The 28th edition of the ever-popular African Bank Soweto Marathon took to the streets of SA’s most famous township on Sunday 5 November, with over 21,000 runners once again warmly welcomed and supported by the community of Soweto, and there was a welcome local flavour on the top step of the podium. – By Sean Falconer with Soweto Marathon Trust
After a long lay-off from one of my favourite hobbies, travelling the country (and world) to run marathons, I finally made my long-awaited return to action at the Shikhumba Marathon in Limpopo Province, and found a solitary out-and-back route that gave me plenty of time to think about mosquitoes, flies, donkeys, music, beer and more. My kind of marathon! – By Stuart Mann
Go, Shortie!
Thanks to a changing approach to road running around the world, there is a growth taking place at the moment in shorter races, notably street miles and official 5km races. We decided to look at a few of these races, some now well established, some brand new, and how they are bringing an exciting new challenge, and a change in perceptions, to the South African race calendar. – By Sean Falconer
Make your fast, faster than ever with Puma Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Fueled by Nitro™, Fast-R 2 is Puma’s most innovative race-day shoe ever! Limited edition Fast-R 2 Ekiden Rush celebrating 100 years of Japan’s most iconic road running race drops on 8 December 2023! Fast-R 2 Psychedelic Rush to launch globally 22 February 2024!
The high-speed takeover has arrived with the all new Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite – Puma’s most explosive and innovative race-day running shoe yet.
Built to help you break your PB, Fast-R 2 utilises the enhanced benefits of Nitro™ Elite technology, giving you a maximum competitive stack height (40mm) with unbeatable speed and cushioning, propelling your race-day to new territory; from short runs to marathons and every distance between.
A sequel to the ground-breaking Fast-R Nitro™ Elite, the Fast-R 2 allows 22% more energy storage and up to 46% more raw energy return versus its predecessor, resulting in a lighter, more economical ride, that translates to an average saving of 2 minutes 28 seconds for a 3:30:00 marathoner and 1 minute 23 seconds for a 2:30:00 marathoner.
The two-part midsole and exposed signature PWRPLATE remain key features, with the carbon plate elongating through the Nitrofoam™ Elite and out past the toe. This unique concept allows for increased surface contact; a lever that guides pressure forward and propels the foot as it leaves the ground.
A next generation, psychedelic Ultrawave upper – 20% lighter than the material used in the original Fast-R – is lined with a bespoke PWRTAPE, whilst the Pumagrip outsole ensures maximum multi-surface traction, allowing you to step out to conquer the racecourse in full confidence of achieving serious speed. Making your fast, faster than ever.
Romain Girard, Head of Innovation at Puma said: “We received significant feedback from consumers and athletes on the original Fast-R, helping us streamline our focus for Fast-R 2. The result: the most innovative elite race-day running shoe Puma has ever made. We are already witnessing this shoe break records, with a number of our elite runners smashing their PRs, with many more to come!”
The Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Psychedelic Rush will be available from 22 February 2024 from Puma.com, Puma Retail stores, and Totalsports.
Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Ekiden Rush
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the most prestigious event in Japan’s running calendar – Puma will drop a limited edition Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Ekiden Rush.
Paying homage to the historic long-distance race, the Ekiden Rush colourway has unique design features including a 100th anniversary logo on the lateral, and the iconic purple sash – used during the race as a relay baton – on the medial.
1 000 pairs of Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Ekiden Rush will drop on 8 December 2023 at Puma.com, in Puma stores and select global retailers.
Visit Puma.com or follow @PUMARunning to find out more.
Fast-R 2 Nitro™ Elite Specifications
Fresh from winning a wet and wild K-Way MaxiRace Cape Winelands 75km trail ultra, we sat down with Brandon Hulley to talk about his transition from rugby player to elite trail runner, and his unfinished business with 100-milers. – By Sean Falconer
With miles and miles of untouched ‘nothingness,’ the Salt Pans Ultra 100km in Botswana is like nothing I have experienced before. You feel like you are on another planet, like Charlize Theron in that alien movie, Prometheus, and this made it my most epic trail running adventure to date! – By Carla Lea Farina
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As one of the funniest guys of running in South Africa, Rory Petzer is almost always laughing (in between eating)… except in the 2022 Comrades. He reckons he had nothing to smile about that day! Happily, the 2023 race went much, much better, and now he’s ready to take on the running world. As long as it doesn’t keep him away from his dogs too long, and he can be left in peace to think of his next jokes. Let’s just say there’s a lot going on in this comedian’s head! – By Sean Falconer
The new (well, almost new) World Road Running Championships took place this month, and besides heralding an exciting new chapter in global road running, the event proved a hugely successful outing for Team South Africa. – By Riel Hauman & Sean Falconer
It’s been a fantastic year for Thabang Mosiako, with scintillating performances over the 10km and half marathon distances that have thrust him into the top three or four on the all-time South African performance lists. He recently led Team South Africa to a bronze medal at the World Road Running Champs, and there appears to be more to come from this prodigiously talented athlete, but it wasn’t so very long ago that he was in despair and thinking of hanging up his running shoes for good. – BY Manfred Seidler
With her fourth consecutive win in the 2023 SPAR Grand Prix Series in Tshwane, two-time defending series champion Tadu Nare of Ethiopia wrapped up her third series win in a row. Meanwhile, the Tshwane leg of SPAR Women’s Challenge made a welcome return after its COVID-enforced hiatus, and thousands of women took to the roads for either a 10km or 5km outing.