Category: News

With just days to go until the 2014 Comrades Marathon on 1 June, major co-sponsor Nedbank is gearing up to transform Kloof’s Old Main Road into the rocking #NedbankGreenMile – a fun and electrifying hot spot where family and friends can provide vital support to inspire and uplift exhausted runners as they embark on the home stretch of this gruelling 89km ultra-marathon.

Located 26km from the finish line, the award-winning #NedbankGreenMile, which is free to enter and open to everyone from 8am to 2:30pm on race day, is the only official spectator point along the Comrades Marathon route. After completing around 63 km of the race, bodies will be aching and tired legs will rely on the support of family and friends to carry them towards this year’s 5:30pm cut-off at Kingsmead, Durban. Patrick Baransky, Sponsorship Manager for Nedbank, says “What makes the Comrades Marathon a truly remarkable event is the incredible spectator support it attracts. The iconic #NedbankGreenMile is there to allow family, friends and fans to make unforgettable support happen during the race. In February this year the #NedbankGreenMile was recognised for providing the Best Live Sporting Experience in South Africa at the Discovery Sports Industry Awards, so it is definitely the place to be on 1 June for those wanting to cheer Comrades Marathon runners on!”

This year the #NedbankGreenMile is themed “Rock & Roll” – so dress the kids and come dressed the part. It will be 100% local, family-friendly entertainment including live performances from Durban’s top bands and DJs, local dancers, Sharks Rugby cheerleaders, drum majorettes, a Scottish Bagpipe band, a steel drum band and Marimba band, plus lucky prize giveaways throughout the day. A special zone just for kids will include an action-packed itinerary of face painting, balloon artists, jumping castles, superheroes, plus much more!

Supporters will also be able to keep up with the race action from the purpose-built grandstand, with a large screen TV airing live footage and race commentary throughout the day. There’ll also be a SABC TV crew filming festivities.

“A vital component of the #NedbankGreenMile is making sure we leave a green footprint. This means all refreshments and food sold along the Green Mile will be sourced from the local community, with profits going towards charities in the Durban area. All packaging and waste will be recycled in-line with environmental awareness and suitable sustainability practices,” says Baransky.

The #NedbankGreenMile is open from 8am to 2:30pm on Sunday, 1 June, so come party like rockstars and get your runners home!

How to find the #NedbankGreenMile
Easy access to the #NedbankGreenMile can be gained from the M13 Hillcrest – Pinetown alternative highway travelling east towards Durban at the Pioneer off ramp. Follow the sign boards or follow www.facebook.com/nedbanksport or @nedbanksport on twitter for more information.

The Helderberg Mountain Challenge (HMC), now in its fifth year, is one of the most spectacular but brutal trail runs on the calendar and, with jaw dropping views, unspoilt single track and sublime technical descents, it is not for the faint hearted. The weather played along at this year’s version and, as expected, one record after the other tumbled.

Duncan o’Regan secured his second win in the Mountain Challenge Series and smashed AJ Calitz’s record by eight minutes. He was the first runner in the history of the event to break the 3-hour mark and blitzed the 24km course (including almost 2 000m vertical ascent) in 2:58:26. In the ladies field Katya Soggot followed suit and broke Landie Greyling’s record from 2013 as she came home in a time of 3:35:56, more than 30 minutes in front of her closest rival.

In the HMC Lite 15km veteran, Chad Gordon proved that some things do get better with age as he led from start to finish to win in a time of 1:31:36. Liandi van der Westhuyzen claimed her second win in the Mountain Challenge Series Lite after winning the JMC Lite two weeks ago. She crossed the finish line as first lady and fifth overall in a super time of 1:45:06.

Raydon Balie continued his impressive streak and also broke the HMR 10.75km course with a time of 46:23 while the Leslie sisters once again showed their class as they crossed the finish line basically together to win both the open and junior categories. Caitlin won the open category with a time of 57:26 while Megan won the juniors in a time of 57:27.

A big thank you to the Helderberg Nature Reserve staff and the Friends of Helderberg for their tireless work out on course and at the finish line. Their energy and happy nature goes a long way in ensuring the HMC remains a tough, but awesome race.

For more photos from the event and full results visit the website at www.mountainchallenge.co.za.

Bernard Rukadza, one of the top trail runners on the South African scene and the current ProNutro AfricanX Trail Run Champion, will be leading the charge for victory at the inaugural Richtersveld Wildrun, to be held from 4th – 7th June in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The race will cover 150km over four days, taking competitors through unique, mountainous desert landscapes and climbing almost 3 500m over the total distance.

Bernard’s toughest competition will most likely come from American ultra-trail runner Matt Hart, who is travelling to the Richtersveld to experience this unique South African brand of trail running. Matt’s long list of achievements include finishing the Nolan’s 14 in 58 hours – 100 miles with over 5 800m of climb, first place in the Tahoe Rim Trail Challenge in 2012 and third place in the Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run.

“I am so excited about this opportunity to be taking part in this race and I will give it my best to secure a win for Africa” said an always-smiling Rukadza. Normally racing in the colours of his main sponsor Contego, for the Richtersveld Wildrun, Bernard will be running in the colours of Boundless Southern Africa – an initiative between nine Southern African countries that promotes the regions' Transfrontier Conservation Areas, of which the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is a part.

“We are very excited that Bernard will be flying the Boundless Southern Africa flag at the upcoming Richtersveld Wildrun. Being a regional initiative, it is fitting that a top runner from Southern Africa will be at the start of this Wildrun which is being held in a spectacular part of Southern Africa,” said Roland Vorwerk, Marketing Manager for Boundless Southern Africa.

Competitors at the inaugural Richtersveld Wildrun will get to experience a vast and unique range of terrain found nowhere else in the world. The |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park covers an area both sides of the mighty Orange River between South Africa and Namibia. This geological boiling pot has resulted in a unique mountain desert unlike anything else in the world. Each day of this 150km, four-day journey is a rollercoaster ride of geological and natural splendour. From the heights of Hellkloof pass, to the granite slabs of Tatasberg, the green swathe of the Orange River, the gargoyles of Halfmens Ridge and the crystal fields of the Sendelingsdrif plateau – every kilometre is an experience within itself and is sure to leave competitors stumped for words.

“It has been a dream for a long time to present a Wildrun in the Richtersveld,” says Owen Middleton, founder and managing director of the trail running specialist company Wildrunner. “Being accessible only by 4×4, canoe or on foot, it’s perfect Wildrun country!”

For more information on the Richtersveld Wildrun and for daily updates, results and videos during the race, visit the website at www.wildrun.com.

As a Comrades Marathon runner you should be well into your taper now. The best advice you’ve received is to rest as much as you can in the final days leading up to the 2014 Comrades Marathon. Right? Well, Hazel Moller, Hilton Murray and Carlo Gibson obviously didn’t get that memo!

The trio are leaving on what can only be described as a mind boggling assault on the human body tomorrow morning. They will be setting off from Johannesburg on Friday and plan to run the equivalent of 10 Comrades Marathons in the next ten days. They plan on running 90km a day (in under 12 hours each day) between Friday 23 May and Saturday 31 May to total 810km in the nine days preceding the 2014 Comrades Marathon. Day 10 will see them line up in Pietermaritzburg for the 89th running of the Comrades Marathon.

Hazel caught up with Brad Brown on Run Talk SA this week and you can listen to the interview below. You can find out more about the Ten10 challenge by visiting their website here and you can also donate to the causes they are doing this for by clicking here.

 

It was announced today that William Mokgopo has joined the first official UCI XCO MTB Team in South Africa, The Kargo Pro MTB Team.

It has been a long journey from humble beginnings when William was first discovered by Simon Nash at the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy (DMA), and his persistence and dedication to his dream has finally beared fruit.

Shaun Peschl of Peschlsports, who manages the The Kargo Pro MTB Team, says he has been following the young star’s progress for the last two seasons. “It was clear to me that William is a hard working individual and over the last few months he has really stepped it up; I believe much of his success is a result of the support structure around him and the positivity of his friends and mentors such as André Ross, Chairperson of the Diepsloot MTB Academy, who have been walking this road with him.”

William has represented South Africa on three occasions in the last eight months- at the UCI MTB World Championships, the African Continental MTB Championships, and most recently at the UCI MTB World Cup.

“With more than half the season still ahead of us, we will be working hard to improve his national and international rankings,” says Peschl.

The team’s immediate plans are to take William to the German MTB World Cup at the end of May as preparation for the UCI MTB World Championships in Norway later this year.

William will continue to pursue his B.Sport Science degree at the University of Pretoria and his race schedule will be planned around his studies accordingly.

“I am truly humbled and honoured to finally be recognised as a pro-athlete,” says William with his trademark smile wider than ever. “And that not with any team, but with the only UCI registered XCO MTB team in the country. This adds to my belief that anything and everything is possible with hard work, focus, and people who believe in you like the DMA have done for me. This is proof that dreams do come true, whether you want to be a pro-athlete, a movie star, or a businessman.”

The Kargo Pro MTB Team is also embarking on a partnership with the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy. “Being involved with the DMA is a very exciting project for us,” says Shaun of the synergy with the academy. “We look forward to working alongside the management of the DMA in identifying and developing the young cycling talent in Diepsloot and surrounds. We hope to make the aspirations of having a previously disadvantaged rider from South Africa on the start line of the Commonwealth and Olympic Games a reality.”

”We are excited at this next step for William in his MTB career and grateful to Peschlsports for the belief they’ve shown in him. As the only UCI registered MTB team in South Africa, we could not think of a better platform for William to grow into his full potential. Being surrounded by riders of the caliber of Rourke Crouser and Stuart Marais, as well as being able to learn under the leadership and management of the experienced Shaun Peschl, is the ideal environment for him to continue working towards achieving his goals. This landmark opportunity for William, as well as the partnership between DMA and Kargo Pro MTB team, proves to other riders from less fortunate backgrounds that anything is possible through hard work and focus.”

Furthering the South African theme of the team, William will now be campaigning on the locally designed and developed MOMSEN brand of bicycles.

“Once again we are very excited and happy with how things are progressing with the Kargo Pro MTB Team. This new signing is another major step in the right direction, not only for South African mountain biking, but also for our global ambitions,” says Victor Momsen, owner of MOMSEN bicycles.

“Kargo National is proud to welcome William to the Kargo Team. We are confident that William will do well and show great sportsmanship,” says Leigh Oliveira, National Marketing Manager at Kargo National. “This partnering between the Kargo Pro MTB Team and the Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy is a step in the right direction for development in the sport as a whole and we very excited in following the progress throughout the coming seasons,” Oliveira concludes.

South Africa’s rising triathlon star Wian Sullwald showed this weekend that he is becoming a force to be reckoned with at the senior elite level. Following his recent 15th place finish at the World Triathlon Series Cape Town event in April the 21-year-old picked up his maiden ITU World Cup victory in Chengdu, China on Saturday.

The 2012 ITU Junior world champion finished in a time of 1hr 48min 47sec for the 1500-metre swim, 40-kilometre cycle and 10km run, beating American Kevin McDowell by just one second. The Marble Hall athlete heads to Japan next for the third round of the World Triathlon Series, this time in Yokohama.

Below is a short highlights package of the race in China as well as an interview with Sullwald on Tri Talk SA following his win in China at the weekend.

After a busy three days of mountain biking, riders can all give themselves a good pat on the back for some fantastic riding. This is the second year the Nedbank Save The Rhino Mountain Bike has been hosted, this year at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve, sponsored by Nedbank, to help tag the rhino’s in the Reserve. The 3 day stage race allowed people of all levels to participate and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, while also getting up-close an personal with some challenging terrain. The TriSport and Mabalingwe teams set out the routes, as the race had various options for the riders, to do either a 1, 2 or 3 day.

Riders who were only doing the 1 Day option could choose between a 10km, 30km or the 62km. Those that chose to do the 10km and 30km had a relaxed, less technical route, and came racing to the finish after enjoying the shorter fun ride. They had the opportunity to ride through a heard of buffalo and saw various species of antelope. Winning the 10km, Christo Lombard, our junior hero for the weekend, came racing over the line with a smile on his face in a time of 27:18. Also racing to the finish to win the 30km, was Johan Gouws in a time of 1:10:18. All the riders then spent some time at the race village, swimming, enjoying food and drinks, and waiting to see the longer distance guys cross the line.

Day 1 was the most challenging day for the event, at 62km, taking riders around the Reserve, over a few hills, rocky outcrops, through thick sand, beautiful single track and over the monster of the day, Kubu. The winner of the 1 Day, 62km, was Gregory Hill who was cheered on coming over the line, finishing in a time of 4:02:19. For the 2 and 3 Day riders, Anton Smal came in 1st overall for the stage 1 of Nedbank Save The Rhino Mountain Bike. Some athletes crossed the finish line shaking their heads at the challenging day they had just finished, others still smiling after completing a technical day cycling. Keeping spirits high, they had time to relax and massage tired legs whilst looking forward to day 2.

Day 2 was a shorter, and easier day for riders, taking them around the reserve on a 56km route. The route took riders through a heard of buffalo and some were lucky enough to see some rhino in the reserve, the motivation for this special event. The 56km involved some smaller hills, rocks and some thick sand. The consensus from the athletes was that it was quite a bit easier than day 1. This was seen as they came over the finish line with massive smiles on their faces and ready to take on day 3. Anton Smal was 1st over the finish line winning stage 2. The winner for the 2 Day Nedbank Save The Rhino Mountain Bike was Grant Frerichs in a time of 6:00:57.

Day 3 was the last day of the Nedbank Save The Rhino Mountain Bike, with riders lining up at the start with smiles on their faces, ready to race. The 63km route was also easier than day 1 taking riders over some more hills, namely the Vodacom hill in the reserve, and past the glorious ‘kings of the jungle’, Mabalingwe’s lions. Over the three days, various riders made a concerted effort to try catch the person in front, chasing a podium position. Some feeling like the only way they’d be able to catch up, would be the person in front running out of steam or one suffering a mechanical failure. Pieter Duif had been chasing Smal for the whole 3 days, trying his best to get sighting of Smal’s dust. Duif came in 2nd in an overall time of 8:40:22. Smal took the podium for 1st place with an overall time of 8:27:12. With cheers for the ladies, Esmari Goosen was our first female across the finish line in a time of 10:17:47, smiling from ear to ear. A brilliant and exciting 3 days of mountain biking in the Mabalingwe Nature Reserve!

Without any major hiccups, all riders enjoyed a weekend of spectacular mountain biking. We were all grateful to the weatherman for sending through sunshine and warm weather, so everyone could enjoy the event. The final results and links for the beautiful photos, of the race will be posted on www.facebook.com/trisportsa. Well done to everyone who participated in the event, and also to those who dedicated time and donated money to saving the rhino’s at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve. Tagging of the rhinos will take place in June 2014, just after our Nedbank Save The Rhino Trail Run Event 14 & 15 June 2014.

Entries for the Nedbank Save The Rhino MTB 2015 will open 1 July 2014.

By Shona Kelly and Sonja Terblanche-Otto (MSc Exercise Science) from TriSport and organizers of the Nedbank Save The Rhino 3 Day Mountain Bike at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve from the 26-28th April 2014.

Barefoot runner Diana-Lebo Phalula’s record-breaking victory at the Spar Women’s 10km Challenge at Pollock Beach in Port Elizabeth on Saturday has given her a massive headstart in this year’s Spar Grand Prix.

Maxed Elite’s Phalula, who became the fourth-fastest South African runner when she crossed the finishing line in 32.27 minutes, also won the Cape Town leg in record time. With bonus points for beating the previous year’s time in both races, she now has a massive 60 points on the leaderboard – 26 ahead of her nearest rival, Mapaseka Makhanya.

With Phalula holding a massive lead, the tussle is likely to be for second place, with several athletes closely bunched together. Boxer’s Makhanya, who was last year’s Grand Prix winner, finished fifth in Cape Town and third in Port Elizabeth and has a total of 34 points. She is just two points ahead of three times Grand Prix winner, Rene Kalmer of Modern Athlete. Kalmer finished eighth in Cape Town and second in Port Elizabeth. Two points behind her, with 30 points, is Nolene Conrad (Boxer), who finished third in Cape Town and ninth in Port Elizabeth.

Kalmer’s sister Christine is in fifth position, with 24 points, and Phalula’s sister Lebogang is five points behind her, in sixth place.

The Grand Prix rewards the top runners competing in the five Challenge races, which are held around South Africa. The winner will receive a Nissan Micra, and the runner-up R30 000. There are also prizes on offer to the top runners in the various age categories.

Only South Africans are eligible for Grand Prix points, so foreign runners like Ethiopians Hunduma Gemeda and Chelity Asefe, and Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Nyahora are not eligible for Grand Prix points.
After years of Nedbank dominance on the club leaderboard, the Green Team is playing second fiddle to Boxer, who top the club leaderboard with 118 points. Nedbank is in second place, with 91 points and Maxed Elite are in third, with 61 points.

While Phalula has said she is determined to run all five Challenge races so that she can drive away in a brand new car, her immediate focus will be on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July in the 5000m and 800m events. Makhanya, who won her debut marathon last year, will also be turning her attention to road races in Europe, while Rene Kalmer is heading for the United States for some road races there.

The next Spar Challenge race takes place in Durban on August 24.

Runners throughout the world have the opportunity to be part, celebrate the life and commemorate the legacy of Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, the father of the nation, and the world icon who led South Africa through its most difficult period in history. Less than a year after the passing of Nelson Mandela and in only its third year, the Mandela Day Marathon is making the event more accessible to a greater diversity of participants.

As a mark of Coming – Of – Age and moving into the 21st year of Freedom, a 21km distance has been included in the day that already offers the Flagship 42km Mandela Day Marathon and a 10km race. The half marathon addition is only the first of a number of innovations planned for the 2014 race.

“It is absolutely appropriate that the full marathon has challenged runners with a tough, unyielding uphill course: that is a fitting reflection on the life of Madiba,” said uMgungundlovu District Municipality Mayor Yusuf Bhamjee. “However, Madiba’s objective was to provide a country for people of all diversities. The addition of the half marathon will bring not only younger runners, but also open the way for those who perhaps are not yet ready for the full challenge, as well as those who are now older and less able to complete a marathon.”

“Commemorating Madiba’s legacy is about sharing the experience and atmosphere, and we want everyone to have the freedom of that opportunity,” continued Bhamjee. “We are finalizing a number of other events and opportunities and we are convinced that over 10,000 people will be participating in the Mandela Day Marathon events this year.”

Registration is set for a three day period both in Durban and Pietermaritzburg towards the end of August.

The addition of the half marathon now gives runners the option of three events:

• The “Full Mandela ” 42km,
• The “Half Mandela ” 21km
• And the 10km, while there will be a 4.664km walk and run for invited VIP’s.

The 10km kicks off at 06:30 am and all distances finish at the site where Mandela was captured, located on the Lions River road north of Midmar Dam.

Entries for all three events are available:

• online (www.Mandelamarathon.co.za ),
• by hand delivery to the MANDELA DAY MARATHON Office C10, 242 Langalibalele street Pietermaritzburg,
• by post to: Mandela Day Marathon, PO Box 3235, Pietermaritzburg, 3200.

All entries close on 31 July 2014, and no late entries will be accepted.

Given the challenge of the “Full Mandela” it is only open to registered club runners over the age of 20 years on race day, where as non-licensed runners can enter the 21km and 10km providing they are over 18 and 15 year respectively on race day.

The Full Mandela commences at 07:00 am at the Manaye Hall in Imbali Edendale, where Madiba, then known as the “black pimpernel”, gave his last speech as a free man on 26 March 1961.The 42km runners face the unrelenting and appropriately named 8km Struggle Hill to Sweetwater, before the shorter but steeper Challenge Climb to the highest point in Hilton which signals the drop towards Cedara.

The Half Mandela commences at 06:45 a.m. in the suburbs of Hilton with runners initially benefiting from the drop towards the Midlands Meander, but then facing more than a few undulations prior to running through Howick Stadium, which not only hosts the Anglo-Boer war memorial, but also the start venue for the 10km race.

All runners then enjoy the many scenic views of Midmar Dam, the Dam wall and the rolling foothills with the World famous Drakensburg Mountains as a backdrop, as they run into the Nelson Mandela Capture site.

The event is one of only six South African races registered with AIMS (Association of Marathons and Distances Races) and all distances are IAAF certified.

In the last edition of the Mandela Day Marathon attracted over 5 500 runners nationally and with 13 international countries. This is the first running since the passing of Madiba, and the number is expected to significantly increase.

With a route so full of history and character, runners, walkers and even spectators will find no better way to commemorate and celebrate the life and legacy of the icon.The three uniquely designed Mandela Day Marathon medals will be proudly displayed by all who complete the challenging route. This is one marathon that every runner will want to have completed.

Sonja Laxton completed her 81st Spar Women’s Challenge in Port Elizabeth on Saturday in a time of 57.12 minutes.

It was not her best time, but for fans of the runner who has more than 70 national titles to her name, it was a time to celebrate. On November 17 last year, Sonja was hit by a car during a training run. She suffered multiple fractures, including shoulders, elbows, ribs, ankle and spine, and spent some time in intensive care at the Milpark Hospital. Many thought she would never be able to run again, but Sonja’s indomitable spirit saw her back on the road in less than six months.

“It came as a surprise to me when I heard she was running,” said her husband, Ian, who is the manager of the Spar Grand Prix.

“We’d been on holiday in the Eastern Cape, and Sonja must have hidden her RAC clothes at the bottom of her suitcase, because we arrived in Port Elizabeth and she told me she was going to run.”
Despite a swollen ankle and a still painful shoulder, Sonja was the third grandmaster to finish, well ahead of the 70 minutes Ian had predicted.

Her daughter Kim finished in 16th place, in 36.13 minutes, and immediately made her way back to find her mother and escort her to the finish line.

“I’m so proud of Sonja,” said Ian. “And the time she did is amazing, when you remember how badly she was injured.”