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Two-hour Target

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The men’s marathon world record has come a long way in the last 100 years, but now the question on everybody’s lips is whether anyone can dip under the two-hour mark. Yes, say a group of leading sports scientists from all around the world, and hopefully soon, too.

In 1908, the first time the standard distance of 42.2km was run at the London Olympics, the world record was set at 2:55:18 by American John Hayes. (The race was actually won by Italian Dorando Pietri in 2:54:46, but he was famously assisted by race officials after collapsing several times on the track, and was later disqualified.) By 1925 Albert Michelsen of the USA had broken through the 2:30 mark, and the first sub-2:20 was posted in 1953 by James Peters of Great Britain, followed 14 years later by the first sub-2:10, by Derek Clayton of Australia. The next 21 years saw just five new marks set, culminating in Ethiopian Belayneh Dinsamo’s 2:06:50 in 1988, and that record then stood for more than 10 years, seeming unbeatable…

However, in 1998 Ronaldo da Costa of Brazil got the record ball rolling again, and the next ‘barrier’ to go saw Kenyan Paul Tergat clock 2:04:55 in 2003, and then his great rival, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, took the record one second below 2:04 in 2008. After that it was all Kenya: Patrick Makau of Kenya clocked 2:03:38 in 2011, followed by Wilson Kipsang’s 2:03:23 in 2013, and then Dennis Kimetto set the current world record of 2:02:57 in September 2014 at the Berlin Marathon. And after every one of these records was set, the whole debate about whether any man can still go faster was argued all over again – and whether the two-hour barrier will ever be broken. Some reckon it is only a matter of time, while others say that the human body is simply not capable of doing it. But then, that’s what they said about the four minute mile back in the 1950s, and today the mile world record stands at 3:43:13!

MARATHON MISSION

Now there is an international group of scientists heading up the Sub2hr project, the first dedicated international research initiative made up of scientists, athletes and industry partners, who are pooling their resources and expertise with the aim of achieving that magical first sub-2:00. Launched in December 2014 and led by Professor Yannis Pitsiladis of the University of Brighton, the group includes former marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie as well as Cape Town’s Professor Andrew Bosch of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. (He also coaches top SA female marathoner Tanith Maxwell.)

“We believe that left to the current situation, the world record will just carry on improving little bit by little bit, and maybe in 20 to 30 years a sub-2:00 may become a possibility. However, our project hopes to fast-forward the process, by making the best science, medicine and technology available to targeted athletes, and help them get there sooner,” explains Andrew. “We’re going to try to adopt a Formula 1 mentality in marathoning: Throw enough money at it until you can go as fast and possible! Even if that is not sub-2:00, we at least hope to see a big jump in the record, and show how science and medicine can contribute to running progress.”

NUTS AND BOLTS

Andrew explains that the plan is to spend the first year putting the infrastructure in place to generate funding and getting the various sub-sections of the project established. “For example, I am involved in the nutrition package, and the other packages include biomechanics, training, psychology and anti-doping. The programmes developed will be tailored to the specific needs of the athletes we identify to be part of the project, and we will look at current world leaders as well as the emerging next generation, so we may see somebody currently running 26 minutes for 10km and identify that athlete as a potential world record marathoner of the future.”

That all said, one athlete who will not form part of the study but who will still be very much involved is Haile Gebrselassie, who is not only a close personal friend of the study leader, but is very much behind the project, says Andrew. “He is keen to see the two-hour barrier approached, if not broken, and he told us his only regret is that this project didn’t happen long ago, so he could have had a go at the barrier!”

For more info on the project, go to www.sub2hrs.com

Kimetto Can
Having run the fastest marathon debut in history when he clocked 2:04:16 in the 2012 Berlin Marathon, Dennis Kimtto then went on to break the world record in Berlin in 2014, lowering the mark to 2:02:57.

MA: Last year in Berlin, were you chasing the record, or was the win your first priority?
DENNIS: I went there to win the race, but when I reached 25km and saw the time on the timing car just in front of me, I said to myself, this can be done. I felt like I could break the record, because in Chicago I tried but didn’t succeed, running 2:03:45. So from there, I started pushing, but I was still surprised when I finished and saw I had not only broken 2:03, but taken 26 seconds off the record!

MA: No doubt everybody keeps asking you about the record and if you can go faster?
DENNIS: Many people ask me, so you’ve broken the record and gone under 2:03, now can you break it again, and even go under two hours. I think that is possible, because they give me enough faith to believe in myself and think I can still do it.

Wilson Wants it Back

He saw his world record tumble just a year after he had set it, but 2:03 marathoner Wilson Kipsang says that just motivates him even more to reclaim it.

MA: How did you feel about losing your world record?
WILSON: I really didn’t feel disappointed, because records are meant to be broken. I took the record from Patrick Mackau and now Dennis has taken it from me. It’s a positive challenge to me, to try to run faster than his time. I think I can run at least a 2:02:30.

MA: Do you think a sub-2:00 is possible?
WILSON: In 10 years I think the record will come down to 2:01, but not sub-2:00. Not yet. I think that could happen in the next generation, but I don’t think the current generation can do it. Now that we have a 2:02:57, the guys will be trying to break 2:03 again, then it will come down to 2:02:30 and 2:02:20, and soon we will have a 2:01. It all starts with the mindset of the athletes, who will go out to beat 2:02:57.

Off-road Rock-Hopper

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Nicolette Griffioen is ready to take on the world’s best next month when she jets off to France to represent South Africa at the IAU World Ultra Trail Champs on 30 May, but first she chats about her gift for tackling the technical.

In October last year, when she won the inaugural Cape Town Ultra Trail 100km, Nicolette effectively booked her place for the World Champs, but that didn’t stop her going on to chase down a second SA Ultra Trail Champs title at the end of January, at the Ultra Trail Mount Moodie in Mpumalanga. In fact, the 22-year-old finished fifth overall in 10:54:21, beating many of the men home! That guaranteed her ticket to France, alongside World Champs veterans Su Don-Wauchope, Chantel Nienaber and Tracy Zunckel. “Su was my main competitor in Mpumalanga and she passed me on a flat section, but at 50km she was walking, so I passed her and then worked hard to keep a distance,” says Nicolette.

Her national team selection also came just after an impressive win at the Totalsports XTERRA off-road triathlon in Buffelspoort a week earlier. Then in February, despite a disastrous swim, she still managed a fourth place at the XTERRA SA Champs in Grabouw in the Cape. Now, however, her focus has shifted back to trail running. “Going to the World Champs is an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so excited! It’s a different ballgame and sometimes I feel I need to slow down on the ultras, because I’m still young, but I can never say no!”

Competitive Streak

It’s strange to think that Nicolette was not very active at school, apart from gracing the hockey fields. “I hated athletics! The real change was when I took a gap year after changing my course to veterinary science so I went to gym a lot, became a spinning instructor and did some running on the treadmill.” Then she entered her first race, a 10km trail run, and picked up third place. After that she was hooked and found her competitiveness driving her on.

“I was a 30km runner in the beginning and then moved up to 40km for my first Otter Trail Marathon at the age of 19. Then I got an entry into last year’s Cape Town Ultra Trail, and I didn’t actually train the bigger distances, so it’s amazing how it turned out. The last 20km were the longest of my life, though!” Now with two ultra trail events under her belt, Nicolette says she has realised she has the mental capacity to stick it out, especially once she gets past halfway: “After 50km, you know that you’re actually heading back towards the finish, so there’s no pulling out then, and I’m far too competitive to quit, anyway.” With six more years of studying at Onderstepoort to become a vet, Nicolette structures her days around morning and afternoon training sessions, with Saturdays reserved for long runs or bike rides, and Sundays her rest day. Living on a small holding near Lanseria provides a convenient base for training, where she often runs with her loyal dog of three years, Dobby, by her side. In fact, her afternoon training runs have become an obligation. “My dog has become obsessed with running. From four o’clock, she starts scratching on the door – there’s now a hole in the door from her enthusiasm – so it’s always a given that she’s out with me. Also, with my boyfriend Nathan also a keen runner and mountain biker, and my mom doing her first event at Buffelspoort, there will always be someone I can train with, and they always support me.”

No Fear

Looking ahead to after the World Champs, Nicolette is hoping to take the win at the Otter in October. “I love getting over rocks, descending, going through rivers, tackling obstacles. I’m more cautious on my bike after some recent falls, but I have no fear when it comes to running the technical courses.” She is also looking to take part in the AfricanX, SkyRun and the Big 5 Challenge in Knysna, and adds that triathlon will also remain a focus. “I like the mix of triathlon, especially off-road, but my main goal is to travel to different continents to race.” So France is just the first stop…

Harcourts Alan Robb Cancelled

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Germiston Callies regret to advise that we have encountered a major problem and are forced
to cancel our Harcourts Alan Robb race on 19 April.

This is due to there being another event on the same day in Germiston and EMPD are unable
to provide metro police for both events.

We have considered various options such as changing the route or the venue but do not
believe that these are viable options at this stage. We believe that changes at this stage are
likely to cause confusion and could result in runners not arriving at the correct venue.

We would like to apologize to all runners, our sponsors and any other affected parties for the
inconvenience caused. We will communicate with all runners who have already entered so
that we can arrange for the refund of their entry fees in a suitable manner.

Comrades Marathon Substitution Process opens tomorrow

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The official 2015 Comrades Marathon Substitution Process opens tomorrow (1 April 2015). This means that runners who were unable to enter the 2015 Comrades Marathon during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2014) now have an opportunity to still be part of the world’s most famous ultra-marathon on Sunday, 31 May 2015 through the Substitution process.

The process runs for the first three weeks of April (1 – 21 April 2015) and allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn, or intends to withdraw from the 2015 edition of The Ultimate Human Race.

Substitutions can only take effect on a like for like basis, meaning SA runners can only substitute for SA entrants, Rest of Africa (ROA) for other ROA runners and International runners for International entrants.

The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the CMA office by 21 April 2015. There will be no extension of this deadline and no postal applications will be accepted.

Athletes still intending to submit Substitution application forms are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the downloadable forms and the comprehensive list of rules and regulations which govern the Substitution process. Prospective substitutes are encouraged to do their application online.

Race Director Rowyn James says, ‘The Substitution Rule has been part of the Comrades Marathon entry rules for the past three years and very well received by our runners. With the special 90th running of the Comrades Marathon this year, we look forward to seeing many more athletes taking to the start line on Sunday, 31 May 2015.’

 

Two Oceans 2015 Is Going To Be A Thriller!

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Detour or not, the 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon is set to be a thriller with 43-year-old road running legend Hendrick Ramaala determined to defy age and a stellar field to take home the gold medal.

Local fans will be hoping that South Africans can win both the men’s and women’s category for the first time since 2000. Their hopes will rest mainly on Ramaala and Charné Bosman.

Ramaala finished second on debut last year and might even have won it if not for a tactical mistake. The South African half marathon record holder and former New York Marathon winner certainly has the pedigree, but not much experience of ultra-distance racing.

“He’d certainly not want to repeat the mistake of 2014 when he allowed Lebenya Nkoka (Lesotho) to run away from him after the climb up Constantia Nek – and then finished in second place much fresher than the winner,” said athletics writer and statistician, Riël Hauman.

This year’s detour, a consequence of the recent fires which made the ground above Chapman’s Peak unstable, means the runners will not go up Chappies, but will have to confront the gruelling Ou Kaapse Weg climb and descent. The distance will remain the same – 56km.

“Only three South Africans have won in the last eleven years, but Ramaala could become the fourth if he judges his race correctly,” predicted Hauman.

Ramaala is even eyeing the R1-million bonus put up by title sponsor Old Mutual for anybody who breaks the course record: “It’s tough to say you’re going for the record, because of the elements. Sometimes it pours and it’s usually windy in Cape Town,” he said. “However, if it’s a good day, I think it’s possible. I’m 43-years-old but I still feel I can do it.”

The late Thompson Magawana set the current record of 3:03:44 in 1988.

Ultra-distance races are, of course, notoriously difficult to predict and Ramaala will face some excellent athletes, including defending champion Nkoka and two other strong athletes from Lesotho, Warinyane Lebopo and Moses Moeketsi Mosuhli.

Other South African gold medal contenders include David Gatebe (2013 winner), Michael Mazibuko (sixth in 2014), Peter Muthubi, Motlokoa Nkhabutlane and Lucky Miya. Cape Town fans will have their eyes on Mthandazo Qhina, who was second in 2013 and ninth last year, and “local” Zimbabwean Bernard Rukadza, who last ran in 2011.

“But let’s not forget Ethiopia”s Teshome Gelana, one of the fastest marathon runners in the field, who finished second in the Tiberias Marathon earlier this year in 2:12:33,” added Hauman. Gelana’s compatriot Ketema Tadesse, who was fifth last year, is also running.

Hauman suggests that Bosman is a “great candidate” to be the first South African woman to win since 2000: “She was second in 2013 and continued to take fifth (as the first South African) in the Comrades Marathon that same year before having had to pull out of the longer ultra last year for health reasons. She is fully recovered and is South Africa’s best ultra-marathon runner at the moment.”

Another South African who is being tipped for big things is Ultra Marathon novice Tanith Maxwell. She has been one of the country’s best marathon runners in the last 10 years and set a personal best of 2:32:33 at the 2010 Berlin Marathon. Earlier this year she won the Cape Peninsula Marathon.

Other top SA ultra runners in the race are Melanie van Rooyen, Julanie Basson and Zola Pieterse, who was eleventh last year.

Defending champion Nina Podnebesnova of Russia will, however, start as the favourite.

She has not shown her hand since her comfortable win last year, apart from finishing second in the Russian Half Marathon Championships in September – in a personal best of 1:13:34.

Also in the field are 2014 runner-up, Ethiopian Shitaye Gemechu Debellu, who won the Dallas Marathon last year, 2003 winner Simona Juhász-Staicu of Hungary, who finished in the top five in all five of her attempts, the United States’s Devon Yanko, whose third position in her 2012 Two Oceans Ultra debut is an indication of her ability, and Britain's Holly Rush, seventh in the Comrades two years ago.

The women will also be hoping to break the record and net the R1-million reward from Old Mutual. South Africa’s Frith van der Merwe set the women's benchmark of 3:30:36 in 1989.

“The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon has established itself as one of the most prestigious ultra marathons in the world, and this year's line-up proves again its status among the global elite,” says Old Mutual Chief Marketing Officer Mokaedi Dilotsotlhe.

“We wish all of them well on their journeys, as they enjoy the rewards reaped from their planning, commitment and dedication. At Old Mutual we understand the commitment and resolve that goes into achieving long term goals like this. And we firmly believe that proper planning always yields great results.”

Dancing Makhanya wins Cape Town 10km Challenge

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A beaming Mapaseka Makhanya danced across the finish line to win the SPAR Women’s 10 km Challenge in of 32.54 minutes at Greenpoint in Cape Town on Sunday.

Her Nedbank teammate, Rutendo Nyahora was second, in 33.03, and Lebogang Phalula, (Transnet) finished third in 33.20. Makhanya and Nyahora both broke the course record of 33.06.
The Kalmer sisters, Rene and Christine, came in fourth and fifth.

It was Makhanya’s first win in Cape Town, and her first Challenge win since Pretoria in 2013, and the victory gives her a head start in the SPAR Grand Prix.

It was a fast, competitive race from the start. Nyahora took the early lead, with Phalula, Makhanya and Rene Kalmer running in a bunch close behind her.

The lead changed hands several times, as the elite runners surged and then fell back.
“Rutendo started in the front, and I decided to run with her,” said Makhanya.
“I knew it was going to be a hard race, but it was a good, flat course. I didn’t consciously decide to go for it, it just happened. I’m very happy to have won again – it has been too long since I won a Challenge race.”
Nyahora said she had decided to go hard from the start.
“However, I lost focus at four kilometres and fell back a bit, but then at six kilometres I decided I had to go hard again.”

Phalula said she found it difficult to run without her twin sister Diana-Lebo, who was doing national duty at the world cross-country championships in China.
“We usually run together and encourage each other. It was strange without her. But well done to the other girls – I’ll see you in Port Elizabeth.”

Makhanya said the run had been good preparation for the Two Oceans 21km in a week’s time.
“And after that I will be running my first international marathon, in Hanover. I was thinking about that marathon before the race, but Rutendo told me to put it out of my mind and concentrate on the 10km today. So I did that, and it’s thanks to her that I won.”
She said it always felt special to win a women’s race.
“When you cross the finish line, you’re the first, and you’re not surrounded by men. It is a great feeling to be running against the other elite athletes and knowing you’re running against the best in the country.”

Rene Kalmer, who has won more Challenge races than any other runner and has won the Grand Prix three times, said she was happy with her run and her time.
“I’m running the Vienna marathon in two weeks time, and this was excellent preparation for that.”
Irvette van Zyl, who has two Grand Prix titles to her credit, finished out of the top 10, but she was full of smiles.

“I was out of the top 10, but I won the Plus One category,” she laughed.
Van Zyl is expecting a baby in September. She said she intended to run as long as possible.
Twenty-three thousand 353 runners took part in the race, which kicked off the Spar Challenge series. The next race is in Port Elizabeth on May 9.
 

Pregnant Irvette to run 21km at Oceans

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On Saturday Irvette van Zyl (Nedbank), the Olympic marathon athlete, will ‘run for two’ when she competes in the Two Oceans half-marathon. She is 16 weeks pregnant.

She makes it clear that she has no big expectations as far as results are concerned.
“I am just glad that I am able to run. During the past few weeks I have learned a lot about how my body works. At the moment I seem to have ‘fat days’ and ‘slim days’ when I am running. On Sunday at the Spar 10km race in Cape Town it was a ‘fat day’. I started off quite well and after five kilometres I thought I would easily run a time of 35 minutes but then, over the last four kilometres, I became ‘unhinged’.

“I would be happy if I could run a time of around 78 minutes on Saturday, but a time closer to 76 minutes would of course be far better because then I would have a chance of a top-ten finish,” the athlete from the High Performance Centre (hpc) said.

Van Zyl admits that her pregnancy caught her husband, LJ, and herself off guard.
“Don’t get me wrong. The thought of becoming parents is exciting and both of us are looking forward to the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. However, it was not really planned. LJ and I were both focussed on trying to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio. I really thought this was going to be my year, especially after running a 74 minute half-marathon in the beginning of the year. Even after finding out that I was pregnant the plan was still for me to try to qualify for the Olympics in Vienna on 11 April. I discussed it with my doctor and she gave me the go-ahead, but unfortunately injuries and sickness forced me to withdraw from the race.

“I guess I will have to do what I did in 2012 when I selected one race in the Olympic year and gave it my all in an effort to qualify. If I do not qualify, it won’t be the end of the world. Then I will go to Rio just to support LJ. He better run fast.”

Van Zyl said she aims to be running for as long as possible.

“Actually I need to run to keep my sanity. I have discussed it with my doctor and she is keen for me to continue running as long as I don’t overdo things. I need to listen to my body and watch out for any warning signs. That is why I do my runs either early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it is not so hot. I should love to compete in all the Spar races but I am not sure whether it would be possible. By August I might be too big to run and I guess I will get slower and slower as well.”
If everything goes according to plan, the Van Zyls’ big day will be early in September.

According to Van Zyl she does not know yet whether she is expecting a boy or a girl.
“All I know is that the baby has very big feet. Maybe it will be a swimmer.”

LJ van Zyl said jokingly that the baby will probably be a good 3000 steeplechase athlete.
“It will probably be a combination of me running the 400-hurdles and Irvette being a distance runner.”

Who is in for this year’s Slow-Mag Marathon?

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The 23rd edition of the highly anticipated annual Slow-Mag Marathon will take place on Sunday the 26th April 2015 at Benoni Northern Sports Club in Albert Bekker Park, Gauteng. This year the Slow-Mag Marathon is an Official CGA Half Marathon Championship event and is yet again a Comrades qualifier. Runners are invited to take part in the Ultra (50km), Full (42.2km), Half (21.1km) Marathon, 10km and Family Fun Run (5km).

The annual Slow-Mag Marathon is more than a Comrades qualifier and official CGA event. This is a fun day for the whole family to enjoy outdoors in the warm Gauteng autumn weather. There is something for runners and walkers as well as their supporters who have come along to enjoy a morning out. Secure parking, music and entertainment, morning coffee, a cash bar, food stalls and a variety of children’s activities will ensure that a good time is had by all.

Starting times are as follows:

06h30 for Ultra, Full and Half Marathon
06h40 for 10km and 5km Family Fun Run
Venue: Benoni Northerns Sports Club, Albert Bekker Park, corner of O’Reilly Merry & Brodigan Street, Northmead, Benoni

GPS co-ordinates:

Latitude: 26°10’23.16”S
Longitude: 28°19’42.33”E
Pre-entries online or instore.
Pre-entry closing date: 17th April 2015.


ONLINE: www.enteronline.co.za


IN-STORE:
– The Sweat Shop, Irene: 012 665 0048
– The Sweat Shop, Dunkeld West Centre, Jan Smuts Ave: 011 325 2567/8
– The Sweat Shop, Fourways: 011 467 5966
– The Bedford Runner, 2 Bedfordview Arcade, Van Buuren Rd: 011 450 1847
– The Randburg Runner, Sanlam Court, cnr 5th and 4th Ave, Linden: 011 888 9644
– Run away Sports, 302 Freesia St, Lynwood Ridge, Pretoria: 012 361 3733
– Sportsmans Warehouse, Boksburg Value Mart: 011 823 3350
– Woodstock Cycles, Benoni, O’Reilly Merry Street: 011 849 1305


No postal or faxed entries.
Late entries will be taken at BNAC on Saturday 25th of April from 10am to 5pm and on the morning of the race from 4.30am.
T-Shirts for all entrants at the finish line.

Race info and Enquiries:

Tel: Race office 076 819 2122/ 079 836 4019
Email: [email protected]
Tel: Madge Attwell 083 573 1011
For more information on Slow-Mag
Dasyan Govender
Brand Manager – Slow-Mag
[email protected]

Franco D’Onofrio
Twiga Communications
[email protected]

Find out more on www.slowmag.co.za

J.P Morgan Corporate Challenge Taking Care of Running Business

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The J.P Morgan Corporate Challenge®, held on Thursday March 26, has become an institution on the annual racing calendar which for the 12th consecutive year saw sold-out entries.

Swapping their corporate wear for running gear 13,000 runners and joggers from 227 companies participated in the world’s premier corporate fitness event, which was held in and around Melrose in Johannesburg.

The main aim of the race is to cultivate friendships, wellness and camaraderie among the corporate community, and proceeds will be donated to the Laureus Sport for Good for Foundation South Africa.  The Foundation uses the power of sport to address social challenges and initiate social change and currently supports 15 sports-based community initiatives nationwide.

Each team had to consist of at least four employees from all types of companies, big and small, however runners could not enter as individuals. The 10 largest companies, which participated in this year’s event, were: Deloitte (404), Dimension Data (298), Investec (500), KPMG (546), Liberty (454), Nedbank (550), Rand Water (425), Standard Bank (685).

The race also attracted South African sporting and entertainment celebrities such as Natalie du Toit (Olympic & Paralympian), Pat Symcox (Former Protea), Armand du Plessis (Mr. South Africa 2014), Damon Kalvari (Cliff Central Producer), DJ Fix (5FM), Hayley Watters – Nee Owen (Actress), Jonathan Boynton-Lee (Top Billing Presenter), Kerry McGregor (Model), Maps Maponyane (Model/Actor), Roxy Louw (Model/Surfer), Tamarin Jardine (Miss Earth SA 2012), Tumisho Masha (Actor) and Zanele Mdodana (SA Netball player), who supported the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Samuel Segoaba, representing Transnet Engineering claimed first place as he crossed the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge® finish line in a time of 17:36.

Representing Transnet Engineering, Annah Moeketsi was the first women to finish the race with a time of 21:49.

Participants were treated to an exclusive post-match performance by South African rock legends, The Parlotones while DJ Vin Deyzel kept the party going.

WINNING RESULTS FOR JOHANNESBURG – J.P. MORGAN CORPORATE CHALLENGE 2015

MEN’S TEAM RESULTS

1.    SAMUEL SEGOABA                TRANSNET ENGINEERING                  17:36

2.    LUCAS JANI                              TRANSNET ENGINEERING                  17:43

3.    ALEXANDER MOTSAMAI       TRANSNET ENGINEERING                  17:59

4.    BHEKINKOSI SIBIYA               SIBANYE GOLD                                        18:02

5.    PAUL TYAOANE                       SIBANYE GOLD                                       18:11

 

WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS

1.    ANNAH MOEKETSI                   TRANSNET ENGINEERING                   21:49

2.    VIOLET RASEBOYA                  TRANSNET ENGINEERING                   22:43

3.    GLORIA BAEBA                          TRANSNET ENGINEERING                   22:49

4.    JESSICA JOHNSON                   INVESTEC                                                 23:11

5.    SEHLULE NDEBELE                  BDO                                                            23:36

 

Two Oceans Ultra to run via Ou Kaapse Weg

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After weeks of intense discussions and close collaboration with the City of Cape Town and key stakeholders, it was confirmed today that the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon route will run along the detour route of Ou Kaapse Weg.

The recent devastating fires that raged along Cape Town’s Southern Peninsula, caused significant damage to Chapman’s Peak’s fragile vegetation. Since the fire, the section of the pass most affected (between Noordhoek to the top lookout point) has been closed regularly due to high winds and threatening rock falls.

“This is not a decision that was made lightly,” says Carol Vosloo, general manager of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC. “We are responsible for every single runner on race day, so all decisions were made with this in mind. We remained hopeful until the very end that Chappies would be available to us, but it became clear that the extent of the damage done to the mountain, coupled with the vulnerability of the mountain pass to weather changes, would hold a significant safety risk for our runners and volunteers.

“It was simply a risk we were not willing to take, and we have always been very clear in our intention to place participants’ safety at the forefront of all planning.”

It isn’t the first time that the Ultra Marathon has run over Ou Kaapse Weg. This detour route was used for four years between 2000 and 2003, when Chapman’s Peak was originally closed while the tunnels and catchment nets were being constructed.

“Ou Kaapse Weg as a detour route is not a new concept to us, and our team can now move forward to make the necessary logistical changes to facilitate this change,” Ms Vosloo adds.

The Ou Kaapse Weg detour route starts in Main Road, Newlands, and takes runners along the scenic South Peninsula route, through Fish Hoek and into Kommetjie. But, instead of heading towards Chapman’s Peak, runners will turn towards and over Ou Kaapse Weg, from where they will run along the leafy Spaanschemat River Road. They will then join the Half Marathon route at the Ladies Mile / Parish Road intersection before heading onto Southern Cross Drive to follow the Half Marathon route along Rhodes Drive and the M3 back to UCT. The distance remains the same.

“Although it is disappointing that the Ultra Marathon will not traverse Chappies, a ‘certain’ race over Ou Kaapse Weg is preferable to one that may be interrupted if routed over Chapman’s Peak Drive,” Ms Vosloo concludes.

Record-breaking R1-million bonus stands
Despite the route change, Old Mutual’s R1-million bonus remains in place, rewarding the winning male and female runners who respectively breaks the 56km Ultra Marathon record. The men’s record of 3:03:44 was set in 1988 by road running legend Thompson Magawana, while Frith van der Merwe set the women’s record a year later in 1989 when she ran 3:30:36.

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra and Half Marathons are scheduled to take place on Easter Saturday, 4 April 2015. Some 27 000 runners are expected to participate in the event that is globally known as the world’s most beautiful marathon. This will be the 16th year that Old Mutual sponsors this prestigious road race.