Newsletter
 
Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za
31 October 2018
 
Old Mutual Soweto Marathon

Nedbank Running Club Soweto will be hosting the Nedbank hospitality area at the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon and all Nedbank Running Club members are welcome.

The very popular and exciting Old Mutual Soweto Marathon will be run on Sunday the 4th of November 2018

The Nedbank Running Club athletes will be treated with food and drinks that will be provided by the Nedbank Running Club Soweto. Athletes will also receive refreshing Natures Choice coconut water

Nedbank Running Club have booked 150 seats at BLOCK 111 on the north side of FNB Stadium where you will have a good view of the finish

Happy Running!

Number Collection

All entrants have to collect their race packs before the race at the following venue:

Venue: FNB Stadium, Gate D, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dates and Times:
Thursday, 1st November 10:00 – 19:00
Friday, 2nd November 10:00 – 19:00
Saturday, 3rd November 09:00 – 16:00

All runners to take your ChampionChip and ID/Passport to the race registration to check your race chip and details.

For more Info on the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon please click here
 
National Personalities and Stories

PHENOMENAL PERFORMANCE FROM NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB’S DAVID MANJA AT DUBLIN MARATHON

South Africa and Nedbank Running Club’s (NRC) David Manja shone on the international stage this past weekend when he ran to a superb 2nd place finish at the highly competitive Dublin Marathon.

Manja crossed the line in a superb 2:13:32, only 9 second behind Ethiopian winner Asefa Bekele who broke the tape in 2:13:23. Joe Kiptoo from Kenya followed in third position at the 39th annual running of the marathon, which attracted close to 20 000 runners.

Pio Mpolokeng, former Dublin Marathon winner and currently NRC development coach in Klerksdorp is very proud of his athletes. “My boys ran well. It is a job well done for Manja after a long preparation. He made the Green Dream Team proud,” said Mpolokeng.

Unfortunately teammates Joel Mmone and Philimon Mathiba did not finish the race after Mathiba picked up and injury and Mmone suffered from stomach problems.

Manja has had an excellent year of running. After winning the Soweto Half Marathon last year he continued to impress and took another win at the highly competitive Dis Chem Half Marathon in Bedfordview in January of this year.

The 27-year-old Klerksdorp athlete also recently raced home to his fourth win and sixth successive podium position in Cape Town’s annual Gun Run in Green Point. Manja won in 1:02.58, the third-fastest winning time ever, and just 27 seconds outside Joel Mnone’s 2015 course record.

 
Looking Ahead

2019 Comrades Marathon Entries Closed

We are excited to anounce that so far 750 Nedbank Running Club Members have entered for Comrades 2019

With an unprecedented demand for entries into next year’s Comrades Marathon, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has now closed the entry process barely one week after the #Comrades2019 entry opening.

CMA Race Director, Rowyn James says, “We reached the cap of 25,000 entries and therefore shut down the entry process. The unprecedented demand for Comrades Marathon entries has been amazing.”

James adds, “The Comrades Marathon brand is obviously in an incredibly good space and it is credit to the team who efficiently and effectively go about putting Runners First on a daily basis; as well as all of our sponsors, stakeholders and athletes who are so vested in The Ultimate Human Race.”

Athletes from 80 countries have entered The Ultimate Human Race with the lion’s share of international entries coming from the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, India, USA, Brazil and Australia.

CMA Chairperson Cheryl Winn says, “We regret that there may be some runners who were hoping to secure an entry to next year’s Comrades Marathon but somehow missed out. The CMA thanks all South Africans for their tremendous support and contribution to The Ultimate Human Race.”

Winn adds, “We recommend that all runners keep training and stick to their fitness goals. The possibility of a Comrades Substitution between 1 March and 15 April 2019 is still there so we urge our runners to not lose all hope.

The 2019 Comrades Marathon is the 94th edition of the world’s most famous ultra-marathon and the 48th Comrades Up Run, starting at 5h30 at the Durban City Hall and finishing 12 hours later at the Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg.

 
Sponsors
 

NATURES CHOICE

A blend or refreshing coconut water derived from fresh, young, green coconuts. Naturally isotonic, low in natural sugars and packed with electrolytes which helps to replenish mineral loss, making it an excellent hydrator. Great as a sports and recovery drink.

Choose from a pure natural taste or quench your thirst with a splash of Mango Juice.

NATURES CHOICE very Fresh and tasty Coconut waters

 
 
Race Results

NRC’S DAVID MANJA LEADS PHENOMENAL NRC PERFORMANCES INTERNATIONALLY & LOCALLY

The highlight of the week was by far Nedbank Running Club’s (NRC) David Manja, who did his country and the NRC proud with this second place finish at the recent SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon. Manja finished second in a PB of 2:13:33, only 9 second behind Ethiopian winner Asefa Bekele, who broke the tape in 2:13:23.

Back at home NRC domination continued, where no less than 11 NRC athletes placed on the podium at the Nelson Mandela Bay 1 City Marathon. Great performances came from Mthandazo Qhina, who placed first Veteran, Lindile Tokota, who placed first Master and Daniel Hlongwane, who was awarded first Great Grandmaster. In the women’s race the evergreen Obertina Kanyongo broke the tape as first Master and Margie Saunders first Grandmaster.

Some great running was also seen at the highly anticipated Tembisa 10km & Mile, a great organized event that is always well supported by South Africa’s best speedsters. NRC’s Tshepo Tshite finished second in the mile event in a time of 4 minutes and 3 seconds while Sibusiso Kubheka finished 8th in the 10km event in a time of 31:18.

From Tembisa to Pretoria - Comrades gold medalist Carla Molinaro took the win in the women’s race at the CSI Irene Half Marathon finishing in 85:43 while team mate Lucky Mtshali took second position in the men’s race in 72:00.

For more results click here

NEDBANK RUNNING CLUB ATHLETES PROVE TO BE LEGENDS INDEED

One of the most competitive races run over the weekend - The Legends Ultra marathon over 68 km - went to NRC’s foreign athletes Mike Fokoroni (ZIM) and Jennifer Koech (KEN).

This ultra, boasting huge prize money, is run from Bhisho to East London and attracts many of SA’s top roadrunners. NRC’s Mike Fokoroni broke the tape in the men’s race in a time of 4:08:34 while teammate Jennifer Koech claimed top spot in the women’s race in a time of 4:57:10. On top of this the NRC women claimed 5 spots in the top ten women.

Two more podium positions in the half marathon also belonged to NRC athletes with Mabuthile Lebopo from Lesotho finishing third overall in 1:05:32 and first Veteran. In the women’s race Lesotho’s Mokulubete Makatisi clinched second position in 1:19:39.

More great results followed at the Diepkloof Half Marathon and 10km in Gauteng, with many athletes using this race as a build up to the all important and competitive Soweto Marathon, which will be run in the first week of November. Ntsindiso Mphakathi finished second in the 10km (31:26) with team mate Welma Nkuna delivering a brilliant performance as 1st lady overall (42:02) and 1st Junior. Teammate Andronica Mokgotla took the half marathon honors in 1:29.

In another big race in Gauteng North, the CSIR Half Marathon & 10km – also used by many as a sharpener for the early November marathons, Veteran and Kenyan athlete Moses Njuguna took the Veterans win in 71:23. Veteran teammate Micah Kipyego from Kenya finished second in the 10km event in 34:01.

For more results click here