Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km Ultramarathon set to return in 2023

After two successful editions, the third edition of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km ultramarathon will be held in Gqeberha, on Sunday, 26 February 2023. The exclusive race will once again welcome top-tier elite runners and renowned industry names, making it one of the greatest running line-ups that South African running has ever seen.

In partnership with title sponsors, Nedbank, the 50km ultramarathon will be hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Eastern Province Athletics (EPA), which is affiliated with Athletics South Africa (ASA), an organisation that is recognised by World Athletics (WA).

The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers ultramarathon has been awarded gold status from International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) as well as Elite label status from WA for 2023. This is not only the second year in a row for the event to achieve such an honour from World Athletics (WA) but it is also the first ever ultramarathon to receive a WA Elite label status.

“By virtue of this prestigious status, the event is now recognized by WA and the IAU as one of the leading ultramarathon events in the world. For a race to achieve this accolade after only two years is testament to the hard work and support from the entire race office team, volunteers and our amazing sponsors,” said Nick Bester, Race Director and Managing Director of Nick B Sport.

To date, the ultramarathon has witnessed two world record times in the men’s race, one world record in the women’s race, four world best age group times, and two continental records. Organisers are hoping to set another world record, as the 10km loop on Marine Drive saw Nedbank Running Club athletes Ketema Bekele Negassa and Irvette van Zyl set new 50km World records in the first year. This year, Negassa’s World Record was broken by South Africa’s Stephen Mokoka.

Besides the opportunity of setting new records, athletes will be rewarded financially for their performances with a generous total prize purse of R1 million and Nike vouchers valued at R120 000. 

Nedbank has been a proud supporter of running for decades and with a 3-year partnership now penned with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the success of this event has set a high benchmark for road running in South Africa. 

“We're so excited to see some of greatest runners compete in this prestigious event and the prospect of a new world record makes it an unmissable event. We're proud to be able to bring this event to South Africa as we remain a committed supporter and sponsor of road running in South Africa,” says Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank.

Current Comrades marathon champion and Nedbank Running Club elite athlete, Tete Dijana, who also finished 2nd in this year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km Ultra Marathon, has confirmed his participation as well as the 2021 Comrades marathon Champion, Edward Mothibe, who finished 3rd in this year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km Ultra Marathon. The winner and runner up in this year’s Soweto Marathon, Ethiopia team-mates Daba Ifa Debele Gadisa and Bekele Gutama will also be on the start line.

South African top marathon athlete, based in Gqeberha, Melikaya Frans, will lead the pack of male contenders to pace their first 30km at the predicted World Record pace for 50km.

Current Comrades runner up, Dominika Stelmach, will be heading up the women`s field with 2022 Swedish Marathon Champion, Hanna Lindholm, who boasts a best marathon time of 2h28 minutes and finished 24th at this year’s World Marathon championships in a time of 2h32.

Nedbank Runified 50km 2021 champion, Amelework Fikadu Bosho, who also finished 2nd in this year’s Soweto Marathon, will defend her title and together with her Ethiopian team-mate, also running for Nedbank, Tinebebe Nebiyu Ali, who finished third at the Soweto Marathon.

South Africa’s top marathon runner and Nedbank athlete, Stella Marais, will once again be leading the ladies as the pacer until the 30km mark, with Nelson Mandela Bay stalwarts Kelly Van Vliet and Two Oceans gold medalist Ntombesintu Mfunzi, keeping the Gqeberha flag flying high.

Follow the #NedbankRunified conversation on Nedbank’s social media platforms for more information on Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SABC. 

The ultramarathon will be limited to a field of 300 entries only. Elite runners and competitive age group athletes who wish to compete in the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km ultramarathon, need to submit their CV to nbsport@lantic.net and nickb@lantic.net  before 16 January 2023.  Qualifying athletes will receive an invite and voucher to enter online at easyreg.co.za website.

The Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km race is an official Comrades qualifying race.

Race Office Queries: 012-5410577.

The results are in: Running proven to significantly improve mood

South Africans challenged to get running during Mental Health Awareness Month

A total of 99% of people feel good or great after going for a run. This was the key finding from a series of running support groups set up by Nedbank in partnership with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) leading up to and throughout Mental Health Awareness Month. The runs took place every day in August and September and were led by Nedbank Runified, Africa’s biggest virtual mass participation race. They aimed to show the nation that exercise, particularly running, can be a starting point to address what has become our nation’s next great health crisis: mental health.

Nedbank Runified for mental health saw athletes, mental health advocates and running enthusiasts lead group runs across the country that were open to anyone who wished to take part. All those who participated were challenged to be cognisant of their mood before and after their run and to report back on how they felt.  

‘The results were staggering, but also not totally unexpected’, commented Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank. ‘It has been scientifically proven that exercise, particularly running, improves mental health and reduces depression, stress, and anxiety – this is widely known. But we wanted to illustrate this to South Africans in the most practical way – by facilitating support groups for anyone who felt they needed them. These groups were designed to allow participants to experience the mental effect of even light exercise first-hand.’

Of those who participated, 59% described their mood as ‘flat’ before their run, with only 7% saying they were feeling great. Post-run, just 1% felt their mood hadn’t improved, with 17% describing their mood as ‘good’ and 82% as ‘great’.  

‘With South Africa’s mental health stats being one of the worst in the world (one in three South Africans battle with their mental health), our hope is that Nedbank Runified not only gave those who participated an outlet to boost their mood, but that it will broadly raise awareness and drive education on mental health. Ultimately, we hope it can create a shift in how we think about and approach mental health. We’d like to thank Nedbank for providing its Runified platform as the vehicle to help us do this and look forward to building on the achievements of the past months,’ added Badenhorst.

‘Nedbank has been involved in running for decades, and we are proud to use the Nedbank Running Club as a partner to create a lasting impact in the communities we serve. Through Runified, we were not only able to raise awareness while driving education on this issue, but through clear insights, we have also demonstrated that running, particularly in groups, can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety,’ concludes Badenhorst.

Nedbank Runified for mental health is not yet over – those who want to join the movement can participate in November from anywhere in the world by joining the Nedbank Running Club on Strava or by searching #NedbankRunified on social media for more details.  

If you or your loved ones are battling mental health challenges, there is hope. Visit sadag.org or call 0800 567 567 in the event of an emergency.

Nedbank running clubs Dijana honoured at Comrades launch

The Comrades Marathon Association hosted invited guests and media to the launch of the 2023 Comrades Marathon at the historic Comrades House in Pietermaritzburg and not only was next year’s race details announced, but a special present was awarded to Nedbank running clubs Tete Dijana.

Dijana was called up onto the stage where he was presented with his Comrades Marathon winners blazer, thereby putting him in a very exclusive club. “There is a life before and after Comrades,” said Dijana. “Since winning Comrades life has been very busy. Even now I’m so busy that if you want to meet me you must make an appointment,” laughed Dijana who had the audience in laughter.

As much as life has been very busy, there are still big goals to be achieved and from next month it is back to camp for Dijana and his Nedbank running club teammates which include 2019 winner & 2022 2nd placed finisher Edward Mothibi who joined Dijana at the event. “From next month the hard work starts again,” said Mothibi.

Whilst others may use December as a month of rest and enjoy the festivities, Mothibi said they have big goals and having a party won’t achieve any of them. “1 December our new camp starts, and we will prepare for the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km and then we have a short rest, and it is Comrades training all over again,” Mothibi said with a face full of concentration.

Coached by Dave Adams, the duo will be joined by their Nedbank running club teammates who all achieved gold at this years Comrades Marathon. From 6 athletes, all 6 achieved a top 10 finish including Galaletsang Mekgoe who finished 5th on her debut Comrades. “She is definitely one to watch in the future and I believe that she can one day call herself a Comrades champion,” said Mothibi.

Dijana and Mothibi were 2nd and 3rd in this year’s Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50km and will be looking to close the gap to cross the line first. Which one of the two it will be, only time will tell. “Of course, in running it is an individual sport but we are like a family in our camp and we aim for all of us to do our best, and a victory from one of us in the camp is a victory for all,” said Dijana.

The 2023 Comrades Marathon will take place on 11 June and will once again be a down run starting in Pietermaritzburg and ending in Durban.

More than half of #Comrades2023 entry cap claimed

More than half of the 20,000-entry cap for the 2023 Comrades Marathon has been claimed within the first week of the entry process.

Entries for the 96^th Comrades Marathon to be held on 11 June 2023, opened with a bang last Tuesday, with athletes, both in South Africa and around the world, eager to get their entry in and secure their place on the start line of the world’s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon.

Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) Race Director, Rowyn James said, “We are pleased with the entry count which now stands at nearly 11,000. We have also introduced a new facet to the online entry system this year whereby an athlete can pay the entry fee off in two instalments if they so wish – 50% of the entry value on entering with the remaining 50% due by 28^th February 2023.”

The entry period closes at 16h30 on 9 December 2022 or once the entry cap of 20,000 has been reached, whichever comes first.

Entry fees remain the same as that of the 2022 Comrades and are as follows:

2020 International and ROA entrants who did not participate in the 2022 event will not be required to pay an entry fee. This will be the last year in which deferred entries can be utilized.

Deferred foreign entries may NOT be substituted out for the 2023 Comrades Marathon.

Entry fee is waived for holders of 25 or more Comrades medals. 

• Online entries can be done via the Comrades Marathon website: www.comrades.com;

The 96^th Comrades Marathon will be a Down Run on Sunday, 11 June 2023, starting at the inland City of Pietermaritzburg at 05h30 and ending 12 hours later in the coastal City of Durban. Due to the ongoing roadworks, the distance will be approximately 90km. This will be the 48^th Comrades Down Run.