Upcoming Event - Boulders Marathon

Organisers: Onderberg Marathon Club
Date: 27 September 2014
Time: 06:00
Distance: 25; 10;
Start: 25km - Mara Turn-off from N4 (25km from Nelspruit towards Komatipoort)
Finish: Kaapmuiden Primary School

Entry Details:
Pre-entry Closing Date: 22 September 2014
www.enteronline.co.za
Late entries are taken at the start from 05h00 or at the finish in Kaapmuiden from 04h30. 
Walkers are Welcome

Route Description:
This most scenic and unique race is run through the Crocodile Gorge Conservancy on the old Mara Road. The course starts with a steep and challenging seven-kilometre climb as you run up the Crocodile Gorge Mountains and onto the plateau. There is some respite here as the route flattens out before the steep, clattering descent towards Kaapmuiden. The race crosses the De Kaap River in the closing kilometres before the finish. This exceptionally scenic route is tarred all the way.

This is one of the favourite races run in the Lowveld and has always attracted a large field. In addition to the Boulders, the organisers host a 10-kilometre out and back run. There is something for the whole family to enjoy. Both the start and the finish venues are situated before the Nkomazi Toll. Runners coming from Nelspruit do not need to go through the tollgates. If you want to make a weekend of it, contact the Nelspruit Tourist Information at 013-7551988 for details of accommodation in the area.

Enquiries:
Deon Valks 0827880675 / valksd@tsb.co.za
Marthinus Kelder 084-5816503 / kelderm@tsb.co.za

Click here to download an entry form.

Upcoming Event - Selati Half Marathon & 10km

The ever popular Selati Half Marathon is around the corner! A race where your chances of seeing more animals than at the Skukuza Half Marathon or walking away from the prize giving with a wheelbarrow full of sugar are very good! See you somewhere in the sugarcane fields or along the Crocodile River!

Please click HERE to download your entry form.

General info: 

Date: 10 May 2014
Time: 07h00
Organisers: Onderberg Marathon Club
Distance: 21.1; 10; 4.9, 2
Start: Malelane Rugby Club. Next to Malelane Kruger Gate

Enquiries:
Contact 1: Deon Valks
(W) 013-7911056
(H) 013-7900873
(F) 086-6328694
(C) 082-7880675
(Email) valksd@tsb.co.za

Contact 2: Marthinus Kelder
(W) 013-7911000
(C) 084-5816503
(Email)kelerm@tsb.co.za

Entry Details:
Pre-entry Closing Date: 02 May 2014
www.enteronline.co.za
Late entries are accepted at the start from 05h30. Grand Masters enjoy free entry.
Walkers are Welcome

Route Description:
Difficulty Rating: 2. Route Type: Out and back
This moderate and flat race takes place in the picturesque Onderberg region of the Mpumalanga Lowveld. The race is run mainly on the TSB Sugar Limited property, on gravel roads surrounded by cane fields. Here, on the banks of the Crocodile River you overlook the Kruger National Park. The race passes the sugar mill and is run next to the golf course.

Prizes and Give-Aways:
The first 10 finishers and first woman receive gold medals, the next 30 receive silver, and all other finishers receive bronze medals. All pre-entrants get T-shirts. There are many spot prizes such as sugar and fruit hampers to be won. This is one of the premier runner events in the Lowveld with exceptionally high prize monies.

This is a race with a difference and it makes the trip to Malelane worthwhile. The water tables are manned by different divisions within the TSB group and the competition to be voted the best water point is taken very seriously. You can thus be assured of excellent service during your run.

Source: http://www.runnersguide.co.za/ 

Race Report - Selati 2-in-1

In scenes very recently reminicent of Loskop, the lightning and thunder began at just passed midnight Saturday morning. I was still awake and hurriedly added a second skins and proceeded to do what can only be described as an edward scissor hands/project runway late night  styling a rubbish packet to stay dry if necessary. (NB. I have recently taken great emotional strain following an opinion about my Nedbank running shorts and their alleged unfabulosity at Sudwala) . A 5am meeting at spar a few of us departing in an early morning downpour. Things were dark, I was tired and the pending thought of 21kms in sugar cane was not a beacon of appeal.

Upon arrival I was forced to revisit my outlook. There Deon Valks and his Malelane crew had everything  so organised to the point they had even the weather gods hold back the storm to the gorge and Nelspruit  (sorry to all those who chose for whatever reason not to make the trip) but we got a great dry run. Slightly spectacular lightning and some wind but all in all another great Selati. The course had been maintained and with recent harvesting it was more open than usual.  The water points out did themselves and the Selati Hawaiian theme and the Agricultural table at the almost turnaround point was phenomenal.  A reminder of what a privilege it is to run in Africa next to the Kruger.

Race results are as below for the 10km and link for the 21km results follows.

http://www.protime.co.za/race-results/2013-results