|
It is time to get your takkies on and race through the city of gold in the annual Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon, a Comrades qualifier.
Elite runners will compete for the R500 000 up for grabs in this year's Joburg marathon (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
IN just under three weeks, athletes will take to the streets of Joburg's affluent northern suburbs, race through the CBD and pass into the deep south, loping past the City's historic landmarks in the second Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon.
The annual marathon takes place on Sunday, 4 May, and takes runners on a circuitous route past some of the City's illustrious heritage sites. It was first run in 2007, and this year more than R500 000 is up for grabs.
It is supported by the City and is run under the auspices of Athletics South Africa (ASA) and the commercial bank, Nedbank.
"We believe that our contribution to road running not only helps in developing future champions, but also in unleashing South Africa's undeniable potential in this sporting code. [It] allows all South Africans the chance to enjoy the sport," reads the bank's website.
Comrades qualifier
It is a 2008 Comrades Marathon qualifier; that world-famous race is on Sunday, 15 June. At 90km long, the Comrades is the world's greatest ultra-marathon. It is run between Pietermaritzburg and the coastal city of Durban, alternating between the up and down route.
"With entries closing for the Comrades on 5 May, we urge runners to take this last opportunity to qualify for the Comrades Marathon," said Renee Jordaan, the Comrades' race director. "We also want to remind runners that no late entries will be accepted."
The Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon starts on Thomas Bowler Street, next to Roosevelt Park High School, in Emmarentia. There are three categories: the 42,2km race, which starts at 6.30am, is reserved for athletes who are 20 years and older; the 10km race, which starts at 7.30am, is for athletes who are 15 years and older; the 5km fun run and school's challenge, which starts at 7.45am, is for participants of nine years old or older.
Fun run
The fun run has been redesigned to provide a view of the local suburbs; it is aimed at families who are looking for a fun way to exercise together in the outdoors. It has the same starting point as the other races, and ends in the tree-lined area of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia.
Entries for the 42,2km and 10km races close on Friday, 25 April; entries for the 5km fun run will still be open on race day and will be available at registration. No late entries will be accepted.
With a total prize purse of R502 100, the male and female winners of the 42,2km race will each pocket R60 000; second and third placed will receive R30 000 and R20 000, respectively.
The winners of the 10km race will each take home R5 000; second place gets R4 000 and third wins R3 500.
History
In addition, routes chosen for this year's race will give athletes a glimpse of Joburg's most eminent heritage landmarks and some of its trendy new developments. Some of the historic sites along the route include Sophiatown, Constitutional Hill, Nelson Mandela Bridge, Newtown and the Apartheid Museum.
Runners will pass the historic Christ the King Anglican Church in Sophiatown, which has been declared a national monument. It is one of the few buildings left standing after the apartheid government demolished houses in the area as part of forced removals.
According to Nthatisi Modingoane, the City's media liaison officer, the toughest parts of the race are the hills around Westdene Dam, the University of Johannesburg, the University of the Witwatersrand and Constitution Hill.
Constitution Hill, another national monument, was built out of the Old Fort and notorious Number Four prison, where many anti-apartheid activists were imprisoned and brutally tortured; it dates back to the South African War.
Nelson Mandela Bridge is the gateway to Newtown, Joburg's cultural centre. It is regarded as a national treasure, and was officially opened in July 2003. "[The bridge] signals the start of the faster sections of the route," Modingoane notes.
Easy route
The gentle slope and conspicuously easy part of the race will be alongside the Turffontein Racecourse and Gold Reef City. Here the route passes the Apartheid Museum, "one of the most favoured visiting spots for tourists in the City of Gold, before heading towards Nasrec", he says.
From there the race coils past FNB Stadium, or Soccer City, the venue of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ opening and final matches, through historic Mayfair, past the Gas Works and the bottom of the SABC into popular Melville, and then back to Emmarentia Dam and the shrubbery of the botanical gardens for the finish line.
"The course has a demanding first half, but serves as an ideal dry run for those athletes preparing for the Comrades, with a steady climb of about 150 metres in the first 7,5 kilometres," Modingoane says, adding that runners "are cautioned to start conservatively".
Entries for the Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon are available at sports shops such as Bedford Runner, Fourways Runner, Randburg Runner, The Sweatshop Dunkeld, Fourways and Irene. Varsity Sports, Run-a-Way Sport and Running Inn have entries in Pretoria. They can also be obtained from the Athletics South Africa offices in Houghton.
Entrance fees are R10 for the 5km fun run, R40 for the 10km race, and R80 for the 42,2km marathon. Entrance is free for athletes who are over 60 and are running in the 42,2km race.
All participants will receive T-shirts and goodie bags, and Energade sports drinks will be given to all 5km finishers. All runners who finish the 42,2km and 10km races will get medals.
To enter the Nedbank Johannesburg City Marathon call Athletics South Africa on 011 880 5800 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Related stories:
|
