Category: News

With just a few weeks to go till the 92nd Comrades Marathon, many runners are making their final race-day plans for the 86.73km ultra to ensure they get them home on time to claim their medal. Good news is that the Modern Athlete Comrades Marathon Pacesetters will once again be in action, with more Pacesetters and more buses than ever before. Ladies and Gentleman, Runners all, meet your 2017 Comrades Pacesetters.

In past years Modern Athlete has offered the standard sub-9:00 (Bill Rowan cut-off), sub-11:00 (Bronze cut-off) and sub-12:00 (Vic Clapham cut-off) buses, and in 2016 we added a sub-10:00 bus, which proved just as popular as the more established buses. Now in 2017 we are going even bigger, adding sub-8:30, sub-9:30 and sub-11:30 buses, and we’re still looking into a sub-10:30 bus.

Furthermore, within each target time there will often be more than one Pacesetter, running at a slightly differing pace or following an alternate strategy, and the idea is to give runners a wider choice of bus to follow, with first and second options, in order to help more runners achieve their target times and earn that coveted Comrades medal.

The list of Comrades Pacesetters has been co-ordinated by well-known Gauteng Pacesetter Buks van Heerden in conjunction with the Modern Athlete team, and along with a host of newcomers, this year we welcome back many well-known Comradees Pacesetters of previous years, including Johan van Tonder, Linda Hlophe, Jackie Campher, Jeff Ramokoka and Derrick Rondganger, plus the ultimate Comrades Pacesetting legend, Vlam Pieterse, will once again be joining the sub-12 group, bringing his unique sense of humour to the get-you-home bus.

Our volunteer Pacesetters are all experienced Comrades runners, and some of these guys and girls have been doing this pacing job for many years and have built up a dedicated following. Even better is that this is the first year that the Comrades Pacesetters truly represent the whole country, as we have Pacesetters from Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalangs in the mix, as well both male and female bus drivers.

Keep in mind that these are the only official pacesetting buses at Comrades, and runners can ‘climb on the bus’ of their choice and rely on the ‘bus driver’ to guide them home within their target times.

And so, without further ado, here are your 2017 Modern Athlete Comrades Pacesetters*:

Sub-8:30
Sameul Cornelius

Sub-9:00
Johan van Tonder
Sbusiso Mlangeni

Sub-9:30
Claus Kempen

Sub-10:00
Linda ‘The Coach’ Hlophe
Maropeng George Mojela

Sub-11:00
Jackie Campher
Madoko Ndhlovu
Jeff Ramokoka
Arnold Nkosi

Sub-11:30
Charl Whitaker
Lucas Seleka
Gerald Pavel

Sub-12:00
Buks van Heerden
Carolien van Heerden
Shahieda Thungo
Derrick Rondganger
Vlam Pieterse
Thabile Madube Mathe

* Please note that specific buses or drivers may still change, and Modern Athlete will post updated info as it become available.

Over the next two weeks we will be bringing you more detailed profiles of these Pacesetters as well as interviews with them, so stay tuned to the Modern Athlete platforms.

Modern Athlete would like to thank all of our Comrades Pacesetters for your incredible spirit and camaraderie, and being willing to take on the responsibility of helping fellow runners. We look forward to welcoming all your buses home on Comrades race day.

Got any questions for the Pacesetters?
Want to know more about your chosen Pacesetter? Want to ask them where to meet them, or what their planned strategy will be for race day? Then mail your question to [email protected], or post it on our Facebook page and we will get you an answer quick as we can.

The men’s 100 metres final later today at the South African Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom could just be the dream race everybody has been speculating about, with potentially all of SA’s sub-10-second 100-metre athletes set to do battle in an epic final, which means we could see three or more athletes dipping under 10 seconds for the first time in the same local race.

 

If nothing unforeseen happens, it will be the first time this season that all four of SA’s current sub-10 athletes – Akani Simbine (9.89), Thando Roto (9.95), Henricho Bruintjies (9.97) and Wayde van Niekerk (9.98) – will compete at the same meet in the 100 metres. There are also rumours that Simon Magakwe (9.98), the first South African to dip under 10 seconds, may be racing. He was banned for two years after he allegedly refused a dope test and only started racing again recently. The athletes will contents qualifying heats to make it to the final at 6:40pm this evening.

 

Simbine, who recently clocked his 10^th sub-10 race at the Gauteng North Champs in Pretoria, is seen as the favourite. He has said he is now confident of dipping under 10 seconds every time he races, and has been true to his word so far this season. At the provincial championships he clocked two sub-10 times on the same day, running 9.98 and 9.92.

 

Although a man of few words, Simbine says he is feeling good and expects to run a fast time in Potch. Asked how he felt about racing all of South Africa’s top sprinters, he said: “My training has gone really well, so I am looking forward to race. I cannot speak for the other athletes, I can only speak for myself, but when I say I am ready to run a fast time, I mean it. Hopefully the weather will play along, it won’t be too cold and there will be a slight wind from behind when we race.”

 

Meanwhile, Tuks/HPC head coach Hennie Kriel predicts that Roto has the ability to cause a surprise. In the 100m final at the provincial championships in Pretoria, he led for the first 70 metres before Simbine passed him. “Fast a very fast time,” was Kriel’s answer when asked what can be expected from Roto in tomorrow’s final.

 

Roto himself says he is up for the SA Champs shpwdown. “In Pretoria, at first I was zoned out and just racing. Then suddenly I realised that I was in the lead. It was like it cannot be that I am leading Akani. The mistake I made was to start to doubt in my own abilities,” he says.

 

A third contender, Henricho Bruintjies, is the defending South African 100m champion. However, up to now he has not come close to the form that saw him running 9.97 in 2015 in Switzerland, but his coach, Werner Prinsloo, is not worried. “Henricho is definitely going to run a sub-10 race. I just don’t know when it is going to be. If he comes close to running 10 seconds tomorrow I will be happy. Running his second sub-10 is a psychological barrier Henricho has to overcome – once he has done so, I am confident it will become a regular occurrence.”

 

The 100 metres is not really Olympic 400m Champ Van Niekerk’s speciality, so it will be interesting to see what he does in Potch, but given his 9.98 of last year, it will be wrong to discount him in the final.

 

Unfortunately Gift Leotlela, who set a new South African junior record by running 10.12 earlier this season, won’t compete in the 100m at the national championships, as he has slight back injury and has decided just race the 200m event.

Defending Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra women’s champion Caroline Wöstmann clinched her second consecutive win in the country’s largest inland ultra-marathon in Hartbeespoort on Saturday 18 March. She made her move shortly after the halfway mark, opening a sizeable gap over Comrades Marathon champion Charné Bosman and clocking three hours 29 minutes and 47 seconds (3:29:47) for the win, ahead of Bosman’s 3:34:42 and third-placed Yolande Maclean (3:40:46).

Last year Wöstmann became the first athlete to win the Old Mutual Two Oceans (2016), Old Mutual Om Die Dam (2016), and Comrades (2015) ultra-marathons within a 12-month period. After her win, she said, “It felt a lot easier than last year, so I'm quite surprised. I didn't expect it to be this easy. We formed a bit of a group and I was running with a great bunch of people, including Charné and Mary Khourie. I really enjoyed my run, it was just an easy run and I am just lucky the pace came so easy. I wasn't supposed to run this so fast, so my coach Lindsey Parry is not going to be happy with me.”

The men’s title went to Zimbabwean Colin Parura, claiming his maiden Old Mutual Om Die Dam title in a time of 2:53:54 with former Comrades winner Ludwick Mamabolo finishing second for the second consecutive year, clocking 2:56:51. Rofhiwa Mathidi rounded off the podium with a finishing time of 2:57:55.

The popular ultra-marathon has grown in stature, with both the half marathon and the 50km ultra selling out for the first time ever, plus a slightly revised route was introduced this year with a new finish at Oewer Club at Schoemansville. The runners still received little reprieve over the gruelling 2km climb over the notorious Saartjiesnek around the 36km mark. That’s where the men’s race really caught fire: A lead group of eight men stayed together until the 36km mark, when Parura made his move shortly before Saartjiesnek and continued to stretch his lead.

After breaking the tape, Parura said he was delighted with his victory, although Saartjienek had proved a really tough climb. “That was a steep one, it was a massive challenge, but I took the lead from there, pushing harder and harder.” Mamabolo, who won this race 14 years ago with a new course record, said he believed this performance would hold him in good stead for the Comrades Marathon on June 4.

Old Mutual Head of Brand, Karen Thomas, praised the athletes for their top performances and thanked the organisers for hosting a stunning event. “Congratulations to all the winners and runners who participated in the Old Mutual Om Die Dam Marathon over the weekend. Once again, the organisers put on a magnificent event, one which really kick-starts the ultra-marathon season in South Africa.”

”At Old Mutual we really believe in going the distance, so it's no surprise that we connect so readily with the three most prestigious ultra marathons in the country. Each one of the three major ultras – Old Mutual Om Die Dam Marathon, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and the Comrades Marathon – require determination and planning to conquer, something we at Old Mutual recognise and value. It's why we're only too happy to continue our support of these wonderful races.”

Old Mutual Om die Dam results:

50km Men
1 Colin Parura (Nedbank) 2:53:54
2 Ludwick Mamabolo (Nedbank) 2:56:51
3 Rofhiwa Mathidi (Rocky Road Runners) 2:57:55

50km Women
1 Caroline Wöstmann (KPMG) 3:29:47
2 Charné Bosman (Nedbank) 3:34:42
3 Yolande Maclean (Born2Run) 3:40:46

21km Men
1 Obed Kopong (Nedbank) 1:10:50
2 Henno Havenga (NWU-Puk) 1:14:22
3 Fortune Howard (Anglo American) 1:22:23

21km Women
1 Andronica Mokgotla (Nedbank) 1:26:40
2 Rebecca Tebogo Mokgosinyane (Nedbank) 1:30:09
3 Maria Vilikazi (Run Walk for Life) 1:31:47

With 80 days to go to the 92nd Comrades Marathon on Sunday 4 June, the big day of anticipation for nearly 6000 novice Comrades runners is fast approaching. In putting Runners First, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has once again partnered with major sponsor, Bonitas Medical Fund, to bring the novice-specific seminars to runners across the country.

At the seminars, runners will be able to interact with the official Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry and other experts, including a medical doctor and dietician. Lindsey will share valuable information regarding training, injury prevention and treatment; recovery; reasons for failure and how to prevent them; tapering and race day strategies.

The medical doctor will will share health advice with the runners to ensure that they understand the dangers of taking medication while running, as well as some rules to adhere to for a good run and a great race day. Meanwhile. registered dietician Nicki De Villiers will cover runners’ nutrition, including what to eat and drink while training as well as race-day sustenance.

DATES & VENUES FOR BONITAS COMRADES MARATHON NOVICE SEMINARS 2017

Wednesday 22 March, 7pm
CAPE TOWN
Host Club: K-Way VOB
Venue: Constantia Bowls Club, Main Road, Constantia , Cape Town

Tuesday 28 March, 7pm
JOHANNESBURG
Host Club: Sunninghill Striders
Venue: The Auditorium, Eskom Megawatt Park, No 1 Maxwell Drive Sunninghill, Sandton

Wednesday 29 March, 7pm
JOHANNESBURG
Host Club: Benoni Northerns
Venue: Benoni Northerns Sports Club, 1 Brodigan Street, Rynfield, Benoni

Tuesday 4 April, 7pm
PRETORIA
Host Club: Irene
Venue: The Auditorium, Agricultural Research Council, Irene Campus, Olifantsfontein Road, Irene, Pretoria

Thursday 6 April, 7pm
DURBAN
Host Club: Savages
Venue: 132 Hollander Crescent, Morningside, Durban

These seminars are interactive and highly informative. Entry is free and bookings are not necessary. For more information, please e-mail CMA Marketing Coordinator, Nonkululeko Mdlalose at [email protected]. Zinikele – It takes all of you!

The official 2017 Comrades Marathon Substitution Process opens tomorrow, 14 March. This means that runners who were unable to enter the 2017 Comrades Marathon during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2016) now have an opportunity to still be part of the world’s most famous ultra-marathon on Sunday 4 June, through the Substitution Process.

The process runs for an extra week this year, closing on Friday 14 April. The Substitution Process allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute an entrant who has withdrawn, or intends to withdraw from the 2017 Comrades Marathon.

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.

Prospective substitutes are encouraged to do their applications online. Alternatively, they may send their completed applications via e-mail to [email protected] or hand-deliver them to Comrades House in Pietermaritzburg. Please do not post forms.

The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the CMA office by 14 April 2017. There will be no extension of this deadline and no postal applications will be accepted. The cost of the Substitution application is R150,00.

Athletes 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.

Race Director Rowyn James says, “The Substitution Rule has been part of the Comrades Marathon entry rules for the past five years. It has been very well received by our runners and forms a tangible part of our Runners First initiative. With the 92nd running of the Comrades Marathon this year, we look forward to seeing many more athletes taking to the start line on Sunday 4 June.”

Run for Botswana

Are you tired of running the same races day in and day out? Are you looking for a change of scenery? Perhaps a new event to add to your personal running calendar? Look no further, Modern Athlete is giving you an amazing opportunity to try your luck at the 2017 Diacore Gaborone Marathon.

The Diacore Gaborone Marathon is Botswana’s largest running event! The inaugural event was held in 2010 and now seven years down the line, the Diacore Gaborone Marathon is an IAAF certified qualifier for the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, the Commonwealth Games as well as the Olympic Games Marathon Event.

Being the flattest and fastest course in Southern Africa, the race attracts crowds from well over 30 countries around the world. In 2016 the marathon hosted over 6500 professional and recreational runners. The event offers a 4km, 10km, 21km and 42km allowing people of all ages to try their hand at the whole running scene. The Diacore Gaborone Marathon is a charity sports event and all proceeds go to charity and CSR.

Since 2010 the race has raised over four million rand, and has been afforded the opportunity to donate funds to many deserving non-profit organisations. As testament to the event’s growth and success, the 2017 Diacore Gaborone Marathon welcomes the De Beers Group of Companies as a new Diamond status sponsor.

This unique partnership will focus on commitment to youth development in the areas of commerce, technology and lifestyle to name a few. The marathon affords yet another avenue for the company to achieve its goals of capacitating Botswana’s future leaders in a tangible and effective way.

Registration for the 2017 Diacore Gaborone Marathon is currently underway and will close on Friday, 17 March 2017. The event is set for Sunday, 7 May 2017 and will begin and end at the world class Peermont Grand Palm Hotel and Casino resort. For out of town runners, the Grand Palm has reserved special rates for the marathon weekend which are detailed on the official Diacore Gaborone Marathon website. Shuttle services for guests to and from the airport are also available.

WIN with Modern Athlete

Modern Athlete is once again giving runners an amazing opportunity. Enter the Modern Athlete Diacore Gaborone Marathon competition and stand in line to win an amazing weekend away at the Peermont Grand Palm Hotel and Casino Resort for two people sharing and at the same time bag yourself an entry into the 2017 Diacore Gaborone Marathon valued at R4000.00.

This prize does not included travel to and from Botswana and the winner must be able to travel to Botswana between Friday, 5 May and Sunday, 7 May 2017. This prize is not transferable to another date and must be used the weekend of the marathon.

With 101 days to go to the 2017 Comrades Marathon, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) together with major sponsor, Bonitas Medical Fund is hosting the Bonitas-Comrades Women’s Seminar in Johannesburg on Saturday 25 February at 09h00.

This will be the first of two women-specific seminars in South Africa’s largest city that has been sold out. Gauteng leads the provincial entry tally with 9907 entrants. Comrades Coach, Lindsey Parry and other professionals, including a sports psychologist, medical doctor and dietician will be sharing their knowledge to best equip and empower the ladies at the interactive breakfast session relating to all things Comrades.

The female participants in this year’s Ultimate Human Race as well as those aiming to run the ultra-marathon in the future will be provided with the technical as well as professional support to perform at their best. The sessions are fun, informative and packed with expert advice, tailor-made for the woman ultra-runner.

CMA Marketing Coordinator, Nonkululeko Mdlalose says, “Our aim is for all ladies taking part in this year’s Comrades Marathon to be adequately prepared for the challenge. At these seminars, the ladies are empowered with the technical and professional support that they require to train well and run a good race on Sunday, 4 June 2017.”

A delicious breakfast as well as a delightful head and neck massage is part of the deal. The City of Gold’s second female-focused session takes place in two week’s time, as per the date and venue below. Bookings may be done at www.comrades.com

SAT 25 FEB 2017, JOHANNESBURG SOUTHERN SUN MONTECASINO, VERONA 2 &3
SAT 11 MAR 2017, JOHANNESBURG SOUTHERN SUN OR TAMBO AIRPORT, ILANGA

Returning to the majestic Grabouw Country Club the weekend of 24 – 26 February 2017 the Fedhealth XTERRA South African Championship has attracted the attention of a strong field of elite off-road triathletes, both locally and internationally.

Reigning XTERRA SA Champion, Bradley Weiss obliterated the field in 2016 with his impressive finishing time of 02 hours 30 minutes 42 seconds. Since this victory Weiss has placed first at XTERRA Philippines and second at the XTERRA Asia Pacific Tour. “XTERRA Grabouw is the largest XERRA in the world with one of the most demanding bike courses,” says Weiss. “The field is always deep, providing great competition and a very close and exciting race. I will be there to defend my title. Richard Murray has been one of SA’s best triathletes for the past few years. I believe he will bring the biggest challenge as well as Stuart Marais who won the title in 2015, but sadly missed out in 2016 due to illness.”

Stuart Marais is looking forward to the off-road racing. “I would like to win,” says Marais. “With XTERRA Grabouw attracting the cream of SA triathlon, there are a number of athletes who will be able to challenge for the overall win. The number of international athletes entered is testimony to the quality of the event that is hosted by Stillwater Sports. It's great to have strong competition. Hopefully I will be up to the challenge.”

Brice Daubord (France) is ready for his second attempt at the SA title. “Due to a mechanical problem on the mountain bike courseI did not finish the 2016 XTERRA Grabouw,” says Daubord. “My goal is to enjoy the event before, during and after the race. I am hoping for a top eight finish and expect tough competition from local, Bradley Weiss and my two friends Kris Coddens (Belgium) and Francois Carloni (France).”

According to Jan Pyott (Switzerland), the XTERRA SA Championship in Grabouw is his favourite race. “The course is stunning. It features a bit of everything – it’s flowing, technical and scenic. The people in and around the race make it very special.”

Kris Coddens (Belgium) is looking forward to his XTERRA SA debut. “I am a school teacher by profession. This is the first year that the event fits in with our school holiday. The beauty and grandeur of XTERRA Grabouw is iconic. I am hoping for a podium finish.”

EVENT INFORMATION:Fedhealth XTERRA South African Championship (Grabouw Country Club, Western Cape)

Dates and Events

Friday, 24 February 2017: Fedhealth XTERRA Kids 6-8 years (60m Swim, 2km MTB, 600m Trail Run)
9-11 years (100m Swim, 3km MTB, 1.5km Trail Run) (12-15 years (250m Swim, 5km MTB, 2.5km Trail Run)
Saturday, 25 February 2017: Fedhealth XTERRA Full: 1.5km swim, 28km MTB, 12.5km trail run
Sunday, 26 February 2017: XTERRA Trail Run: 12.5km and 5km
Sunday, 26 February 201:  Fedhealth XTERRA Lite: 400m swim, 12.5km MTB, 5km trail run

The Prize Purse for the Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw has increased to a whopping R154 000. The top five finishers in the XTERRA Full open men’s and women’s races will receive prize money, with the first place winners each taking home R30 000.

Forming part of the XTERRA World Tour, athletes taking part in the Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw stand a chance to qualify for the XTERRA World Championship that will take place in Maui later in the year.

Follow us on Twitter: @XTERRASA / @Fedhealthmed
Like our FaceBook page: XTERRA South Africa / Fedhealth Medical Aid

For further information or to enter the Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw contact 082 991 0045, email [email protected] or visit www.stillwatersports.com
 

Olympic gold medallist and 400m world record holder, Wayde van Niekerk, has proposed to his girlfriend, Chesney Campbell. The athlete shared the happy news on his Instagram account with an image and text that read “She said yes”

Modern Athlete would like to congratulate Wayde and Chesney on a happy engagement and wish them all the best for the future!

Garmin Southern Africa, the global leader in GPS lifestyle technology, are proud to announce their partnership with the 2017 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, as the Official Technical Product Sponsor for the second year running. This partnership further entrenches Garmin’s commitment to this sport and sets out their ambitions in the running market.

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon is known as the biggest running event in South Africa and entrants travel from abroad to experience the race that is also known as the world’s most beautiful marathon. “Garmin are very proud to be part of this event again and as leaders in innovative running technology, we are excited to introduce our line of 2017 Forerunner products and display innovations and new product releases across sports and wellness to all the entrants attending the event,” said Walter Mech, CEO of Garmin Sub Saharan Africa.

At Garmin, we realise that no runner is the same, therefore, our watches cater to a variety of training needs. Our diverse Forerunner range ensures that no matter your level, there is a training partner that is right for you and comprises of three categories, namely, the Teammate, the Mentor and the Expert ranges. Our watches have sleek designs, built in GPS, long battery life and running metrics suited to your level. Depending on your preference, there are watches that include Wrist Based Heart Rate, however, the whole Forerunner range can be paired with our premium Garmin heart rate monitors. 

Advanced features work around your goals and suggest new ones. Some watches even have music controls and connected features to make your training session that much more enjoyable, encouraging you to #BeatYesterday and achieve your personal best. Once you finish your activity you can monitor and share your progress on Garmin Connect™ our online training tool, to help you better yesterday’s goals.

“It is an honour to be recognised as the preferred watch amongst some of the country’s top athletes, such as Caroline Wöstmann, Tanith Maxwell, Irvette Van Zyl, Christine Kalmer, Rene Kalmer and Landie Greyling who all train and race with a Garmin Forerunner of their choice.” continues Walter Mech.

Garmin will yet again be exhibiting and attracting record crowds at the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon Expo, offering all runners technical support for their running devices, in addition to showcasing the latest 2017 Forerunner product range. The Expo is an opportunity for all sports enthusiasts and entrants to visit the Garmin stand and experience the latest technology available in running and be part of the exciting atmosphere leading up to the race.

Photo opportunities with our running ambassadors will also be available! The ever-expanding Garmin sport and wellness segment develops technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Whether users are runners, cyclists, swimmers, multi-sport athletes, or simply looking to stay active throughout the day, there is a product that can help them reach their health and fitness goals.

To learn more about Garmin’s 2017 range of Forerunner Watches, visit: http://www.garmin.co.za/fitness_products_running.php

For more information on the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, visit: http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/