June 21, 2003
By Lucille Davie
THEY bought new takkies, they pulled on their knee guards, they dressed up in fancy dress, they put small flags in their hair, they painted "Viva Tata" on their faces. They turned up on Sunday in all shapes and sizes and ages to run a race in celebration of Nelson Mandela's 85th birthday and the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. But a lot of people were disappointed that they didn't receive a medal and a t-shirt after completing the race.
Over 12 000 people participated in the Blue IQ Joburg City Challenge race, double the number that was expected, and the organisers simply ran out of t-shirts and medals.
But these people need not be disappointed. Race organisers Blue IQ said on Monday that they have set two days aside in August - the 16th and 17th - when they will hand out t-shirts and medals to those who ran the race and were given "handout tickets" but didn't get these items. This will take place from 8.30am to 4pm at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
"Given the massive support from Gauteng citizens in this new race, we would like to say thank you to the more than 12 000 participants, as well as the spectators and service providers who helped make it a truly memorable occasion. The race, which attracted some of the continent's finest half marathon athletes, was a fitting public celebration for Nelson Mandela's 85th birthday," said Jabu Moleketi, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, under whose wing Blue IQ operates.
Blue IQ had been told that they would be lucky if 2 000 people turned up for the race. On this basis, a target of 6 500 was catered for, and provision was made for 7 000 t-shirts and medals. A week before the event, registration stood at 3 000. Pre-entries surged during the week, and by Friday, registered runners stood at 6 000.
But the organisers estimate that on the day another 6 000 unregistered people turned up to run or walk the various distances. Blue IQ made the decision not to close registration on Sunday, and 3 000 additional t-shirts were printed.
But those 6 000 extra people either couldn't register or didn't bother, and just ran the race in the spirit of celebrating Mandela's birthday and the opening of the Bridge.
The registration tables on Sunday were unable to cope with the numbers - a crowd of at least 10 deep, 30 metres long, didn't move forward. Many people just gave up getting registered and ran the race unofficially.
But this did not affect the atmosphere. People had a great time, laughing and chatting and enjoying the festival atmosphere. Drumbeats could be heard from the Bridge, which had colourful bunches of blue and white balloons tied to its light poles. Some people draped ANC and Mandela scarves around themselves, while another wore a Mandela mask.
The entrants could choose to run different distances: 21km, 10km, a 5km fun run, a 400m for pre-schoolers, and a 5km wheelchair race. Hundreds turned up for the 5km, most intending to celebrate Madiba's birthday by strolling along, enjoying the warm, sunny day.
On the 5km race there were barefoot 6-year-olds, girlfriends and boyfriends walking holding hands, babies on shoulders, up to six people walking with arms linked, and a contingent of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment, in kilts, army boots and berets, occasionally singing while their boots hit the tar: "We can run and sing at the same time".
Several out-of-shape women said they were walking the five kilometres "just for fun", and they'd never dream of doing this normally. They agreed that it was "a special day".
And on the Braamfontein side of the bridge, former president Mandela and President Thabo Mbeki, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo waited to cut the ribbon to open the bridge and start the 21km race.
At 9.20am the ribbon was cut and thousands of cross the starting line. Mandela smiled broadly and waved to the runners as they surged past him, up into Braamfontein.
They ran up to the Constitutional Court, back down into town, then up Biccard Street and onto the M1 South. Joburg residents must have thought it strange to see a stream of runners jogging along the freeway, in the blazing heat. It was hot up there, said the runners.
The runners and walkers for the 5km race got off at about 9.40am. Half a dozen youngsters charged down the bridge, and turned a sharp right heading towards Newtown and Carr Street, around past the MuseuMAfrikA, then repeated the circle.
Blue IQ, together with the City of Johannesburg, has spent R38-million over the past two years building the Bridge, and Joburgers have watched its progress, patiently tolerating the inconvenience of the Queen Elizabeth Bridge being closed, or the roadworks in Braamfontein.
Plans are afoot to make this an annual marathon event, with its R850 000 prize money.
Says Moleketi: "Africa does not have a race that offers these prizes. We want to attract elite athletes with this kind of money." At the same time he promised that next year's race would be better organised - he is open to suggestions.
Blue IQ invited South Africa's top 50 half-marathon men and women to participate in the race. Among those who pulled on their takkies and ran are Bruce Fordyce, Elana Meyer and Josiah Thugwane. The first man across the line, Moroccan Jaouad Gharib, and the first woman to win, Galina Alexandroua, each took home R175 000.
The after-race vibe was just as jovial as the spirit during the race. People mingled, smiling and comparing race notes. The Horror Café was packed with runners, replenishing with cold beers and prego rolls and mountains of hot chips. The newly-opened Moyo in the Market Theatre foyer was also doing brisk business, so was Gramadoelas. The Square was jammed, people were listening to live music on the grass beyond the Workers' Library.
And those lucky runners who did get t-shirts, wore them proudly. The shirts declared: "I ran . . . I was part of it". I too ran on Sunday and am glad I was part of it, it was great fun.
