Nedbank Runified series, races and virtual time trials picking up pace

With the entire World at standstill currently due to the Covid19 pandemic that is busy sweeping its way around the World, sport has taken a serious knock with many events around the World being cancelled or postponed to next year. Virtual events are now the go to for many sporting enthusiasts and the Nedbank running club is leading the forefront in the running space in South Africa.

For a first in Africa, the Nedbank running club partnered up with world renowned fitness app, Strava, to bring the Nedbank runified series. Open to anyone, the runified series offers prizes to runners who on Strava join the Nedbank running club page and take part over a variety of distances from 5km up to the half marathon distance which see’s the 4th and final event come to an end on 24 October.

On the first challenge over 5km which ends on 25 July, there have been some speedy times run. Leading the males is Francois Maquassa who is quickest in 16:12. On the ladies’ side, junior athlete and Nedbank running club member Tonya Schoeman in a speedy 18:09.

Over 60 000 runners from around the Country have signed up to the #NedbankRunified series and looks to pass 70 000 for the next challenge run over 8km which starts on 8 August 2020. Stay tuned to our pages as we bring you the top 10 men and women next week after the first challenge ends.

Besides the runified series, an internal Nedbank running club 10km was held, open to all registered Nedbank running club members in South Africa with prize money paid to the top 10 men and women. “We decided to do these fun events for our athletes in order to keep the motivation and spirit of the team together,” said Nick Bester, National team manager said. “It gives everyone something to keep the training going and the spirits high.”

For the first event, run over 10km, it was green dream team runner Joel Mmone who led the way, recording the quickest 10km time to take the win ahead of this years Om Die Dam 50km winner and Olympian Juan Van Deventer who came 2nd and another Olympian Sibusiso Nzima who rounded off the podium in 3rd. On the women’s side, Comrades record breaker Gerda Steyn who also qualified for the Olympic marathon blitzed the fastest 10km in the heat and humidity of Dubai. Behind her, Kelly Van Vliet from Nedbank running club PE was 2nd and Deanne Horn 3rd.

Here are the top 10 results from the first event:

Nedbank Running Club Internal 10km

South African Athletes in the 5km Runnified Challange

Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Challenge

Virtual Challenge - South Africa’s sporting heroes and celebrities alike are joining hands to raise funds for Covid-19 relief efforts, presented by FXTM. The Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Virtual Challenge will take place on Saturday, 1 August 2020 and invites the general public to join the country’s biggest sports stars in real-time through the Zwift app, and make donations in order to raise funds for Covid-19 relief.

The Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Virtual Challenge presented by FXTM  is an official Nelson Mandela Day initiative, in association with partners ATC, BCX and Hulamin. The virtual challenge is named after the World Icon and Father of a nation, Nelson Mandela. In the difficult time of the global pandemic, the event aims to encourage social cohesion and provide Covid-19 relief efforts with the “Each One Feed One” campaign (www.nelsonmandela.org) to South Africans.

The virtual challenge will see some of the country’s biggest sportsmen stepping up to support the virtual charity event, among those are the Emirates Lions, Vodacom Blue Bulls, Imperial Lions Cricket, Momentum Multiply Titans Cricket, Nedbank Running Club, FXTM Cycling Team, Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ride4Hope invitational teams.

The growing list of celebrities taking part in the event is TV-presenter Maps Maponyane, ex-professional footballer Brian Baloyi and 2020 Cape Cycle Tour winner Travis Barrett.

Sello Hatang, Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation “The Challenge gives participants and contributors an opportunity to give hope to the people whose lives they touch during this challenge. The initiative helps ensure that people who feel discarded and forgotten are assisted through the challenge’s contributions. Putting miles on their paddles to change lives,notwithstanding that this year due to COVID-19 the ride will be virtual .”

“Uniting with Ride4Hope and Nelson Mandela Foundation to present the Nelson Mandela Covid-19 Relief Challenge is an absolute honour for FXTM, and the wider Exinity Group. When we were approached with the opportunity to be anchor partner and fund the Challenge, we didn’t bat an eye. I can only hope, and sincerely encourage people to tune in, root for their favourite teams, and help to raise funds for those most affected by the Covid-19 virus in South Africa”, remarks Lex Webster, Chief Commercial Officer at FXTM.

“As the great Mandela himself said, ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead'”, adds Webster.

The event allows for people around the world to ride remotely and virtually.  Participants will be able to join their sporting heroes in real-time on Zwift from 07:00 to 12:30 in allocated timeslots.

Through the generosity of our partners, participants will stand a chance to win a Toyota Fortuner (for a month), signed team jerseys from all participating teams, Ciovita cycling hamper, Weber Braai unit and a Falke hamper.

Participants can enter the challenge for free and join the raffle of choice with all proceeds going towards donations for Covid-19 relief efforts. The public is also welcome to make a donation.

Click to Enter

Nedbank Running Club SWD

The Nedbank running club SWD have continued to host their very successful virtual time trials which have become a hit, with over 125 finishers in each of the last two time trials which are run over 3km and 5km. there have also been some impressive times with Godwin Heyn’s winning the last 2 in 16:01 and improving last week to a quick 15:14. Top 10 results for last week’s event are below:

5km         
Place    Name - Time
1    Godwin Heyns - 15:14
2    Nicolaas Steenekamp - 16:54
3    Francois Maquassa - 17:10
4    Ettienne Plaatjies - 17:10
5    Bernardo Fredericks - 17:27
6    Donovan Jantjies - 17:33
7    Caron Perrins - 18:05
8    Anton Chevalier - 19:20
9    Lana Theunissen - 19:42
10    Bertus Myburgh - 20:25

Nedbank Running Club East London

8. To make it more fun, you are welcome to also post a selfie of yourself, related to your run, on the Nedbank Running Club East London Facebook page wearing something green and a mask. If you spot a fellow runner on the road wearing green, you will also know they are currently running their own Nedbank TT

Nedbank Running Club Vaal Triangle

The virtual time trials started on the 9^th of June ’20. 19 Athletes compete during the 4 virtual time trials in June ’20. We really want to encourage all our members to take part and to test your fitness level on a weekly basis. We will continue with this virtual time trials till communicated otherwise. Rules will be as follows:

• Virtual Time Trials will only be run on Tuesdays between the times of 06:00 and 18:00. You can decide yourself at what time you want to run the time trial
• You can decide on the distances you want to run. Available distances you can choose from is2,4,6 or 8 kilometers
• Send a screenshot of your running app or a photo of your watch with date, time, distance and duration of your running time to our Nedbank RC WhattsApp group number 07606061774 as soon as you completed your time trial
• No treadmill times will be accepted
• Results will be posted on our website and that is why we need your feedback as soon as it is available
• A monthly winner will be chosen and will be rewarded with an gift voucher

We want to encourage all our members to join this virtual time trials and please promote this initiative to all people who might be interested

Virtual Time Trial winner – June 2020!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Robin Ballentine who was the first winner of our virtual time trial for June ’20. Robin completed all 4 of the virtual time trials held in June ’20 and he was the deserved winner. He was the only participant on the time trial on the 16^th of June ’20 when it was bitterly cold and with rain. His results which earned him the gift voucher of R250.00 were as follows:

• 9th of June '20 - 6 km in time of 22:30
• 16th of June '20 - 8 km in time of 31:17
• 23rd of June '20 - 6 km in time of 22:32
• 30th of June '20 - 8 km in time of 30:04

Thank you to all the other participants in June ’20 and the best of luck in winning the July ’20 price. We want to encourage all our members to join this virtual time trials and please promote this initiative to all people who might be interested

Nedbank Running Club Central Gauteng

July is the month for weekend virtual races!
We will have the following racing distances on the upcoming weekends:
Sat 4th July - 10km
Sat 11th July - 15km
Sat 18th July - 21.km
Sat 25th July - 32km
Important to note: You will be running against your own handicap. This means our spreadsheet will take your best time trial pace and handicap you. The aim is that everyone who runs the race should all end together.
Remember to upload onto Strava using “NRCJHB Virtual 10km/15km race"
You can do the race on Saturday or Sunday but runs and Strava posts should be uploaded by latest 3pm on Sunday.
Don’t forget the Tuesday and Wednesday 5km/8km time trials!!!!

Email: info@nedbankrunningclubcg.co.za

21st July 2020 Virtual time trial top 10 Results    
5 km
Name - Time
Jose Bates - 20:06
Leonard - 20:13
Ian Morrison - 20:33
Robdog - 21:15
Ian Ferguson(G) - 22:51
Bjorn Uys - 23:23
Thinus Pienaar - 23:30
Tyler Hughes - 24:19
Leon Botha - 24:21
Dieter - 25:05

Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North

Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North welcomes all Club Members to participate in our New Normal Virtual Time Trials. a great number of members are already logging their times on Strava (https://www.strava.com/clubs/nedbankgautengnorth) and looks like the challenge is heating up to win those prizes.

With the weather that is getting better we see more & more members running the Thursdays Virtual Time Trials.

Our Nedbank Running Club AGN Development Athletes under the watchful eye of Enoch Skosana is keeping up their fitness as well

Well done everyone and keep sending us your photos. If your unable to participate on Strava please send proof of your results to nbrunning.pta@gmail.com as you will also be in the running to win prizes. 

Keep an eye on our Facebook page (Nedbank Running Club Gauteng North) for all updates and photos that we receive.

Hopefully soon we can run together again