Nedbank running club stars descend on Gqeberha this weekend

After dominating last year's Spar Grand Prix series with 6 out of 6 victories to take the overall title, Nedbank running

club's Tadu Nare returns to the Nelson Mandela Bay as firm favorite but this time the competition will be a lot harder, with teammate and former series winner Helalia Johannes making a return.

Winning in total domination last year, Nare took victory in all 6 events and as much as that statistic is impressive, it’s her teammate Johannes that may send shivers down her spine as the lanky Namibian national record holder over many distances was the previous series winner but the way she achieved that feat was extra special. Not only did

Johannes take victory in all 6 events, but ran course record times in each of them, including a time of 30:59 in

Durban which at the time ranked as the quickest ever 10km run on both South African and African soil by a female athlete.

“Tadu has prepared very well for the race this weekend after a small disruption of illness that prevented her coming earlier for another race but as of now, she has recovered and is looking forward to the race,” said her Ethiopian coach and manager, Belay Hagos who has taken the young Ethiopian superstar under his wings since she was a junior athlete.

Joining Nare will be fellow countrywoman Selam Gebre who will make her first appearance racing in South Africa. Irvette Van Zyl fresh off her 2nd place finish at the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon heads the South African charge and will be

looking for a fast time in the opening leg. “I feel like my body has recovered well since Oceans and now the aim with coach is to run some fast shorter races now and then a fast marathon towards the end of the year,” said Van Zyl.

Local hometown favorites Ntombesintu Mfunzi and Kelly Van Fliet will be looking to take advantage of the local

support and chase quick times. The duo earlier this year took part in the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km event with Van Vliet finishing in the top 10.

Nedbank national running club team manager was excited for the return of the Grand Prix series to the calendar after Nedbank running club dominated the event last year. “It’s great to have events like this for our ladies as it gives them the opportunity to run fast and earn some great prize money and bonuses to,” said Bester. “Our girls are in great shape, and not only do we have Tadu coming to defend her series win, but Helalia also returns as a previous series winner so we look forward to see some great racing on the streets of Gqeberha this weekend.”

Nedbank running club shines bright green across South Africa

It was a weekend full of racing and one for the record books with some top performances by the athletes donned in the green stripes of Nedbank running club with their Nike shoes burning up the tarmac!

In Cape Town, the big Absa Run your City Cape Town 10km was held on Sunday with a huge world class field assembled with some of the best East Africans taking on Southern Africa’s best. In a highly contested event, the Nedbank running club duo of Namakoe Nkhasi and Anthony Timoteus ran the race of their lives clocking personal bests of 28:24 and 28:29 for 3rd and 5th place finishes.

“I am so happy to be standing on the podium today and with a new personal best time,” said Nkhasi afterwards. “I ran my own race and came from behind so I’m happy with my sprint finish and now I am aiming for the SA Half Marathon championships.” The man coached by Michael Seme and now based in Pretoria is in the shape of his life and a quick half marathon beckons.

For Timoteus who was the first South African across the line and being a local athlete, his run cemented the dominance that he has been showing which this year includes a 13:36 5000m pb and a national track 5000m championships bronze medal. “This personal best is the result of months and months of hard work,” an elated Timoteus said after the race. “Stay dedicated and have faith in the midst of naysayers.”

In the women’s race, Irvette Van Zyl fresh off her 2nd place showing at the TotalSports Two Oceans Marathon showed she still has the speed, clocking 33:14 for 11th. “I felt like Mrs potato head because I was running only with my head intact towards the end there,” laughed Van Zyl.

In KZN, Jennifer Koech ran away R50 000 richer after taking victory in the Harry Gwala Marathon. The diminutive Kenyan who has based herself in South Africa for several years took victory in 2:58:25.

Comrades Marathon champion Edward Mothibi sent shockwaves to any contenders to the throne, with a fascinating victory in the Fortress Reit Half Marathon finishing in 01:05:39. “Before the race we only came here to do a tempo run so together with my coach Dave Adams, we set out for 67-68 minutes,” said Mothibi. “I ran with the required tempo effort so to do 65:39 was a big confidence booster for us!”

NELSON MANDELA BAY HALF MARATHON IS BACK IN FULL FORCE!

The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon is back in full force and will take place at Pollok Beach in Summerstrand on June 4.

EPA is gearing up for the return of the full race, as due to covid limitations, last year only allowed for a maximum of 250 athletes.

Race Director, Michael Mbambani, is thrilled to be hosting the full NMB Half Marathon.

“With the support of our title sponsors, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, we are expecting around 1500 athletes,” Mbambani said.

“We anticipate more than 20 international and foreign athletes to compete in the race from different countries.

International athletes from the Nedbank Running Club that will compete includes, Namakoe Nkhasi (Nedbank RC Lesotho), Moses Tarakinyui and Ngonidzashe Ncube (Nedbank RC Zimbabwe),Tadu Nare and Selam Gebre (Nedbank RC Ethiopia) and Helalia Johannes (Nedbank RC Namibia), etc

Most of the Nedbank Running Club Athletes from South African will be competing for their respective provinces

“All relevant Covid-19 regulations for athletes entering the Country applicable at the time of the event, will be adhered to.

“This year spectators will be allowed to watch the race and the event will also be broadcast live on SuperSport.”  

The race, which holds World Athletics Elite Label status, will also serve as the ASA Half Marathon National Championships.

Precious Mashele narrowly beat Stephen Mokoka with an impressive finish last year in 1.01.17 with the foreign contingent ensuring fast times in the women’s contest. Brillan Jepkor Kipkoech of Kenya dominated the women’s battle to win in 1.07.32 with Sisay Alemaddis of Ethiopia in second place in 1.08.04. Glenrose Xaba was the best South African athletes, in fifth position overall, earning the gold medal in 1.09.30.

Gqeberha based top athletes are looking forward to the return of the half-marathon, but said they were even happier to see that the racing calendar was jam-packed for 2022.

Mike Mbambani confirmed that most athletes training at the Ikhamva training camp will be entering, Thabang Masiako (who runs for Boxer), Mariano Eesou (who runs for Nedbank) Luyanda Tshangana, Melikhaya Frans, and Desmond Zibi,

Melikhanya Frans, who finished 10th in the men’s race in 2019, said he was feeling fit and healthy and was certainly going to try his best at the Half Marathon. The upcoming Run my City 10km in Cape Town this weekend will

be a time trial test in preparation for the Half Marathon.

“I feel that I have grown up as an athlete”, said a confident Frans.

Gladwin Mzazi, 33, running for Boxer athletics club, Gauteng, will be competing.

“I am excited about the upcoming competition, especially now that it is a qualifier for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championship, which will be held in the Chinese city of Yangzhou in November.

My plan is to make the South African team, so if I can finish in the top five, I will be very happy,” said Mzazi.

Popular Nedbank running club athlete, Kelly van Vliet, is training hard for the half marathon and is confident that her preparations are going well.

“I am excited and nervous thinking about the race, but it is such an experience and honour to run and be surrounded with the best of the best athletes.

“My goal is simply to better myself and my personal best time,” added van Vliet.

Nwabisa Mjoli, of Ikhamva athletics club, who has had a strong running season to-date, is comfortable that her preparations are going according to plan.

“My goal is to finish in the top ten and try to qualify for the World Half Marathon Championships.

“I would like to focus on improving my time but will have see how my body feels on the day,” said Mjoli.

At stake is not only the South African title, but also valuable World Athletics Ranking points and a whopping R80 000 for first prize and a total prize pot of R277 500. No wonder South Africa’s best are lining up to race in Gqeberha.

The race is justifiably credited as the fastest half marathon in the country and with generous prize money one can expect fast times.

The route is fast and flat and runs on the coastal road. Runners will start from 07.30 and complete a circular route.  Starting from Marine Drive, at Pollock Beach, they will head north to Driftsands junction, then south on Marine drive through NMU, down Admiralty road with the second lap turning at Driftsands junction to return to finish at Pollock Beach.

A full rolling closure from 03h00 will ensure a safe run and minimum inconvenience to the public. The race starts at 07:30.

Collection of race numbers as well as late entries, will be available at registration at Southern Sun The Marine Hotel from Thursday, 2 June, from 12h00 to 18h00 and from 10h00 to 22h00 on Friday, 3 June. No collection of race numbers will be allowed on the morning of the event.

Enquiries: Mike Mbambani 079 149 6796.

THIRSTI’s additional three year Comrades Marathon commitment will replenish and revive athlete’s come race day with Mother Nature’s best.

THIRSTI is proud to confirm the three year renewal as the Official Hydration Partner of the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race, the Comrades Marathon.

For the first time in the four year partnership, THIRSTI will, over and above the endless flow of natural spring water, also supply athlete’s the electrolyte-fuelled range of sports drinks, known as ISOFIT+. Superior in composition, the scientifically formulated drink is high in electrolytes and vitamin B and is thus the ideal energy and support source required to fuel prolonged activity.

THIRSTI Managing Director Rob Hoatson elaborates on the partnership,

“Sourced from the Klein Drakensberg, our mountain spring water is exceptional in its composition. Rich in minerals it really does ensure that you fuel your body with the best. Add to that our ISOFIT+ sports drinks, and we firmly believe that come race day, we’ve done our best to ensure the runners remain both hydrated and re-hydrated for their ultimate human race. It is our honour to partner with this race and supply all competitors – all of whom we wish well come 28 August 2022.”

Comrades Marathon Association Race Director, Rowyn James says,

“The Comrades Marathon Association proudly welcomes Thirsti as the official hydration partner to The Ultimate Human Race. Thirsti has made enormous strides in the bottled water market, establishing a national footprint and building a strong, reputable brand. Since 2019, they have injected a new level of excitement and passion into the planning and execution of the Comrades refreshment stations and we know that 2022 will be no different. It is reassuring to know that by partnering with a company that shares our values, our runners will enjoy the benefits of absolute goodness of pure spring water.”

With the brands main activation point coming in at Cowie’s Hill, approximately 71,3km into this year’s 47th Down Run, THIRSTI’s Head of Marketing Michelle Lillico says that the brand is honoured to supply the supreme athlete’s goodness in every drop,

“We’re a brand that admires those with a thirst for life, and are proud to show our respect, support and encouragement to the athlete’s by supplying them with their most valuable race day resource requirements. In addition, we’re planning an exceptional Cowie’s Hill activation point that we hope will uplift and energise the athlete’s to complete the 95th Comrades Marathon.”

Established in 2015, the Kwa-Zulu Natal water brand will supply 240 000 litres of water and 67 000 litres of ISOFIT+ sports drink to runners on the day, distributed across 47 water points. This year’s Comrades Marathon will start at 05h30 at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and end 12 hours later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, covering a 90,2km distance.

ENTER THE 2022 FEDHEALTH PLATINUM TRAIL RUN NOW!

A firm favorite on the North West Trail Running calendar, back bigger and better on 05 June 2022! Whether you're a seasoned Trail Runner or just starting out, the Fedhealth Platinum Trail Run has something for everyone and promises to be a great day out for the whole family! The Fedhealth Magalies Monster MTB Classic takes place on Saturday 04 June, making it the perfect adventure weekend away!

The race village will be a hive of activity throughout the weekend so expect fun and spoils both on the trails and back at the race village!

Entries to this hugely popular event are limited, so best get your entry in soon so you don't miss out! Please read on to find out more!

ENTER NOW

More Information here

Soweto Marathon: Entries to open soon

Sold out year on year, The People’s Race, Soweto Marathon will officially open entries for the 2022 edition come Friday 27 May.

Taking place on Sunday 6 November 2022, the race route will continue to honour Soweto’s rich history as it takes runners through the tour of Soweto, so says Soweto Marathon Trust Chairman, Sello Khunou;

“We’re delighted to announce that all is on track to host the Soweto Marathon post our two year hiatus. The 27th edition will bring with it a tremendous gratefulness for life as we honour those lost to Covid-19 and all the struggles associated with the pandemic.  We also encourage all would be participants who have not vaccinated to do so ahead of the race in November for preservation of all our lives.”  

The race will consist of three different distances – the 42.2km standard marathon, the 21.1km half marathon and a 10km run – all of which start and end at the iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Rhodes Dryland Traverse 2022

The four-day stage race, which showcases the classic trails of the Klein Karoo, has fast become a favourite on the South African running scene. It kicks off with an underground start in the world-famous Cango Caves (this is the only event that has permission to take runners through this area).

The stages ahead include traversing the mighty Swartberg Mountains – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, breathtaking views of the Great and Klein Karoo, and trails that run past the renowned Raubenheimer Dam.

There simply is no equal when it comes to the sense of achievement, setting, and overall spirit of this event – the Rhodes Dryland Traverse is a must for every adventure-seeker!

Visit our website: www.drylandtraverse.co.za

Nedbank Runners' Guide