September 18, 2003
By Lucky Sindane
MORE than 4 500 runners are expected to line up on 2 November for the start of the "People's Race", officially known as the Old Mutual/Soweto marathon.
The Old Mutual/Soweto race is the richest standard marathon in South Africa, with a purse of R 40 000 for the first man and woman to cross the finishing line. A total of R 300 000 in prize money has been set aside for events that include a standard 42km marathon, a 15km race, and a new 20 km walk.
"We would like to encourage runners, walkers and supporters to come along and experience a truly South African event," said sponsorship manager for Old Mutual, Julie Coltham.
Totalsports, Adidas and Powerade will, this year, join Old Mutual in sponsoring the races. "Old Mutual is proud to be associated with this unique event and welcomes the new sponsors on board," said Coltham.
To build up excitement within the local community for the Old Mutual/Soweto marathon, the organisers will also be hosting a series of schools events - the Old Mutual/Soweto Schools' Challenge - prior to the marathon on 2 November.
The schools' challenges, which consist of a 10km race and a 4km fun run, will take place on 21 September at the Elkhah Stadium in Moroka, on 5 October at the Meadowlands Stadium, and on 19 October at the Orlando Stadium in Orlando East. One event has already been held, on 31 August, at Power Park in Soweto.
Entries for each of these schools' events are R10 and can be paid at the venue on the day of the race.
"The aim of these races is to create an awareness of the marathon within the community and encourage young athletes to participate," said Athletics South Africa's events and marketing manager Linda Ferns. Last year the schools' challenges attracted over 10 000 children.
"We would like to see as many runners as possible participating and coming along to experience the great vibe of Soweto," Ferns said. The races provided marshals and clubs with an opportunity to gain practical experience in hosting events. They also gave runners a taste of what to expect at the "People's Race".
Entry forms for the Old Mutual/Soweto marathon can be handed in at the ASA offices at 3, 11th Avenue, Houghton, at the Totalsports shops in the Westgate shopping centre, the Eastgate shopping centre, the Southgate mall and the Menlyn Park shopping centre in Pretoria.
Route description
The entire event has been designed as a "runner friendly" event with no time limit to finish the 42km, but runners must be through half way in three hours. Participants do not have to belong to a club to enter the race. Walkers are welcome to enter the 20km walk, the 15km road race and the 5km fun run.
This challenging route passes many of Soweto's famous landmarks. From the start you climb gradually to the New Canada Station (14 km), Orlando and on to Mncube Drive where, at the 19 km mark, you pass the house of President Nelson Mandela.
The halfway mark is reached in White City. From here the running is easy as you pass the Jabavu Power Station and the Mapetla Bridge at 28 km. The traffic on this stretch can prove troublesome in parts so run in single file and with caution. The Potchefstroom Road should be an easy ride, past the Soweto College of Education, from where the weary runner will have to negotiate Soweto's own Heartbreak Hill (36 km).
Once over this obstacle the run to the finish is relatively flat and forgiving in parts. There is a gentle downhill of just longer than a kilometre to the soft green grass at the National Exhibition Centre's Arena (Nasrec).
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