With the event taking place in the beauty of the Elgin Valley, Paul Cluver Wines in Grabouw will once again host the race village of the event. There are 4 events that athletes can choose to run being made up of 6km, 12km and the longer 24km and 42km distances. 

Taking on the 24km distance will be Nedbank RC Western Province athletes Raydon Balie and Anel Terblanche. Both athletes are in tremendous shape, with Terblanche recently performing well in the first 3 Spar Ladies 10km events, recording a quick 35:27 at the Cape Town leg. 

“I’m looking forward to competing this weekend to get out onto the trails and take a breather from the roads,” says Terblanche. “It’s a really beautiful setting where we will run, and I will try take in the scenery but of course will be focusing on running fast!”

The 24km kicks off at 08:30 with the 42km marathon distance starting half an hour earlier. In the 42km event, Nedbank running club athletes Juan Van Deventer, Collin Kanyimo and Chrizell Roberts will be in action. 

Van Deventer knows the event well, being crowned THIRSTI AFRICANX 3-day winner earlier this year together with Nedbank RC teammate Eric Ngubane. This event however does not have a team element to it, and runners will be racing individually against others and not in the form of 2 people teams. 

Roberts will be one of the favourites to take the title in the women’s race. With a 2:50:51 marathon PB, Roberts returns to the Elgin Valley after placing 2nd earlier in the year at the 3-day event and will know the area well. 

“It will be great to be back and I’m looking forward to the event,” said Roberts. “I’ve been competing in the Spar Ladies 10km events and working on my speed, and I feel like I am in good shape.”

The Nedbank running club wishes its athletes well at the THIRSTI AFRICANX 1 day event