Newsletter
 
Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za
2 March 2022
  
Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km

All roads lead to Gqeberha this weekend for Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km

After a successful first event last year which saw two 50km world records and numerous age group best times being broken in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km returns this Sunday, bigger and better.

Before the starters pistol is fired at 06:00 on Sunday for the lady’s elite race start, the event came into the new year already setting records. World Athletics who govern the sport awarded the event with a purple elite label status, elevating it to be on par with some of the biggest international city marathons around the world. It was also the first and currently only ultra-marathon in the world to achieve this standard.

“The awarding of this elite label to the event is a strong testimony to the incredible team that we have to make this event a success, our great sponsors and the amazing Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality,” says Nick Bester, race director of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km.

Male winner 2021 - Ketema Bekele Negasa

Female winner 2021 - Irvette van Zyl

The event which is an invitation only elite race sees some of the world’s best athletes toe the line on a 10km loop course which the runners will have to negotiate 5 times. “We have assembled an even stronger field this year with a big international interest into the event and our defending champions who of course are the world record holders will be back as well,” said Bester.

The Nedbank running club duo of Ketema Bekele Negasa from Ethiopia and South Africa’s Irvette Van Zyl ran away victorious last year as world record holders and will be looking to do the same come Sunday, although a little faster. “I’m really looking forward to the race day,” said Van Zyl after completing another tough session in her training plan. “I definitely feel stronger, and my times have been quicker going into Sunday’s race, so I feel a world record is definitely on the cards. We will just have to see who crosses the line first!”

Both Van Zyl and Negasa will face a strong challenge to the crown on Sunday morning. In the women’s race Van Zyl will face an East African onslaught as runners from the great rift valley of Kenya and the Bekoji mountains of Ethiopia look to make a name for themselves at the ultra-distance. The case is the same in the men’s race although the name of Stephen Mokoka appears on the start list. Mokoka is a multiple South African champion, and his pedigree speaks for itself. At the time of writing Mokoka was still unsure if he would run on Sunday or be taking part in an international marathon.

To set the pace required for the world record, the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km will be led by official pacemakers who will lead the pack at world record pace. In the men’s race, local athlete Melikhaya Frans and Gladwin Mzazi will lead the way with Stella Marais fresh off her marathon victory in Cape Town, setting the pace for the women. Pacemakers are allowed to finish the race should they want to, and one only must look back at last year’s event where Van Zyl served as a pacemaker for the ladies’ race but continued on to set a world record.

A major boost for the event also sees the event being broadcast live on SuperSport on Sunday morning, with the broadcast starting at 05:45 and running through until 09:45. The event will also share the same livestream via the Nedbank running club National Facebook page. Run separately, the ladies race starts at 06:00 with the men starting at 06:30.

 
 
National Personalities and Stories

Mothibi in search of world record at Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km at 3200 m altitude.

It is 05:00am and still dark as the Nedbank running club duo of Edward Mothibi and Dan Matshaliwe step outside in the crisp air, 3100m above sea level at the Afriski resort in Lesotho. Dressed in their green Nedbank running club tracksuits and Nike running shoes on their feet, the duo embarks on yet another training session all towards one goal: a new world record over 50km at next month’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

After winning the 2019 Comrades Marathon and with the world at his feet, Covid19 swept over the world and Mothibi didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his talent, but when the opportunities did arise, Mothibi rose to the occasion and next month’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km is no different. In 2020 Mothibi took victory in the Cape Town Marathon and at last year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km, Motihbi was in it until the last 5km where a few stomach issues saw him drop to 10th over the line, but in a very respectable 2:47:02. Mothibi then further improved his marathon personal best with a 2:13 in Cape Town 4 months ago and is in shape and ready for the event which returns for the 2nd time to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

“The training has been going very well and we have a race plan for both myself and Dan come race day,” said Mothibi. Training partner Matshaliwe may not be a well-known name to many who follow the sport, but the quietly spoken man who hails from Rustenburg is a force to be reckoned with and finished 7th at last year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km. “We won’t say much now about tactics but the goal time we have set out together with our coach Dave Adams is that we will be looking to run a time of under 2:42.”

Nedbank running club Ethiopia’s Ketema Bekele Negasa was victorious in last year’s event setting a new world record time of 2:42:06 so a time of under 2:42 will result in a new world record, provided its Mothibi or training partner Matshaliwe across the line first. “We know there are many great runners coming so it will be a tough battle, but we are well prepared, and it will be great if one of us are crossing the line first and being called a world record holder,” said Mothibi. “We will finish our training back home in Rustenburg where we will do our sharpening and getting some speed, so we are ready for race day.”

This year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km will be broadcast live on SuperSport and returns to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality with another record before the starting gun has been fired. World Athletics who govern the sport have granted the event an Elite label, the first ultra-marathon in the world to achieve this status. The event now sits together with many prestigious big city marathons around the world in only its 2nd year.
 

Nedbank Running Club’s Stella Marais takes Peninsula win

She may be new to the marathon distance, but Nedbank running club green dream team member Stella Marais may just have found her calling distance after taking victory in Sunday's Peninsula Marathon in Cape Town. Not only did she finish over 15 minutes ahead of the 2nd placed finisher, but smashed her personal best in the process to cross the line victorious in 2:38:22.This is the fastest marathon by a South African women’s athlete the past 6 months

After running her debut last year in the Cape Town Marathon where she finished 13th in 2:42:38, Marais was not even fully focussed on Peninsula as a goal race as the race was originally scheduled for 13 February but clashed due to other commitments.

"In early January I saw the date was changed to a week later so with my coach we decided to enter," said Marais. "Coming back from holiday I only had 7 weeks to prepare but my coach doesn't believe in high mileage so I only did one week of 120km and the rest of the weeks were between 80 to 100km."

Race day came around and Marais found herself in a much different place than when she laced her Nike's ahead of her debut marathon 4 months previously. "I was very calm before the race as I felt like I knew what to expect with one under my belt but unlike the Cape Town Marathon where I went out really slow, I pushed harder from the start."

Marais was unchallenged from the word go and had very few male runners to keep her company. "The first hour I felt really comfortable and then there was a nasty climb at 16km which followed a downhill that I felt I ran a bit too hard and I definitely paid for it at the end but worked hard to keep my pace," said Marais.

With new found marathon success, Marais is quick to point out that she won't be rushing into another marathon any time soon. "I think the longer distances definitely suit me better but I don't want to move up too fast because I still want to run some fast 10km and half marathons this year."

It has been shown that the faster an athlete is over the shorter distances, the better their potential at the marathon can be. "I am definitely overdue a pb in the half marathon distance so that is the next aim but I will continue to get faster at the shorter stuff as it will benefit me when I move to the marathon distance on a full time basis," says Marais.
 
Two Oceans 2022

Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon 2022 entries have REOPENED 

Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon announces the REOPENING OF ENTRIES for both Ultra and Half Marathons on a first come, first served basis. No ballot.
To enter, click here.

A reminder that payment is due by Thursday 11 March, 5pm.

All other information, including medical and qualifier info, has to be updated/uploaded by Sunday 20 March, 5pm.

Runners that are still to qualify are encouraged to take up the opportunities provided by the upcoming marathons, Hemel en Aarde and Weskus in the Western Cape, and other marathons elsewhere.

TTOM 2022 Charity entries are OPEN

www.twooceansmarathon.org.za for a list of all TTOM 2022 Official Charity Partners, who will issue you with an entry voucher when you purchase an entry from them. Kindly redeem your charity entry voucher at hereCharity entries are OPEN! Entries are available directly from your chosen charity. Click

, as well as extra funds to support the charitable organisation you have chosen.GivenGainNeed funds to raise money for your charity entry? Remember that you can raise the funds you need for your charity entry on

Thank you for choosing to support the work of the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative, TOMI, by electing to run for one of these official TTOM 2022 charities.
 
Comrades 2022
Launch of 2022 Comrades Marathon
 

It’s the much-awaited Comrades comeback! After nearly two years of adhering to the National State of Disaster, the subsequent suspension of sporting events and the cancellation of both the 2020 and 2021 Centenary Comrades Marathons, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is thrilled to launch its #Comrades2022 campaign and announce its plans for this year’s race.

CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo unveiled the very appropriate campaign slogan, “The Return – Sishay’ Ibuya”, signaling the long-awaited return to road-running and a celebration of the comeback of The Ultimate Human Race.

The launch, hosted in Johannesburg today (Thursday, 17 February 2022) was attended by the nation’s top media, road-running dignitaries, CMA sponsors, stakeholders, former winners, elite athletes and sporting personalities.

Ngcobo has cautioned however that, “Runners will still need to exercise a degree of care and attentiveness when out running - be it exercising, training, spectating or participating in events. However, amid all the precautions and safety measures, we are just extremely pleased to be able to host the 2022 Comrades Marathon in August and invite the nation and the world to celebrate this milestone with us.”

He added, “The slogan is such a natural fit for this year’s upcoming event. The return of the Comrades Marathon, let alone all other road-running events, is something that runners have been eagerly awaiting. It is therefore with a great sense of pride and pleasure that we unveil this campaign, issue details around our upcoming 95th Comrades Marathon and create the conditions for our athletes to run the race that they love so much.”

The 95th Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, 28 August 2022. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a 90,2km distance. This will be the 47th Down Run in Comrades history.

Considering the current National legislation limitation on mass participation events, the entry limit has been capped at 15,000 entries. Due to Coronavirus and other health and safety implications, all entrants will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and produce their vaccine certificate to complete their entry status by 12 July.

The opening date for entries is Wednesday, 23 March 2022, when the first entry window period commences and runs for 1 week until 31 March 2022. During this window period, only those entrants who had successfully entered the 2020 Comrades Marathon will be able to enter, be they South Africa, Rest of Africa or International.

The entry fee for South African athletes will be discounted from R1200 to R1000 in the first entry window period, as per the CMA commitment when the 2020 race was cancelled. Rest of Africa and International entrants in the 2020 Comrades Marathon had their entries deferred to either the 2022 or 2023 race; and will therefore not pay an entry fee.

During the second entry window period, from 20 April to 16 May 2022, all other athletes will be allowed to enter.

Entry fees for these entrants in the 2022 Comrades Marathon are as follows:

  • South Africa                                     : R1200.00
  • Rest of Africa                                   : R2000.00
  • International                                   : R4500.00

Entry is free to all runners who have completed the Comrades Marathon 25 times or more.

This second entry window period will not apply should the entry cap have been reached during the first entry window period.

  • ASA rules only allow for online entries and will be done via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;

A special larger than normal commemorative medal denoting the 95th edition of the Comrades Marathon will be struck for this year’s race. A new trophy will also be introduced to the 20–39 years Women's 2nd place team prize.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “We have exciting plans in place for this year’s Down Run which will finish at Durban’s acclaimed Moses Mabhida Stadium for the second time. Qualifying for the 2022 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of 1 September 2021 till 12 July 2022. The qualifying criteria for this year’s Comrades Marathon remains unchanged requiring completion of a standard 42.2km marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes, or a 56km ultra-marathon in under 6 hours and 45 minutes.”

The Substitution Process will run over the month of June. More details will be revealed closer to the time.

Since inception, the Comrades Amabeadibeadi charity drive has raised more than R60-million for the CMA’s six official charities. The benefitting charities for 2022 are Childhood Cancer Foundation SA (CHOC), Community Chests of Pietermaritzburg & Durban, Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, Hospice KZN, Rise Against Hunger and Wildlands Conservation Trust.

The Race4Charity fundraising platform requires that runners raise a minimum of R6000 for the Amabeadibeadi charity of their choice, in order to qualify for the charity seeding batch on the start line. 500 entries have been reserved for Race4Charity runners. For more details on the Race4Charity initiative, click through to www.comrades.com/charities/race-4-charity

Ngcobo has called on all runners to support the charitable fundraising initiatives of the CMA, saying, “We urge all Comrades entrants to select the Official Charity closest to their heart and commit to running for a cause greater than themselves. As the CMA, we have placed great focus on benefitting the communities in which we operate and continuously adding value to the sport of athletics.”

The CMA also launched its new book and board game at the event, namely the Comrades Monopoly which is a world-first for any road-running race. The Comrades Monopoly is a Special Limited Centenary Edition with custom board, properties, money and cards.

For properties, all the Comrades Marathon route landmarks have been used. For the most expensive properties, the Down Run Course Records were used, as well as the fastest times by foreign runners and the record of 9 wins.

Additionally, Comrades House and the Comrades Marathon Wall of Honour are used for the Traditional Utility properties while Chance and Community Chest cards feature as Down Run and Up Run.

For more information, please visit www.marathonmonopoly.com

Also commemorating the centenary of the world's biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon is the recently published Comrades coffee table book, In Your Stride. 

Never before has a history of the Comrades Marathon been presented in a unique coffee table format, reflecting the extraordinary spectacle of the event and many never-before-seen photographs, as well as unforgettable moments of when global icon, world statesman and father of the nation, Nelson Mandela made his surprise visit to the 1996 Comrades Marathon.

The magic of the world’s greatest footrace is stunningly encapsulated through depictions of its iconic badges, flashes, race numbers, memorabilia, race paraphernalia and lists everyone who has ever achieved a Green Number.

In Your Stride: 100 Years of the Comrades Marathon, 1921 – 2021 by Steve Camp and Brad Morgan is a must-have for anyone who has been inspired by the race. Consisting of 264 pages in full colour and a matte cover finish with UV spot varnish, the book is a 280x280mm hard cover publication crammed with loads of information and imagery on the world’s most spectacular footrace.

Runners and supporters residing in South Africa can order their copy now for only R480,00 including packaging and delivery within the Republic, by clicking through here: In Your Stride | i-go-books (igobooks.co.za)

For international orders, please email delaine@comrades.com
 
Upcoming Events