Newsletter
 
Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za
10 March 2017
 
Newsflash

Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North will be hosting the Nedbank hospitality site at the Old Mutual Om die Dam Marathon and all Nedbank Running Club members are welcome.

The very popular and exciting Old Mutual Om die Dam marathon will be run on Saturday the 18th of March 2017

The Nedbank Running Club athletes will be treated with food and drinks that will be provided by the Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North.

Just look out for the Nedbank Running Club Gazebo’s and feather flags.

Come and meet top NEDBANK GREEN DREAM TEAM athletes at the tent.

Happy Running!

Number Collection

Race Registration (number collection) is for pre-entries as well as late entries for the 10km and 5km.

It is compulsory to register for the ultra and half marathon before the race to receive your race numbers and related items. Registration (number collection, not entries) will take place at the following venues:

All entrants have to collect their race packs before the race at one of the following venues:

Gallagher Estate
Date: Wednesday, 15th March to Thursday, 16th March
Time: 10h00 until 18h00
Location: Gallagher Estate, 19 Richard Drive, Midrand
Tel. Number: (078-765 2699)

Hartbeespoort
Date: Friday 17th March
Time:10h00 until 22h00
Location: Schoemansville Oewer Club, Waterfront Street, Schoemansville.
Tel. Number: (078-765 2699)

We advise all runners to bring your ChampionChip to the race registration to check your race chip and details.

Please bring a copy of your confirmation of entry with you when collecting your entry. In the case of someone else fetching your race registration pack, please give this person your confirmation printout.

For more Info on the Om die Dam Marathon please click here

 
Starfish Greathearts Foundation

Nedbank Running Club adopts the Starfish Greathearts Foundation as its official charity to support for the Comrades Marathon 2017

Starfish Profile

Starfish Greathearts Foundation was founded in 2001 by a group of South Africans living in the UK. They recognised the plight of being children left orphaned or vulnerable (OVC) through the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and inspired by the Starfish parable realised that they could help make a difference. Through their network of friends and colleagues, they began to raise funds and in 2003 established Starfish Greathearts Foundation as a registered NGO in South Africa. Motivated by the founding parable, The Star Thrower, Starfish believes that each of us can make a difference to the lives of South African children- one child at a time.

Starfish supports over 12 000 children orphaned or vulnerable in South Africa by working in partnership with 29 Community Centres through two key programmes,1a) The Starfish Wellness Programme, which focuses on the health and wellbeing of children and the 2b) Capacity Development Programme which aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of CBOs to better manage health, education and child protection service.

Every step counts. Join the Starfish Greathearts Foundation team and make a difference to the children of South Africa.

Run for Starfish in the 2017 Comrades Marathon and make a difference to the children in South Africa. Register with Comrades - Race for Charity and choose to run in support of Starfish. Raise 5000 by the 2nd of May 2017. Claim your goodie bag, including the awesome Starfish branded running vest and be part of the c charity batch! Contact Starfish: lmoyo@starfish.za.org or Tel: 010 226 8377 to find out more.

 

 
Looking Ahead

Comrades Substitution Process opens in one week

Comrades Marathon runners who were unable to enter the 2017 Comrades Marathon during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2016) now have an opportunity to still be part of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon through the official 2017 Comrades Marathon Substitution process between mid-March and mid-April.

The Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Substitution Rule allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn, or intends to withdraw from the 2017 Comrades Marathon.

Substitutions can only take effect on a like for like basis, meaning SA runners can only substitute for SA entrants, Rest of Africa (ROA) for other ROA runners and International runners for International entrants. The Substitution process officially opens on 14 March and closes on 14 April 2017.

The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the CMA office by close of business on 14 April 2017.  There will be no extension of this deadline and no postal applications will be accepted.

Athletes intending to submit Substitution application forms are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the comprehensive list of rules and regulations which govern the Substitution process.

The downloadable Substitution application forms will be available on the morning of 14 March 2017. Prospective substitutes are encouraged to do their application online.

Race Director Rowyn James says, ‘The Substitution Rule has been very well received by our runners, with more athletes taking over the entries of those runners who are unable to participate on race day due to illness, injury or non-qualification.”

James adds, “The Substitution Rule has therefore ensured that as many athletes as possible have the opportunity to participate in the Comrades Marathon. We urge our runners to get their applications in as soon as the process opens.’

Toyota to sponsor the 2017 Comrades Marathon race cap

Leading South African auto-manufacturer Toyota has come on board as the sponsor of the official Comrades Marathon headgear this year. Toyota has been a sponsor of The Ultimate Human Race for the past seven years.

The Toyota Comrades race cap has been designed with the Comrades runner in mind. It is manufactured from lightweight material with moisture management properties to ensure the most comfortable, cool headgear on race day – Sunday, 4 June 2017.

CMA General Manager, Chris Fisher says, “We extended an offer to Toyota to sponsor this high visibility element - the Comrades branded keepsake. We felt that for seven years now Toyota had sponsored not only the vehicles but the Last Mile as well, so for us it was the natural extension to their sponsorship rights.”

Fisher adds, “According to the rules, the Toyota Comrades cap is the preferred (but not compulsory) branded headgear permitted on race day. With 20-thousand caps being presented to runners at either of the two registration points in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, this new look cap will definitely make a statement on race day – this year they will be white and red with the Toyota brand on the sides.”

Runners can collect their Toyota Comrades cap and New Balance Comrades race t-shirt together with their Bonitas race numbers, Final Race Instructions, the official Comrades souvenir magazine and goodie bag at the Comrades Expo in Durban or the Pietermaritzburg registration venue between 1 and 3 June 2017, depending on which registration point they had selected on the entry form.

The 2017 Comrades Marathon will be the 47th up-run in Comrades history, starting at the Durban City Hall at 5h30 and ending 12 hours later at the home of the Golden Horse Casino, the Scottsville Racecourse on Sunday, 4 June 2017.

WINGS FOR LIFE WORLD RUN 2017

 

Spar Womans 10km Challenge - Grand Prix Series

 
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Race Results and Stories

Bosman choses to skip Two Oceans in favour of the Comrades

The defending Comrades champion, Charné Bosman (Nedbank Running Club), is so serious about defending her title that she has decided not to compete in the Two Oceans Ultra-race.

“It is not often that you get to defend a title at Comrades therefore it is important to me to start the race with fresh legs. It is risky for me to run the Two Oceans because I know myself. If I feel good on the day I will in all probability make a race of it instead of just doing a long training run. The cruel reality is that I am not getting any younger. Being older means it takes longer for me to recover after a hard run. There is only seven weeks between Two Oceans and Comrades,” said Bosman who does quite a bit of her training at the High Performance Centre (HPC).

Bosman is quite realistic about her chances of becoming the first South African female athlete since Frith van der Merwe (1988 and 1989) to defend her title.

“Comrades is a very unpredictable race so there is no guarantee that I will be able to win again. I just want to ensure that I give myself the best chance there is to make a competitive race of it on the day. When I cross the finish line  I want to know that I have given it my best shot. If did I will be happy whatever the outcome maybe.”

Bosman is planning to use next week’s Om die Dam Ultra-race as a long hard training run.

The past weekend she and her husband, Carel Bosman, and Cameron Parker-Forsyth finished fourth overall in a triathlon team-relay (1.5km swim, 80km cycle and 20km run) in Abu Dhabi. What was impressive is the fact that Bosman managed to run the fourth fastest time over 20 kilometres. Only three male athletes were faster. She reckons she averaged just less than four minutes per kilometre to finish roughly in a time of 1:18:00.

One of the most amazing aspects of Bosman’s Comrades victory last year was the fact that she broke a toe on her right foot about six weeks before Comrades. Due to a slight mishap her foot impacted with full force against a bathroom wall. For Bosman it is a case of once bitten twice shy. She is not going to take any chances in the built-up to this year’s Comrades that is why she already got the bathroom slightly renovated so as to lessen the chance of another freak accident. According to Bosman she is also more often wearing shoes in the house as a sort of preventive measure.

Manja is back to his winning ways

David Manja (Nedbank Running Club) proved that he is back to his winning ways over the weekend when he won the Harry Gwala District Half-Marathon in KwaZulu Natal.

But he certainly did not have it all his own way. Manja and his teammate, Joel Mmone, and Tebello Ramakongoano duelled it out up to the last kilometre. Manja was the stronger runner when it mattered. He won in 1 hour and 3 minutes with Mmone crossing the line five seconds later with Ramakongoano a further eight seconds behind.

It would be interesting to see how Manja and Mmone do at the World Cross Country Championships in Uganda.

The men’s marathon was also a closely contested affair with Charles Soza (Zim/Ned) timing his final acceleration to perfection to win in a time of 2:22:41. Ntsindiso Mphakathi (Ned) crossed the line 12 seconds later with Moses Kiptoo Kurgat finishing third in 2:23:29 to complete the clean sweep for the “Men in Green.”

The women’s marathon was also dominated by the Nedbank Running Club athletes. Lizih Chokore (Zim/Ned) won in 2:59:56. Lineo Lebotha raced to a second place finish in a time of 3:09:54.  Beryl Makokha (Ken/Zim) was third in 3:10:16.

Loveness Madziva (Zim/Ned) was second in the women’s half-marathon running a time of 1:14:54 with Rudo Mhonderwa (Zim/Ned) third in 1:15:21.

**Ntombesintu Mfunzi (Ned) won the NMBM Uitenhage Human Rights 30km in a time 1:54:43.

** Namakoe Nkhasi (Ned/Les) raced to victory Century City 10km Express. His winning time in Goodwood was 29:10. Vuyisile Nkumenge (Ned)  was third in the women’s race in a time of 37:04.

**Edwin Chimombo (Zim/Ned) proved that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going when he won the Medihelp Sunrise Monster 32 km 1:53:56.  The never tiring veteran Shadrack Hoff (Boxer) was second in 2:00:27 and Thapedi Mogape (Ned) third in 2:10:47.

Tabitha Tsatsa (Zim/Ned) outran the former Comrades Champion, Caroline Wostmann (KPMG, to win the women’s race in 2:17:28. Wostmann ran a time of 2:23:18 with Kobie Smith (Vitality) third in 2:25:36.

**Lena Lotter (Ned) seems to becoming an expert over 10km. She won the Crazy Store Lighthouse 10km in Cape Town in a time of 35:04. It is the second consecutive weekend that she has won a 10km race. Vuyiseka Nkumenge (Ned) was second in 36:26 with Tanith Maxwell (Boxer) third in 36:43.

Nedbank Running Club athletes raced to 11 victories

Nedbank Running Club athletes across the country gave a good account of themselves by winning no less than 11 elite races, while another 22 athletes raced to top-three finishes.

A definite highlight was the performance of the athletes of the Nedbank SWD Club at the Cango Caves marathon and half-marathon in Oudtshoorn. The men made a clean sweep in both races.

Elfonzo Pieterse, who was honoured as the club's Athlete of the Year, won the half-marathon in 1:11:00. Godwin Heyns (Junior Athlete of the Year) finished second in 1:13:50 and Julius Korkee third in 1:15:19.

In the men's marathon John April showed a clean pair of heels to all his rivals winning in a time 2:29:13. Lindile Tokota raced to second place in a time of 2:40:31 with Zandilsile Ngeva third in 2:44:51.

The women's 21 km was won by Melissa van Rensburg (Nedbank SWD) in 1:23:42 with Cecilia Nel (Ned SWD) second in 1:29:22.

Tanith Maxwell (Boxer) won the women's marathon in 2:47:12 with Danette Smith (KPMG) was second in 2:49:46 and Anel van Wyk (Nedbank SWD) third in 2:56:23.

Another good result was Lena Lotter (Nedbank) winning the Old Mutual 10 km in Pinelands in 34:53.

The 42-year old, Daveera Magson (Nedbank), proved that there is truth in the saying that life starts at 40. She won the Mall:e Bay 50 km marathon in 3:55:31, finishing nearly 30 minutes ahead of second place Elmarie Bezuidenhout (Charlo). Tracey Campbell (Temp) was third.

Samukeliso Moya (Nedbank) raced to victory at the Deloitte Pretoria Marathon. Her winning time was 3:08:42. Yolande Maclean (Born2Run), who was challenging her the whole way, finished second in 3:09:32, while Salome Cooper (Born2Run) was third in 3:16:10.

Patience Murowe secured another victory for the Nedbank Running Club by winning the women's 21 km in 1:20:38. Her teammate, Thabitha Tsatsa, was second in 1:27:03. Former Olympian triathlete Kate Roberts (KPMG) was third in 1:28:48.

Moses Kurgat (Nedbank) was third (1:09:46) in the men's half-marathon. The race was won by Lucky Mohale (Boxer) in 1:07:22.

The Nedbank-athletes made sure of another first and second place finish in the 10 km race with Rhudo Mhonderwa (Nedbank) winning in 35:52 and Rutendo Nyahora (Nedbank) coming second in 36:46. Liziwe Mabona (Ampa) was third in 37:41.

Nkosinathi Nzingo (Nedbank) was third in the Hemingways Buff Marathon in East London with a time of 2:34:35. Jerry Rakay (FFA) won the race in a time of 2:31:04.

Zingisile Marikeni (Nedbank) secured third place in the 21 km race running a time of 1:11:54. Lukhanyo Ngxoko (Born2Run) won in 1:05:22.

Namakoe Nkhasi (Nedbank) won the Township 10 km race in Eldorado Park. Lesenyeho Derocious (Nedbank) was second in the half-marathon.

The women's 10 km race was won by Mapale Mokgotla (Nedbank) with Rebecca Mokgosinyana (Nedbank) in second.

Sam Bollo (Nedbank) finished second in the marathon with Bongani Possa (Nedbank) third.

Loveness Madizha (Nedbank) won The Witness Medihelp Maritzburg 10 km women's race in 34:42. Mziwenkosi Mjaja (Nedbank) was third (30:18) in the men's race.

In the women's marathon Fikile Mbuthama (Nedbank) raced to third place in 3:03:12. Thulani Duma (Nedbank) was third in the men's race with a time of 2:26:25.