PIRATES ROAD RUNNING
ROAD RACES IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
Information about the races has been obtained from the Runners guide website and is up to date at the time of publication of the newsletter.
5 APRIL 2018
CENTRAL GAUTENG
ALL RACES
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 8th April [/su_heading]
Alan Robb 32 & 15km
The Alan Robb race is the traditional Germiston Callie race, now named after one of their famous runners (as one of the oldest Joburg clubs they have had a few Comrades legends run for them). It is relatively quick although the runnersguide route description says the second half is tough which sees you running through the industrial areas close to Rand Airport. Route goes through some of the older parts of Germiston for those that like Joburg history). Online entries are closed but you can enter on the morning of the race. Note the start time of 6:30 – most races will start at this time with sunrise being later.
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 15th April [/su_heading]
Jackie Gibson Marathon & Alan Ferguson Half Marathon
This race taking place in and around Kibler Park is renowned for having a tough route that goes over the Klipriviersberg ridge. Another one of Joburg’s oldest club Harriers have moved this race around over the last few years. The start is at the Kibler Park Rec centre again which would indicate a clockwise route. The flyer mentions that it is pre-entries only which have closed. It does appear that you can still enter on Webtickets if needed.
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 22nd April [/su_heading]
Birchwood Half Marathon & 10km
The Birchwood Half is probably Joburg’s quickest 21km, run around the Boksburg suburbs close to the Airport. Normal problem for Championchip races though is that it is already sold out.
[su_heading size=”16″]Friday 27th April[/su_heading]
MiWayLife Cradle Humankind 32km, half marathon & 10km
Another race that is pre-entries only and by the time you are reading this, entries would have closed. The route is a very scenic out and back (turn around the bin) for all distances. The routes are quite lumpy as you go from valley to hill. Generally an enjoyable race but the traffic can be a huge problem getting in do car pooling is suggested.
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 29th April [/su_heading]
Robor Scaffolding 50, Marathon, Half, 10 & 5km
The last marathon in Joburg before Comrades. The Benoni Northerns route is pretty flat although the bits through Ebotse golf course always a challenge. The most difficult aspect of this race is the fact that the split for the double lap (and triple lap for the 50km) is right at the finish – causing a lot of temptation to just stop instead of going out for another lap. Pre-entries close on 22nd April but you can enter on the weekend of the race at the club.
GAUTENG NORTH
ALL RACES
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 7th April [/su_heading]
Ford 3-in-1
Information on this race is relatively scarce as it appears to be a newish race. It starts from Ford’s sports fields in Silverton, hence the sponsorship. You are able to enter on the morning of the race.
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 8th April [/su_heading]
Modern Athlete Irene Ultra Marathon
The Irene Ultra is designed to take advantage of an anomaly in the Comrades seeding brackets. 48km races have the same qualifying criteria as a 50km distance so you are therefore getting “2 free kms”. The course is designed without any significant hills to ensure that runners can get their best possible time. Finally as it is partnered by Championchip they provide mat-to-mat times to Comrades for seeding purposes. Race is pre-entry only.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 21st April [/su_heading]
PnP Sosh Morula Half Marathon & 10km
This race is run from Giant Stadium in Soshanguve. Entries are available on the morning of the race. Information is limited on the net so difficult to find a route description.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 28th April [/su_heading]
Tshwane Half Marathon & 10km
The Tshwane half is one of those races not affiliated to any club but rather hosted by the regional body (City 2 City used to be organized by CGA and AGN, now CGA don’t organise any races). It is the second one in the month starting in the industrial area of Silverton which is relatively flat. Entries are available on the morning of the race.
[su_heading size=”16″]Tuesday 1st May [/su_heading]
MiWay Wally Hayward Marathon
The Wally is the last official Comrades qualifier and the last marathon prior to Comrades. Many runners use this as their final tune up race (or desperate qualifier) and as such it has been recorded as South Africa’s third biggest race. The race is pre-entry only which close on the 15th April. Please note the new venue of the Centurion rugby club which should make access a little easier.
REST OF SOUTH AFRICA
ONLY BIG RACES
April sees the final marathons that can be used as Comrades qualifiers. We have only focused on the big races which are predominantly marathon distance or further.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 7th April [/su_heading]
Arthur Cresswell Memorial Ultra Marathon & Half
The Bergville to Ladysmith Ultra is one of the historic race dates on the calendar. The 52km distance gives you slightly more qualifying time than the 50km races (Om Die Dam, Loskop & Benoni) so is a great one to improve seeding. The point to point race starts in Bergville which is higher than Ladysmith so another net downhill race with the second half being predominantly downhill. The ultra is pre-entry only which closed at the start of April.
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 15th April [/su_heading]
Durban City Marathon and Half
The Durban City Marathon is a favourite amongst some of the KZN runners due to it being almost dead flat. For a hilly city they make sure that you don’t get anywhere close to the Berea ridge. Race is pre-entry only although you can enter on race weekend at a premium, just not on the morning of the event.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 21st April [/su_heading]
Forever Resorts Loskop Ultra Marathon
Loskop is these days one of the Big 4 Ultra marathons. Run as a point to point from Middelburg to the Loskop Dam it is quick and a net downhill race. Always a good race to use for seeding or qualifying due to the quick course. The race is pre-entry only and this year Pirates have a bus taking a number of the runners through.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 21st April [/su_heading]
Langebaan Country Estate Weskus Marathon, Half, 10 & Fun Run
The race is held within the West Coast National Park and the beauty of the race is that there are no cars on the route – runners have the whole roads to themselves. The marathon is point to point. Both marathon and half are pre-entries only with entries closing on 16 April 2018.
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 28th April [/su_heading]
Potato Pride Wilge Marathon, Half & 10km
The Potato Pride is one of the last marathons outside of Gauteng for those looking to qualify for Comrades (although same weekend as Benoni and Wally so only for those looking for something different). The route does include quite a bit of offroad but as it is along the banks of the Wilge river it is flat and fast. You can enter on the morning of the race.
