Newsletter
 
Brought to you by: www.nedbankrunningclub.co.za
17 March 2020
 
Nedbank Running Clubs

Dear Nedbank Running Club member.

The health of our members is a top priority to us, as such, we have been monitoring the status of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as events have unfolded internationally and locally. We’ve decided the best way forward is to support the South African government as well as Athletics South Africa in curbing the spread of the virus.

Athletics South Africa (ASA), under the auspices of which the Nedbank Running Clubs is held, has aligned itself with the National State of Disaster as pronounced by State President Cyril Ramaphosa and have taken a decision to postpone with immediate effect all athletics events in the country at all levels for 30 days due to COVID-19. This comes as the President specified strict measures to combat the virus, which has been described as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

The decision includes the postponement of all school athletics, including the ASA National Primary Schools T&F Championships which was scheduled for Pietermaritzburg this week.  All club and provincial activities are postponed, including Fun Runs, Park Runs, Road-Running, Cross Country, Trail Running and Track & Field events; as well as the all ASA championships.

We are asking all the Nedbank Running Clubs to stop all their weekly time trials for the next 30 days with immediate effect. I am also sure that most of the time trials will also not be attended by the normal number of athletes.
This time is an opportunity for local club administrators to get the club’s administration up to date. This will also help save funds that can be used once everything is back to normal.

My advice to the runners is to train together in small groups.

I recommend that you use this time where there is no races to concentrate on your base by doing more mileage per week than normal(because you don’t have to taper for races) and to do a lot of strengthening exercise to be ready as soon as the racing season is open again.

Good luck!
Thank you for understanding.

Regards
Nick Bester
Nedbank Running Club National Manager

 
Comrades 2020

2020 Comrades Marathon to go ahead as planned until further notice

The Comrades Marathon Association’s (CMA) Board convened an urgent meeting last night (Monday, 16.3.2020) in light of the outbreak of the Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19 and the subsequent postponement or cancellation of sporting events and mass gatherings in the country.

Athletics South Africa (ASA), under the auspices of which the Comrades Marathon is held, has aligned itself with the National State of Disaster as pronounced by State President Cyril Ramaphosa and have taken a decision to postpone with immediate effect all athletics events in the country at all levels for 30 days due to COVID-19.

This comes as the President specified strict measures to combat the virus which has been described as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

The decision includes the postponement of all school athletics including the ASA National Primary Schools T&F Championships which was scheduled for Pietermaritzburg this week; the postponement of all club and provincial activities, including Fun Runs, Park Runs, Road-Running, Cross Country, Trail Running and Track & Field events; as well as the postponement of all ASA championships.

Under the ongoing guidance of the government on the virus, as well as ASA and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), the CMA Board will review the situation by the 17th of April and advise Comrades athletes and stakeholders on the way forward, depending on the status of the virus in the country at the time.

CMA Chairperson, Cheryl Winn says, “With nearly three months to go to #Comrades2020, the CMA Board has decided that it is premature to postpone this year’s Comrades Marathon. We will however continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will make a decision by April 17th depending upon how the situation evolves on whether to postpone #Comrades2020 to a date later in the year.”

Winn adds, “We will make announcements and issue updates on an ongoing basis. As the CMA Board, we have to consider the best interest and well-being of our athletes, supporters, spectators, volunteers and the public. With 282 successful Substitution applications having been processed since opening of the 2020 Substitution period yesterday, we urge all Comrades runners to continue with their training preparations for the 95th edition of the Ultimate Human Race.”

 
Biogen

Strengthen your immune system with these Biogen Products

 
Athletics South Africa

ASA POSTPONES ALL ATHLETICS EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE OF CORONA VIRUS

Athletics South Africa has aligned itself with the National State of Disaster as pronounced by State President Cyril Ramaphosa and have taken a decision to postpone with immediate effect all athletics events in the country at all levels for 30 days because of the outbreak of the Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19.

On Sunday, State President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a National State of Disaster in the country detailing strict measures to combat the virus which was described as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.  

The details of the decision are as follows: 

(1) Postponement of all schools athletics including the ASA National Primary Schools T&F Championships which was scheduled for Pietermaritzburg this week. The event will remain at the same venue on a new date.

(2) Postponement of all club and provincial activities, including Fun Runs, Park Runs, RoadRunning, Cross Country, Trail Running and Track & Field events.

(3) Postponement of all ASA championships including the ASA Twizza National U16 - U20 Track and Field Championships; the 2020 ASA Athletics Grand Prix Series; and the 3Sixty Life & Sizwe Medical ASA Senior T&F + Combined Events.

Under the ongoing guidance of the government on the virus, ASA will then review and give more information after the 15 April on the way forward, depending on the status of the virus in the country at the time. ASA will then make a decision on all postponed events.

ASA will give updates on an ongoing basis. The federation has the best interest and well-being of the athletes, officials, spectators, supporters and our communities who are all our top priority.

Athletes are urged to continue with their preparations for all their postponed events so that they are ready when they are resumed. We urge parents, coaches, principals and sports teachers to

keep their athletes in training and in good condition so that they are ready to contest for national colours at the ASA National Primary Schools T&F Championships which will lead to selection of athletes to the National Invitational Team to compete with their peers from other countries later this year in an international event that will be hosted by ASA.

The same is advised for High School, youth, juniors and elite athletes to continue with their preparations. High School and juniors will be contesting to go to the 2020 WA U20 Championships in Kenya, while the seniors are looking for a place at the 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for Japan.

However, we advise athletes to pursue their preparations in South Africa and seek continuous advice from ASA should they intend to travel to international engagements.

 
More News

Nedbank Runners Guide

Fellow runners, these are extraordinary times indeed. Races are going to be cancelled – that much we know. As a service to the sport we are ramping up our information system to keep you updated.  We will be using the RunnersGuide.co.za website and the RunnersGuide Face Book page as well as the RunnersGuide Twitter as our primary source of update.

If you are aware of any changes, cancellations please don’t hesitate to e-mail me – tom@giodebooks.co.za, Sharon – sharon@guidebooks.co.za or Ann – ann@guidebooks.co.za with the information.

If you have the RunnersGuide app, please turn the notifications function on so we can also reach you that way. This is a service to runners as well as race organisers. If there is anything more we can do to help the sport at this time – please let us know.

Yours in running, be safe, be careful. Tom Cottrell.

 

2020 Two Oceans Marathon cancelled amid COVID-19 pandemic

Following an emergency meeting of board members of The Two Oceans Marathon NPC on Saturday, it was unanimously decided that all Two Oceans Marathon events scheduled for 08 – 11 April 2020 would be cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the global spread of the coronavirus.

“We have been monitoring the status of the novel coronavirus pandemic as events have unfolded internationally and locally and we’ve consulted with public health experts and authorities,” explained Race Director Debra Barnes. “The health and safety of the competitors, staff, sponsors and the global community are paramount and an event of this scale poses far too great a risk to continue. Guided by this priority and global best practice, the TOM NPC has made the difficult decision to cancel the world’s most beautiful ultra marathon for 2020.”

Two Oceans Marathon acknowledges that many runners will be disappointed at the cancellation of TOM 2020, and is committed to ensuring a spectacular race experience for all role-players at next year’s event.

Further information will be made available in due course and we will be in direct communication with the runners who had entered the 2020 Two Oceans Marathon.

 

SPAR Women’s Challenge in PE postponed

The SPAR Women’s Challenge in Port Elizabeth, scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed due to steps announced by the presidency to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

This was the message from SPAR Eastern Cape sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation last night in which stringent measures were introduced to try to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“In the light of the statements from the government and the limitations imposed on sports events the races will be postponed,” said Stapleton.

“The 17th of October has been proposed as a suitable date but we will still need final confirmation once the finer details have been sorted out.

“Further developments will be communicated to the community and all other role-players once they are finalised.”

He added that the entries of those who had already entered would remain valid for the race’s future date.

The Women’s Challenge, which offers distances of 10km and 5km, was due to have taken place in Summerstrand, adjacent to Pollok Beach, on Saturday.

It annually attracts thousands of runners and walkers to the PE beachfront and, as such, falls within the curbs imposed by the government.

In his address, Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster due to the virus and announced a range of measures to control further contamination.

“Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited,” the president said. “In addition large events and celebrations are cancelled.”

The postponement of the Women’s Challenge falls in line with other major sporting events which have been put on hold as the virus spreads its tentacles around the globe.

In PE, the Ironman South Africa race – initially scheduled for March 29 – has been postponed to November, while the Two Oceans ultra-marathon, due to take place in Cape Town over the Easter weekend, has been cancelled.

Stapleton said the confirmation of the new date and any other information would be released on the retailer’s digital platforms and in the media as soon as they became available.

 

2020 Forever Loskop Marathon Series Cancelled

Following the statement on 15 March 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding measures to combat the COVID-19 global pandemic, an emergency meeting was held by the Loskop Marathon Race Committee on 16 March 2020 whereby it was unanimously decided that the Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon Series scheduled for 18 April 2020 would be cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the global spread of the coronavirus.

Kobus Tait, Managing Director of Forever Resorts South Africa and main sponsor of Loskop Marathon Series said: “With more than 6000 runners expected during the 50km Ultra Marathon, 21.1km Wild Challenge & the 4.9km Rhino Fun Run. We take our responsibility for the health and safety of our entrants, staff, service providers & sponsors very seriously. Given our current circumstances, we feel this is the safest decision for all involved following the escalation of COVID-19 coronavirus within South Africa and around the world”

Guided by our local health authorities and global best practice, we will continue to monitor the status of the novel coronavirus pandemic as events unfold. “It is with a heavy heart that we must now come to terms with the cancellation of the Loskop Marathon Series 2020 said Tait.”

We would like to thank all stakeholders and the running community for their understanding and support in these unprecedented times. We wish to remind all to practice the basic hygiene advice stipulated by the World Health Organization to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Further information will be made available on our various platforms, and our team will be in direct communication with the runners who had entered the 2020 Loskop Marathon.

 
National Personalities and Stories

Nedbank Running Club Athlete Marko Mambo still going strong

Marko Mambo still on top after two decades
“There were a lot of young athletes coming up who were better sprinters than me, but lacked my endurance.
“It only made sense that I take up marathon races,” he said.

Despite over two decades of high-level competition, Mambo views 2005 as his best year and most successful season.
“The year 2005 was the year I won my first Two Oceans race and finished in respectable positions in the Dublin Marathon (fifth) and Mumbai Marathon (seventh).

“I also clocked my best time at the Two Oceans Marathon, finishing with a time of three hours, five minutes and 39 seconds,” he said.

Much of his acclaim revolves around the Two Oceans Marathon and it only makes sense that he wants to go out with a bang at the race.

“I have started intensive training and have two races coming soon, after which I hope to be able to gauge my preparedness.

“While the record is the endgame, I hope to win as many titles as possible while I bide my time,” he said.
Mambo has already put his name in the hat for this year’s Comrades race.

The 49-year-old came fifth at the Om Die Dam Ultra Marathon in South Africa on Saturday 14 March.