Organised by Golazo in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the race was launched in May at Cape Town City Hall, where Madiba gave his first public address after his release from prison in 1990. It is billed as the world's first values-based running series centred on human rights, built around the ideals that defined Mandela's life and leadership: dignity, courage, justice, equality, solidarity and freedom. As the Foundation's Chief Executive, Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi, put it, it is "more than a race, it is an experience intentionally designed around Madiba's values and legacy."

The weekend features four distances: the 42km Nelson Mandela Marathon, the 21km Slave Route Challenge Half Marathon, and 10km and 5km runs and walks. The well-established Slave Route Challenge, first run in 2011 and organised by Itheko Sport Athletic Club, now forms part of the weekend. All routes start on Strand Street in the city centre, and the courses pass landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, the Company's Garden, the Bo-Kaap and District Six, with runners passing reflections and quotes from Mandela's life along the way. The marathon is described as flat and fast, and all profits go to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Cape Town is the first chapter of a global series that will take the Nelson Mandela Marathon to other cities around the world from 2027.

Nedbank Running Club has a strong squad on the marathon entry list, with 12 men and 5 women lined up under the race's theme of Rise. Remember. Run. The team reads like a tour of the club's branches, with athletes from the Western Province, the Southern Cape, KZN, Central and North West, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Kenya, Ethiopia and further afield.

The men's field is packed with speed. Moses Tarakinyu (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe), Simon Sibeko (Nedbank Running Club CNW), Namakoe Nkhasi (Nedbank Running Club Lesotho) and Puseletso Mofokeng (Nedbank Running Club CNW) all come in with listed best times between 2:13:11 and 2:13:31. Piet Wiersma (Nedbank Running Club International), Benjamin Nyongesa (Nedbank Running Club Kenya) and Owen Slowly (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) are all in the 2:17 to 2:18 range, with Sithembiso Mqhele and Pule Sibeko flying the flag for Nedbank Running Club KZN. The Southern Cape trio of Lloyd Bosman, Selwyn Matthews and Bruce Maboza complete the men's line-up.

In the women's race, Fortunate Chidzivo and Ethel Pangiso (both Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) hold the quickest listed marks at 2:33:30 and 2:35:38, with Bize Beyira Negasa (Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia) next on 2:40:50. Maretha Smit (2:48:23) and Ilse Marais (2:58:12) complete the women's line-up. We will bring you the results in next week's round-up, so keep an eye out for those green vests on Sunday.

NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB NATIONAL | WEEKEND RESULTS ROUND-UP | 10-11 OCT 2026

Nedbank Running Club's green vests turned up on podiums in every corner of the country this weekend, from the Cape winelands and trail running outside Pretoria to the Free State, Masters milers in the Vaal and a big day out in Limpopo. Further afield, South African runners took on the Chicago Marathon, and club members also raced in Sofia and Zimbabwe. Here is the full round-up, beginning with a look ahead to a historic first in Cape Town.

NRC WESTERN PROVINCE (WPA)

Bakgat 10km, Bellville

Nedbank Running Club WPA had a successful morning at the Bakgat 10km, where both the men's team and the ladies' team collected team prizes. In the Open women's race, Anel Terblanche took the win and Aimee Rubino was 3rd, and in the W40-49 category Anneline Roffey took the win with Hannelie Lötter 2nd.

Ommiedraai 10km

Jani Calitz had a strong run at the Ommiedraai 10km, finishing 3rd in the Open women's race and 2nd in the W40-49 category. She was joined on the podium by Charmaine Cupido, who was 3rd in the W70-79 category, and in the men's race Roger Simpson won the M60-69 category in 39:19.

Meiringspoort 21.1km

Friedl van der Merwe was 3rd in the M60-69 category over the 21.1km.

Ceres 10km

David Ruiters was 2nd in the M40-49 category at the Ceres 10km, while Danie van Coller took the win in the M50-59 category.

Fairview Goat Run 28km

Heidi de Jager had a strong run at the Fairview Goat Run, finishing as 3rd lady over the 28km.

NRC SOUTHERN CAPE (SWD)

Meiringspoort

Nedbank Running Club SWD athletes were on the podium over both distances at Meiringspoort. Over the 21.1km, Lloyd Bosman won the race and Selwyn Matthews was 2nd. Over the 12.5km, Kezia Matthysen was 2nd woman overall and 2nd Junior in 51:43, and in the men's race Austin October took the win with Francois Maquassa 3rd.

NRC EASTERN PROVINCE (EPA)

Meiringspoort 21.1km

Debbie Christy ran well over the 21.1km at Meiringspoort, taking the win in the 60+ ladies category in 1:58:10.

NRC CENTRAL GAUTENG

Tommy Malone Road Race, Boksburg

Kai Hattingh ran strongly at the Tommy Malone Road Race in Boksburg to finish 2nd.

NRC GAUTENG NORTH (AGN)

Fat Cats 10km, Midrand

Nedbank Running Club had two podium finishers at the Fat Cats 10km in Midrand. In the women's race, Mamorallo Tjoka was 2nd woman overall in 36:37 and won the W40-49 category, while in the men's race Lucky Mohale ran strongly to finish 3rd overall and win the 40+ category.

Koppie 2 Koppie Trail (K2K) 26km

Liesel-Mari Fritz was the first woman home in the 26km Koppie 2 Koppie trail race, which included 652 metres of elevation.

NRC FREE STATE

SAPS Free State Police Race

Nedbank Running Club Free State athletes reached the podium over both distances. Over the 21km, Anna Moeketsie was 2nd woman overall and won the 40+ category. Over the 10km, Karabo Monyaki was 2nd woman overall and Moleboheng Mohapi 3rd, Maryna Swanepoel won the 40+ category, and Karabo Monyaki and Moleboheng Mohapi went on to take 1st and 2nd in the Junior category. In the men's 10km, Omphile Letshabo won the race, with Thabang Mathosa 2nd and Tshokolo Tolo 3rd.

Mahindra Vaal 1 Mile

Sibusiso Ndhlela of Nedbank By Grace Running Club was 3rd in the Masters 1 Mile race in 5:05, a run that also placed him on the podium in the M40-49 category.

NRC MPUMALANGA

SHL 10km

Enos Ethan Ndimande ran a strong 10km at the SHL race, taking the win in the M70+ category in 1:06.

NRC NORTHERN CAPE

Sesheng Half Marathon

Kgokong Bakang ran well at the Sesheng Half Marathon, finishing 2nd overall over the 21.1km.

NRC KZN

Ethekwini Township to Township 42km

Nedbank Running Club KZN enjoyed a big day at the Ethekwini Township to Township Marathon, with the club's ladies taking 1st, 2nd and 5th place over the 42km. Nokuthula Ntshangase was the first lady home in 3:27:05, Fikile Mbuthuma was 2nd woman overall and won the 40+ category, and Nonkululeko Mbambo was 5th woman in 4:22:05 and 3rd in the W40-49 category. In the men's race, Ncedisani Phungula was 3rd in the Open category in 2:34:18 and Nkosinathi Khanyeza 4th in 2:35, and Deric Gunede won the M40-49 category in 2:52:28.

Ethekwini Township to Township 21km

Over the 21km, Victor Lapit ran a strong race to finish 2nd, and Hleziphi Ncayiyana won the 50-59 category in 2:04:06.

NRC LIMPOPO

Seshego Marathon

Coach Audrey Chebet Louis's athletes were all over the Seshego Marathon, and Nedbank Running Club vests took the top step of the podium in three different races.

Seshego 10km

Alex Aphane (Nedbank Running Club Limpopo) was first across the line to win the Seshego 10km.

Seshego 21.1km

In the women's 21.1km, Lina Kipkemoi Kaino took the win in 1:23:05 and Mary Njambi Njuguna was 2nd in 1:24:48. The men's race was a clean sweep of the podium for the club: Given Makgoba (Nedbank Running Club Limpopo) won in 65:59, Silvester Kipkemboi Kipsang (Nedbank Running Club International Kenya) was 2nd in 66:28, and Brian Muthomi Kiogora (Nedbank Running Club International Kenya) was 3rd in 69:10.

Seshego 50km Ultra Marathon

In the 50km ultra marathon, Maama Moshoeshoe (Nedbank Running Club International Lesotho) was 4th overall in 2:54:13, and Robert Kiprotich Chelang'a was 13th overall and 5th veteran in 3:15.

A moment on the stage

The best moment of the day came after the racing. Audrey was on her way home when the race organisers called her back to the stadium, and she admits she feared the worst. Instead, they asked her to climb the stage alongside the winner of the women's 21.1km, and spoke warmly about the coach who brings strong athletes to Limpopo and makes the races there more interesting. They presented her with flowers in front of the crowd, which she says was the happiest moment because she loves flowers and being recognised. The organisers have also invited the team to the A2Z Dynamic annual marathon on 15 November.

Audrey was quick to thank National Manager Nick Bester for supporting her to look after her athletes. A very well-deserved day in the spotlight.

Maselelo Half Marathon

Albert Kangor ran well at the Maselelo Half Marathon, finishing 2nd overall in 1:14:57 and taking the win in the veteran category.

NRC ZIMBABWE

Odyssey Half Marathon, Kadoma

Tabitha Tsatsa ran well at the Odyssey Half Marathon in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, taking the win in the Masters category.

CHICAGO MARATHON, USA

Two South African runners flew the flag at the Chicago Marathon. Deanne Laubscher produced an excellent run to finish 66th woman in a time of 2:46:52, and Riaan van Zyl finished in 2:36:58, placing 429th man overall after going through halfway in 1:15:50.

WIZZ AIR SOFIA MARATHON, BULGARIA

Ngonidzashe Ncube represented the club abroad at the Wizz Air Sofia Marathon in Bulgaria, finishing 5th in the men's race.

AND THAT’S A WRAP

It was a busy weekend for Nedbank Running Club, with podium finishes from the Western Cape and the Free State to KZN, Limpopo and the Northern Cape, and club members flying the flag in Zimbabwe, Bulgaria and the United States. From the Seshego Marathon in Limpopo and the Bakgat 10km in Bellville to the finish lines of Chicago and Sofia, every result was a reminder of the depth of talent in the green vest. Well done to every athlete who raced, to the coaches and supporters behind them, and to everyone who sent in their results. We will be back next week with all the results from the weekend of 17 and 18 October.

#NedbankRunningClub #MoreThanAClub #GreenDreamTeam #RunWithUs #GrowWithUs

Click here for more Photos