The holiday break in December is a very seductive time for road runners in South Africa. There are hours of daylight training available , the weather is generally wonderful and most importantly of all we all have lots of free time and holiday time to train to our hearts content. I can conjure up visions now of us all charging shirtless along a beachfront road so we can tan and train; or aimlessly exploring a nature reserve path with no time pressure and no deadline to chase.

Unfortunately for those of us training for the Two Oceans or the Comrades marathons this holiday training is really pointless. It's simply not the correct time of the year to be training hard. Conventional training wisdom teaches us that the peak hard training period for any major marathon should be about 8 to 10 weeks before race day. We should also allow for a couple of weeks of tapered training before the race. Extrapolating back from the Two Oceans and Comrades marathons then the time to begin serious training is about midway through January and March respectively for both races.

Train like an Olympian in December and you will run like one in February/ March. However if you're not injured first you'll run like a tortoise in April and May. It's all about peaking and getting it right on race day. Treat December as a holiday in every sense of the word and you'll run well when it matters. My December training message for next season's major races is don your best Nikes occasionally but eat, drink and be merry with much more intensity than usual. The time to get serious is approaching, but it isn't in the December holidays...

These developments follow the recent conclusion of Powerade Athletic Club's nine-year sponsorship term. At least 80 of the club's 100-strong members have since elected to join the Nedbank team, drawn by the many opportunities the club offers. In addition, Mark Struwig, who has headed up the Powerade club since its inception, has been appointed to manage Nedbank Running Club Soweto. Furthermore, the staging of the Vodacom Country Challenge road race, which attracts a field in excess of 5 000 participants, will now fall under the banner of the Nedbank Running Club.

Among the several top athletes who have joined Nedbank Running Club Soweto are Sibusiso Nzima, the 2008 S.A. 10km Champion and current S.A. Senior Men's 12km Cross Country Champion, and leading marathon runners, Mpho Mabuza, Vincent Seng and Lucky Miya. A host of up-and-coming athletes have also chosen to don the distinctive Nedbank green. They include the current S.A. Under 23 1 500m Champion, Enock Manyandi, the silver medalist in the Junior Men's 1 500m at the 2009 S.A. Championships, Jerry Motsau, the 2009 S.A. Junior Men's 8km Cross Country Champion, Folavia Sehohle, and the bronze medal winner, Vuyisile Tshoba.

Mark said he was thrilled that his athletes would be representing Nedbank and was ecstatic at the reception they had received.

"I believe that our runners could not have joined a better team. Not only does the club support and assist elite athletes, it recognizes the importance of talent development, and also caters for social runners. This means that the club is able to meet the needs of all its members.

"I would also personally like to thank Nick Bester and Patrick Baransky for welcoming us on board and for the encouragement and support they have shown. Our runners are proud and excited to be part of the Nedbank Running Club and we hope to make a valid contribution to the team."

The Nedbank Running Club Soweto will continue to focus on athletic development. It will also strive to promote youth participation in the sport and will aim to encourage top performances by offering its members position-based performance incentives.

/Ends.26 November 2009

In the men's division we finished runners up to the New Balance Club and in the Ladies division we managed a third position.
Congratulations and thank you for all the Nedbank Running Club members for their contribution towards this achievement.

Super League:

Male:      New Balance 1st      Nedbank 2nd      Irene 3rd
Female:   Irene 1st      Tuks 2nd      Nedbank 3rd

2010 league Races

Regards
Nick Bester-National Manager of the Nedbank Running Clubs

Organisers: Nedbank Running Club Free State

Race Flyer

Date: 06 February 2010
Time: 
42km = 05:30 (Walkers 5h00 & waterpoints only from 12km)
21km = 06:00 (Runners & Walkers)
10km = 06:30 (Runners & Walkers)
 
Distance: 42.2; 21.1; 10 
Start: Bloemfontein Achilles Sportsentrum

Enquiries:
Contact 1: Bloemfontein Achilles  051-444 5867 (17:00-19:00 Mon-Thur) 
Contact 2: Gerrit Zulch 0824271021 
Contact 3: Marijke de Wet 0832873050 
Contact 4: Marlize Smit 0827810277 
Website: www.bloemachilles.co.za

 
Entry Details: 
26 January to 5 February at Bloem Achilles clubhouse.  
17h00-19h00 and morning of race from 5h00 
Online entries: www.enteronline.co.za

Route Description: