olympic) distance race in 1988 and I did my first half iron distance race there as well, in 1991. The first time I crossed a finish line in first place overall was at Midmar in January 1991 so nearly a quarter of a century before this year’s Midlands Ultra.”

“I am getting towards the end of my competitive career, as far as winning races overall goes, I turn 45 a month after this year’s race, so it would be special for me to add one more win at the Midlands Ultra before I ease back and start racing in age-groups.”

“The distance of the Midlands Ultra is my favourite and it seems to suit me the best. I have never finished outside of the top three at any race over this distance in my thirty years of racing. So I definitely plan to be a factor again on 29 November. As it may be my last race where I compete for the overall title, I will make sure that I am prepared to the best of my ability. If the weather plays along, I would like to target the four hour barrier on the new route.”

On the international stage, the number of international athletes gets stronger each year, with over 16 foreign athletes already attending the November race , coming from Dubai, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, Germany and Spain.

“Past winners of the Midlands Ultra include James Cunnama, Kent Horner, Stuart Marias, Donovan van Gelder, Gerhard de Bruin, some of whom have already secured their place on the Ultra starting line. Other top athletes Ruan Naude, Freddie Lampret and Henri Schoeman have indicated that this event is on their training schedule for the end of the year.

The event on 29 November is the perfect race to end a successful 2015 year on. Sunday sees the Individual Sprint competitors’ event kicking off at 6:50am, with the Sprint Team Relay kicking off at 6:55am. At 7:20am the Ultra ½ iron distance Triathlon starts, taking the swimmers on a 1.9km swim course before they head out on their bikes into the meandering hills of the Midlands.

On Saturday and Sunday there will be sporting stands, displays and food and drinks available for the whole family the whole weekend.

Anyone looking for a quality exciting event, should give the Midlands Ultra or Sprint race a go. The Event can be done in Teams and Individually and there is something for everyone. To book you place at one of SA’s premier Triathlons, go to www.ultratri.co.za . Entries close on 4 November

Event program:
Saturday :
• Race Registration – 10am to 4pm
• Tri Expo – 10am until 4pm
Sunday Events:
• SPRINT Individuals – 6:50am / 600m swim / 22.5km Cycle / 5km Run
• CORPORATE Team Challenge – 6:55am / 600m swim / 22.5km Cycle / 5km Run
• ULTRA Individuals – 7:20am / 1.9km Swim / 88Km Cycle / 21km Run
• ULTRA Teams: 7:30am / 1.9km Swim / 88Km Cycle / 21km Run
• Tri Expo – 8m until 3pm