This is a route that is true to its name - tough, undulating and hilly. You start up Jan Smuts Avenue towards Randburg. This means two big climbs in the first 1.5 kilometres. Now for the first respite: a one kilometre drop down Republic Road to Brightwater Commons before a testing 800 metre section to Malibongwe Drive where you turn right. Use the next two kilometres of steady downhill along Malibongwe to catch your breath. As you cross the highway enjoy the last 500 metres of downhill before the two kilometre slog to Northgate. There is a flat section to the 11 kilometre mark at Ferreira’s Corner before turning right into Witkoppen Road with its brutal downhill to the bottom of Johannesburg North.
The race may well start after the 18 kilometre mark where there is a steady three kilometre climb through Douglasdale near the Bryanston Country Club. Forget the six monsters you have already climbed. They were just to soften you up for the journey to St Stithians School. There is slight relief as you run down Republic Road and into William Nicol before the last slog along St Andrews Road after the 28-kilometre marker. After this there is a relatively flat section as you make your way along Waterfall Avenue into Athol Avenue and the sharp right into Jan Smuts Avenue. Turn right into Old Parks and all that is left is the last 400 metres around the top cricket field, down the straight dip, arms in the air!
FACILITES
RAC arranges a product fair to coincide with the Saturday and Sunday of the race. The intention is to create a flea market atmosphere for those wishing to sell their wares to runners. It is at this race that the first copies of the new edition of the Runners' Guide are sold - so get your copy early. You can buy light meals on race day. This race is popular and parking may be a problem so arrive early.
PRIZES AND GIVE-AWAYS
Gold medals go to all men finishing within 02:00, as well as women and Veterans finishing within 02:15. The new ICON medal, the Fordyce Laxton Mamabolo medal, goes to Senior Men finishing between 02:15 and 03:00, and to ladies and Veterans with a finishing time between 02:30 and 03:00. Bronze medals go to all other finishers from 03:00 onwards. Depending on the sponsor the organisers usually hand out a useful running gift to the first 2,000 pre-entries.