Hendrick Ramaala from Nedbank Running Club shines as runner up while  
Lebenya Nkoka wins the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon.

 Hendrick Ramaala from Nedbank Running Club shines as runner up while   Lebenya Nkoka wins the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. 

Lesotho runner, Lebenya Nkoka from team Maxed Elite, won the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon today in a time of 03:09:52.but it was Hendrick Ramaala from the Nedbank Running Club in AGN who finished second overall in his debut Ultra marathon that stole the lime light as crowd favourite.

Nkoka, who came 9th in 2013, attributed focused altitude training, speed work and strong coaching support to his victory.  “We work hard as a group and train together at high altitudes,” said Nkoka, who has been living and training in Maseru since January this year.

Second place went to veteran Hendrick Ramaala (Nedbank), who ran his first Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in a time of 03:11:33.Hendrick was then also the first South African runner home.
The record is there for the taking, said Hendrick Ramaala at the media conference the day before the 45th Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon. Referring to the incentive for breaking the race record, he said:

“I mean, a million Rand! We are all going for it!”

They did – until about 22 km, when they slowed as the wind picked up. So nothing came of the record attack, but Ramaala’s second place at the age of 42, and in his first
ultramarathon, was the highlight of the day.  

In the ladies’ race, it was third time lucky for the Nedbank International runner, Russian Nina Podnebesnova, who finally achieved a win after coming 5th in 2013 and 2011 respectively.  She crossed the finish line in a time of 03:40:07, three minutes ahead of Nedbank Team mate ,Ethiopian Shitaye Debellu (03:43:37).

Podnebesnova noted that her victory was the result of changing her coach over the past year, who had made her focus on cross country and speed work.

In the Half Marathon race, athletes battled windy conditions from start to finish.  Defending champion Stephen Mokoka (Team Transnet) won the men’s race in 01:04:16 just ahead of Joel Mmone  from the development Nedbank Running Club in Klerksdorp and Sibabalwe Mzazi (Team Transnet) in third.

First three men in half marathon, Joel Mmone(2nd), Stephen Mokoka (1st) and Gladwin Mzazi (3rd).

The ladies’ race belonged to Lebo Phalula (Maxed Elite), who comfortably ran to victory in a time of 01:14:00.  Rene Kalmer came second in 01:14:23, with International Nedbank athlete,Gezashigh Gemeda of Ethiopia taking third in 01:15:02.

A record field of athletes lined up for a windy and chilly start at this year’s Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon and a record amount of Nedbank athletes-889 enter for the race.

Nedbank Running club produced one of the best performances ever with 5 men and 5 woman in the top 10 positions in the 56km. race.
There were a total of 6 South Africans in the top 10 (men and women) of which 4 was from the Nedbank Running Club. We are proud to say that we could support our local heros to achieve their goals.

Nedbank Running Club Western Province athlete Mthandazo Qhina was the first Capetonian runner home in 9th position.

Nedbank Running Club Port Elixzabeth won the men's team competition with Nedbank Running Club in KZN in third.
In the veterans team competition Nedbank Running Club Port Elixzabeth was 2nd with Nedbank Running Club Western Province in 3rd.
Nedbank Running club Category winners including Hendrick Ramaala and ,Alemtsehay Kakissa as 1st veterans and Jane Mudau as 1st Master with a new coarse record of 3:15:48.

In the 23km trail race Adriaan Cronje finished 8th and Nick Bester 19th and 2nd Master.

 Race Results

56km Men
1st: Lebanya Nkoka (Maxed Elite) (03:09:52)
2nd: Hendrick Ramaala (Nedbank) (03:11:33)
3rd: Masilo Matjiane (Lesotho) (03:12:00)

56km Ladies
1st: Nina Podnebesnova (Nedbank) (03:40:07)
2nd: Shitaye Debellu (Nedbank ) (03:43:37)
3rd: Elena Nurgalieva (Russia) (03:43:59)

21km Men
1st: Stephen Lesego Mokoka (Transnet) (01:04:16)
2nd: Joel Mmone (Nedbank) (01:04:29)
3rd: Sibabalwe Mzazi (Transnet) (01:04:29)

21km Ladies
1st: Lebo Phalula (Maxed Elite) (01:14:00)
2nd: Rene Kalmer (Nedbank) (01:14:23)
3rd: Gezashigh Gemeda (Ethiopia) (01:15:02)

Download images:     www.imagesa.net & credit Image SA

Nedbank Running Club Top Ten Results

Ultramarathon
MEN
2 Hendrick Ramaala  3:11:33
5 Ketema Tadesse 3:12:35
6 Michael Papi Mazibuko 3:13:05
8 Henry Moyo 3:15:37
9 Mthandazo Qhina 3:16:07

WOMEN
1 Nina Podnebesnova 3:40:07
2 Shitaye Gemechu Debellu 3:43:37
7 Chelitu Bogale Asefa 3:56:58
8 Ntombesintu Mfunzi 4:00:52
9 Alemtsehay Hailu Kakissa 4:03:56

Half marathon
MEN
2 Joel Mmone 1:04:29
5 Asefa Negewo 1:05:12
6 Kgosi Tsosane 1:05:16
9 Sibusiso Nzima 1:05:39
10 Xolisa Tyali 1:05:57

WOMEN
3 Gezashigh Gemeda 1:15:02
8 Rutendo Nyahora 1:17:30
10 Myrette Filmalter 1:18:51 

With 40 days to go to the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has reminded South African runners who were unable to enter the 2014 race during the official entry period (1 September – 30 November 2013) to try and secure their place on the Start line.

The 2014 Substitution process runs for the month of April and allows for a runner who has not entered to substitute for an entrant who has withdrawn; or intends to withdraw from the 2014 edition of The Ultimate Human Race.

The Comrades Marathon Substitution Rule was introduced for the very first time in 2012 and now forms part of the CMA’s official race rules. The Substitution process officially opened on 1 April and closes on 30 April 2014.

The completed application forms as specified in the Substitution Rule must reach the CMA office by 30 April 2014.  There will be no extension of this deadline.

Athletes still intending to submit Substitution application forms are advised to visit the official Comrades Marathon website at www.comrades.com for the downloadable forms and the comprehensive list of rules and regulations which govern the Substitution process.

Race Director Rowyn James says, ‘The applications for Substitutions are coming in thick and fast. Runners must remember to send in their completed application forms to the CMA before the 30th of April. We look forward to seeing more runners on the Start line for yet another fantastic Comrades Marathon on 1 June 2014.’

The spring big city marathon season has ended in Europe and North America and it been a particularly exciting few weeks. It was particularly pleasing to see Ernst van Dyk win his 10th wheelchair title at Boston.

I must admit to being a very jealous television viewer as over the years I have run all three spring “majors”; London, Paris and Cape Town. Watching the tired but happy faces was particularly galling and catching a glimpse of the distinctive blue and yellow Boston finisher’s medal made me rush to my cupboard to check that I still have my 2012 medal.

South African marathon runners are quite a modest lot. We wear our medals around our necks on race morning but as soon as we leave the finish ground we tend to remove them. I suspect that the reason we wear them around our necks in the first place is not to show off, but to keep them safe. Overseas however, runners proudly wear their medals for days afterwards. I’ve walked around the streets of Boston 3 days after race day and bumped into medal bedecked runners.  On the Monday evening following the London marathon the metal detectors at Heathrow airport are constantly pinging away as runners pass through those beams while still displaying their finisher’s medals.

Perhaps it’s our attitude to marathons that explains our South African reluctance to brag a bit. To us finishing a marathon is no big deal. Overseas they believe it’s the equivalent of summiting Everest. Therefore they feel the need to boast. We believe the completion of a marathon is but a stepping stone to a more admirable goal, namely that of finishing an ultra-marathon such as the Two Oceans or the Comrades. Most overseas runners run a handful of marathons in their lives. We collect marathon medals like stamps.

We are also more subtle in our boasting technique. Not for us the bling of a gleaming medal dangling from a bright ribbon. We prefer to limp. The post-race limp says so much more than a shiny medal. The limp speaks of courage and endurance, determination and tenacity.   While disembarking from my flight home from a wonderful Two Oceans weekend last Saturday I couldn’t help noticing dozens of limping, hobbling runners. Each of us gave the other that knowing nod of approval,

“56 kms.  Two Oceans. I know how you feel. Well done boet!” The more exaggerated the limp the harder the effort the greater the admiration.

Nedbank Running club athletes dominated the SA Pork Kwai Challenge races last year and we are ready to defend our titles on 11 May 2014 at the Randburg Sports Complex.

Click here for more info on the SA Pork Kwai Challenge.
 

Women 10km
1 Cornernial Joubert
2 Keneilwe Sesing

Men 10km
2 Itumeleng Tshetlanyana
3 Elias Mabane (1st Veteran)
4 Tshepo Majwafi (1st Junior)
5 Kabelo Melamu
9 Motlatsi Sesing

25 our little juniors ran in the 5km and they were dominating as well after Adam won the race.