Nedbank Soweto City Marathon
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| Date: |
01 November 2009 |
| Time: |
06h00 |
| Organisers: |
Athletics South Africa/Central Gauteng |
| Distance: |
42.2; 10; 5; |
| Province: |
Central Gauteng |
| Start: |
MTN Expo Centre
NASREC
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| Enquiries: |
Contact 1: Central Gauteng Athletics
(W) 011-8732726
(H) 011-8702266
(F) 011-8732786
(Email) cgauteng@intekom.co.za
Contact 2: Athletics South Africa
(W) 011-8805800
(F) 011-7886872
(C) 082-9909470
(Email)asa@athleticssa.co.za
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| Entry Details: |
You can also enter online at www.nedbanksponsorships.co.za, or at leading local sports stores. Postal entries for the marathon event will be accepted up to two weeks before the event. Hand-delivered entries are accepted at the offices of ASA or the Central Gauteng offices up to one week before the race. No entries are taken on the day of the race. Grand Masters enjoy free entry.
All events, except the five-kilometre dash, require pre-entry. Registration takes place at the various venues during the prior week.
Walkers are Welcome |
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| Route Description: |
Route Type: Circular
This historic and colourful marathon starts with a fast, four kilometre run through Freedom Square and Kliptown, followed by a gentle climb past the Soweto Country Club, onto Old Potchefstroom Road and past Power Park Dam towards the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
After dropping into Diepkloof you face the steepest climb of the race, up Marthinus Smuts to cross Rand Show Road. This was part of the infamous "Heartbreak Hill" on the old route, but mercifully the changes have taken out much of the bite from this climb, which ends near the 14-kilometre marker just before the Madibane High School.
The diversity of housing is striking as you circumvent Diepkloof towards the Soweto Highway. Although known as the Beverly Hills of Soweto because of the luxury cars and mansions, there are just as many simple four-roomed "matchbox" houses. Watch out for the elephant houses, so-called for their humped concrete roofs.
Once on the dual carriageway of the Soweto Highway, the route passes through Orlando East, crosses the Klipspruit Valley and climbs steadily up around the top of Meadowlands. As you drop back into Orlando West you are presented with dramatic panoramic views over the whole township. There are the infamous Dube hostels in stark contrast to the multi-coloured cooling towers at Power Park.
At the 29-kilometre mark the course merges with the 20-kilometre walking event where you will be treated to a most unique and historic passage in marathon running - Vilikazi Street in Orlando West. This is the only street in the world that was once home to two Nobel Peace Laureates – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. As you wind and climb the hill, you will also pass Uncle Tom’s Community Hall and the Hector Pieterson Museum and memorial that commemorates the 1976 student uprising. A good time to reflect on our country’s robust recent past.
Coming back through to the top end of Vilikazi Street, a simple brick wall marks the spot where Hector Pieterson was shot. This contrasts strongly with the rapturous welcome you can expect just 300 metres up the hill at Nambitha pub and restaurant, where patrons enjoy breakfast. From this cheery corner you drop down past Winnie Mandela’s house. Along Mtipa Street is the Ubuntu Kraal, where you follow the same route followed by the students in 1976.
From around the 33-kilometre mark you negotiate Zulu Drive and cross Roodepoort Road into Dlamini Street. The Oppenheimer tower dominates the skyline. This historic part of the route climbs, for the last time, past the Morris Isaacson School, where the 1976 student march began. There lies the new June 16th Acre with its characteristic sculptures and a sitting circle. It is here that the 10-kilometre race joins the marathon route for the finish. The climb continues for another kilometre past the Jabulani Police Station and behind the Shopping Mall. The final stretch down Koma Road provides an easy run-in to the Soweto Oval. This is a time to savour.
This is more than just a tour through the warm heart of Soweto, it is a journey through our tumultuous history. To be sure the course is an undulating one, testing at times, but it is a passage full of great reward, made extra special by the people of Soweto. Heta bra, what a race!
With acknowledgements and thanks to Norrie Williamson.
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| Prizes and Give-Aways: |
| Generous cash prizes go to all category winners. T-shirts / Goodie bags go to all those who pre-enter. Medals go to all finishers. |
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| Course Records: |
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Name |
Time |
Year |
| Men |
Elijah Mutandiro |
02:17:19 |
2003 |
| Women |
Gwen van Lingen |
02:45:37 |
2001 |
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| Editor's Notes: |
The Nedbank Soweto City Marathon has been consistently ranked by the Runner’s World race judges as a well organised and well presented event. Since the initiation of their ranking system, it has been voted as one of South Africa’s top ten marathons.
If there is one marathon every South African needs to do, it is this one. Known as the People’s Marathon, it could equally be called the Friendly Marathon based on the ever-present crowd support and encouragement. The streets are lined by the community, cheering, chanting and encouraging runners over what is certainly a challenging course, but one that is filled with the history that forged the new South Africa.
Novices - pack away your perceptions of taxi drivers or township life; the "Welcome to Soweto" is warm, embracing and life-changing. This race must rank as the most charismatic marathon in the world – it’s not fast, the weather is often warm, but it's an absolute must do. Well worth taking your time over to fully enjoy!
Although the marathon has many more than the regulated refreshment tables, this is amply augmented by numerous informal offerings of water, food and a few extras from a highly supportive community.
The event organisers are hoping to use the newly revamped Orlando Soccer Stadium. This venue will be used as a 2010 World Cup training ground. This change of venue would not only enhance the access from outside Soweto and spectator facilities. The format of the race would hardly change as a result as the venue is very close to current route. Watch www.nedbanksponsorships.co.za or www.runnersguide.co.za for more information.
Runners completing 10 Soweto Marathons earn a purple number in perpetuity. The 20-kilometre event is open to walkers only. Excitedly, the walk route also includes all the tourist hot spots from Vilakazi Street onwards. More than 1 400 walkers completed the 2007 edition.
There is also a wheelchair race at the 10-kilometre event. Check with organisers for details. This event forms part of the Nedbank Marathon Series and is televised live on SABC 2.
The 10-kilometre event only has one significant hill at the six-kilometre marker as the route goes past Morris Isaacson School.
Finishers: 8000 Time Limit: 06:30 |
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