PIRATES ROAD RUNNING

ROAD RACES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH

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.

2 MARCH 2018

CENTRAL GAUTENG

ALL RACES
[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 4th March [/su_heading]

Hot Legs 32, 15 & 5km

This is a new race on the calendar run under the banner of Born 2 Run. It starts at St Stithians and the 32km is a loop around the far northern suburbs of Joburg. The area that it runs through is hilly and so it promises to be a relatively tough course. Online entries only.

[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 11th March[/su_heading]

Pharmaton Edenvale Marathon

Rand Road Warriors have had a sponsor change so many people would be familiar with this race as the Sarens marathon over the last few years. Traditionally a very quick route through the suburbs of Edenvale, Edenglen and Sebenza. It is a Championchip race which would mean that it sells out very quickly however you are able to pick up late entries at the venue on the race weekend.

[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 18th March[/su_heading]

K-Way Gallopers 15 & 5km Run/Walk

The Gallopers 15km has been described as the ideal route for a PB. There isn’t a huge amount of information currently online besides the fact that entries are on Championchip and the race takes place in Leondale in Germiston.

[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 25th March[/su_heading]

Run Zone Joburg Challenge

Another new race on the calendar. This time it is the Run Zone one that is being held in Berario, just North of Pirates. There are distance options of 21km, 10km and 5km and entries are available on Entrytime. Late entries are also available at the venue. With it being a new race it is a bit difficult to assess the course – it does mention suburbs of Fairland, Weltevreden Park and Montgomery Park but with Montgomery Park being on the other side of Northcliff that would indicate that there could be at least one large hill?

[su_heading size=”16″]Friday 30th March >> Sunday 1st April [/su_heading]

Randburg Harriers Easter 100

Technically not a race but generally an event well supported by the Pirates runners not travelling to Cape Town to do 2 Oceans. The Easter 100 is exactly that, 100km over the Easter weekend with the distance being split up over 3 days. Runners don’t have to run each and every day and are able to pick their distances. Runners are also able to start their run at a time that suits them (within reason as there are dedicated water points along the route).

GAUTENG NORTH

ALL RACES
[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 3rd March [/su_heading]

Medihelp Sunrise Monster and Baby Monster

The name of this race is most apt as the route is a proper monster taking into account some of the toughest hills in Pretoria. Follow the green monster footprints as you run up and over Klapperkop into Waterkloof. Entries are available on the morning of the race which starts at sunrise.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 10th March [/su_heading]

Buco Bobbies 3-in-1

The Buco Bobbies race makes Saturday morning racers wonder what is going on in Pretoria. For the third week in a row they give you a route that takes you over a number of the Pretoria hills. It starts and finishes at Wonderboom Junction which is North of the Pretoria ridge, you will need to travel slightly earlier to take into account the additional distance. Entries are available at the start of the race.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 17th March [/su_heading]

Budget Kolonnade 3-in-1

You have to ask what it is with Pretoria races and starting at shopping centres.. Another weekend and another shopping centre, this time the Kolonnade Shopping Centre. After a number of tough weekends sanity returns to Pretoria with a slightly easier course. As with most Pretoria races entries are available on the morning of the race.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 24th March [/su_heading]

Denel Half Marathon & 10km

This race is run from the Denel Irene Campus and as such it runs through large parts of Irene and Centurion. The race’s biggest drawcard are its medals with the medals being made by Denel and representing their products (read weapons). All finishers receive silver medals. Online entries are on Entrytime and as with most GN races entries are available at the start.

REST OF SOUTH AFRICA

ONLY BIG RACES

March sees the continuation of big races. Plenty of marathons and thus we have focused only on the bigger marathons again.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 3rd March[/su_heading]

Surrender Hill Marathon, Half and 10km

This is a fantastic race with it providing you a great excuse to have a weekend in Clarens. The marathon race is run from Clarens over Surrender Hill (hence the name) before turning around and coming back again. A very tough route but incredible scenery. Entries are obtainable in Clarens on the weekend.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 3rd March[/su_heading]

Saturday 3rd March

We’ve included this race on the list because of the interesting nature of the course. You run through the big 5 Marakele game reserve. Numbers are always very limited so best to plan a year in advance for this one.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 3rd March [/su_heading]

Uniwisp Fast 5-in-1 Race

For fans of Kaapsehoop this is one for you, as it can be viewed of the cousin of that race. The Fast 5-in-1 starts well above Nelspruit on the Sabie/Lydenberg Road and you bomb down over 42km to finish in the Mbombela stadium. Where it differs from Kaapsehoop is that there are no bumps at the end, fewer steep downhills but more consistent profile. Buses are available from the finish to take you to the start and entries are available before the race and on the Friday

[su_heading size=”16″]Sunday 4th March[/su_heading]

CapeGate Vaal Marathon

Maybe affected this year with the earlier timing of Easter (and thus earlier cutoff of qualifiers for Oceans) this still remains a race for those in Gauteng that wish to do a fast flat marathon. Some runners prefer flat races and swear by this one, others prefer a few downhills and avoid this one like the plague. It is run through Vereeniging and the marathon is a double lapper. Online entries have closed but you can get on the race weekend.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 10th March [/su_heading]

PWC Kosmos 3-in-1

This Secunda race is one of the few remaining traditional 3-in-1 races. Like other races with the description they have 3 distances but the difference is that all 3 distances start at different times to allow the runners to run a 42, followed by a 21, followed by a 10km. The races are all around the Lake Umuzi area in Secunda and thus relatively flat. All the events that include the marathon are pre-entry only. For the other distances you will be able to enter on the day (seeing as those distances don’t start at the crack of dawn).

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 17th March [/su_heading]

Old Mutual Om Die Dam Ultra, Half Marathon & 10km

Om Die Dam is one of the big 4 Ultras of South Africa (probably sits in third behind Comrades and Oceans and just ahead of Loskop). 50km’s of toughness. This year sees a change in the route as they have reversed the direction to get a better resemblance to this year’s Comrades down run. It does mean that Sarkies is now fortunately towards the beginning of the race although does place some tough hills towards the end. It may also indicate that they will be switching direction each year if they wish to replicate the sensations of the Comrades routes (which do switch each year). The race is now Championchip and similar to all their other events sold out in record time. 10km entries are available on race weekend.

[su_heading size=”16″]Saturday 31st March [/su_heading]

Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon

South Africa’s second largest marathon and by far and away the biggest half marathon in the country. The race is so big that it warrants its own section in this month’s newsletter so refer to the body of the newsletter for more information.