Nedbank Running Club’s Top Contenders for the 2025 Pirates 21K Powered by Medshield

The 2025 Pirates 21K Powered by Medshield, nicknamed Joburg’s toughest half, has attracted some of the best runners that Nedbank Running Club has to offer. Offering excellent preparation for the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon later this year, the climb up to Northcliff Hill is set to challenge not only the elite but every runner brave enough to take it on. With a course record of 1:07:13 in the men and 1:18:00 in the women, our contenders are set to race hard to see if the Green Team can claim the top spots.

The Nedbank Running Club has selected a formidable team to contest top positions. Here’s a look at the club’s strongest contenders:

Onalenna Khonkhobe

2024 Two Oceans and Soweto Marathon Champion Khonkhobe has consistently delivered strong performances across many of South Africa’s biggest races. His half marathon PB is an impressive 1:03:13 set at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon in 2022. Last year’s victory at the 2024 Pirates Half Marathon puts him as a real contender to take down the long-standing men’s record of 1:07:13 set in 2013. “I will be racing, I will see on Sunday how I feel, but the record is a possibility. This is part of my preparation for Two Oceans, especially to improve my speedwork on the climbs.”

Lucky Mohale

New to the veteran category, Mohale’s is still aiming to compete overall. He continues to impress taking second place at this year’s Johnson Crane Half Marathon with a time of 1:07:27. While the course at Pirates is a lot harder, especially in terms of climbing, Mohale is confident about his chances.  “I am aiming for a podium at Pirates, my season has started well and while I am preparing for Two Oceans, this race is a good one to push and see where my training is.”

Adele Broodryk

A standout performer in the women’s field, Broodryk boasts an impressive half-marathon best of 1:18:30, achieved in Port Elizabeth in 2023. While she is coming back from injury, Broodryk remains a strong and consistent runner, her comeback is set, and we are excited to see her back in form, ready to test her speed work on this course.
“This is a training run for me to see where I am post-injury, it is perfect to incorporate some much-needed hill training.”

Tiisetso Mokhoma

Mokhoma with a half-marathon PB of 1:08:20 has proven himself as a top-tier competitor. His recent results include fourth place at last year’s African Bank Soweto Half Marathon in 1:09:11 means he will be considered a real contender for the podium, given how tough the Soweto course is.
 
Joel Mmone

Mmone brings an elite pedigree with a PB of 1:01:22 set at the 2019 Port Elizabeth Half Marathon. In 2024, he finished 7th at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon running a 1:04:34. His experience and tactical racing ability will be key factors on race day.
With such a talented lineup, the Nedbank Running Club is set to make a significant impact at the 2025 Pirates 21K. Whether vying for the top spots or pushing for personal bests, these elite athletes will undoubtedly add excitement to this race.

TRACN4 Elands Marathon Attracts Nedbank Running Club’s Best

Mpumalanga’s most scenic marathon is back. The TRACN4 Elands Marathon, hosted by the Nedbank LVCC Running Club and sponsored by Trans African Concessions (TRAC), takes place on Saturday 1 March 2025.

Set against the breathtaking Elands Valley, this event is a key qualifi er for both the Comrades Marathon and the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, making it a must-run for South Africa’s endurance runners.

Nedbank Running Club will be sending their best:
This year’s race promises thrilling competition, with top Nedbank athletes headlining the event. Tete Dijana, double Comrades champion, and Dan Matshailwe, the first South African and second-place finisher at the 2024 Comrades Marathon, will take to the starting line, adding prestige and excitement to the event. Joining them will be a host of aspiring Nedbank Running Club members and those hoping to qualify for Comrades.

Mandla Nxumalo of the Nedbank LVCC Running Club expressed excitement about the event’s economic benefi ts, urging out-of-town runners to secure accommodation early. The 2025 event is expected to attract an even larger fi eld than previous years, featuring some of South Africa’s top road runners.

Key Details:
The 42.2km marathon starts at 05h30 from Laerskool Oosterlijn in Emgwenya (formerly Waterval Boven) and winds through picturesque landscapes, including the historic Waterval Boven Tunnel. Runners fi nish at the Sappi Skills Training Centre in Ngodwana. The entry fee for the 42.2km race is R420.

For those looking for shorter distances, there’s a 21.1km half marathon starting at 06h00 near the Fortis Malaga Hotel (R270) and a 10km route starting and ending at Sappi Skills Training Centre (R130). Both these races will provide a memorable running experience for all who take part.

Entry fees include the R60 for bus transport to the start, providing seamless logistics for participants. All distances also qualify for Vitality Points, adding extra incentive for fi tness enthusiasts.

TRACN4 Elands Marathon Expo:
Runners can kick off their experience by attending the TRACN4 Elands Marathon Expo, on 28 February 2025 at Astron Energy Millys on the N4. Open from 11h00 to 20h00, the expo will be the hub for runners to collect their race numbers and explore the various brand activations and promotions. If you are unable to collect from Millys, your race number can also be collected at LVCC in Mbombela.

Where to Enter:
Online registration is open until 16 February 2025, with no late entries accepted. Participants can update their entries, or do substitutions, upgrades, or downgrades. Visit www.elandsmarathon.co.za for more details.

Whether you are running to qualify or for the love of the sport, the TRACN4 Elands Marathon is the ultimate challenge in one of South Africa’s most scenic regions.

Nedbank Running Club Soweto Prize Giving

On Saturday 1 February, Nedbank Running Club Soweto had their 13th Annual Prize giving to awards performances of 2024.

The following athletes took awards for the best athletes in these categories:

Athlete of the year Track & Field: Khotso Motsamai (winning SA Champs in Long Jump and 100m Boys 13)

Athlete of the year Cross Country: Jacqueline Frey (undefeated in the Cross Country and won SA Champs 4km)

Best Athlete Road Running : Tebogo Mokgosinyana (constantly finished on the podium in over 85% of the races she ran in 2024.

Tete Dijana was in the midst as a Guest of Honor and to motivate our athletes.

CMA Appoints New General Manager

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alain Dalais as the new General Manager, effective immediately. This appointment comes after Dalais served as the Acting Race and Operations Manager since July 2024.

Dalais brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, having worked with high-profile events and organizations throughout his career. His extensive background includes roles as a Supply Chain Practitioner at various Government Departments in KwaZulu-Natal, Marketing and Events Manager at Media24, Event Logistics Manager for the Absa Cape Epic and the FNB Wines2Whales, and Procurement Officer and Finish Procedure convenor at the Comrades Marathon Association.

CMA Chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo praised Dalais for his professionalism and dedication during his acting tenure, stating, "We wish to thank all CMA staff for supporting Alain during his acting tenure. We look forward to all staff and our stakeholders continuing to give him their full support as we begin our countdown to race day."

Dalais expressed his excitement about the new role, saying, "I am honoured to take on this position and look forward to working with the team to ensure a successful and memorable Comrades Marathon in 2025 and beyond."

The CMA is confident that Dalais' leadership will contribute to the continued success and growth of the world-renowned Comrades Marathon. The association looks forward to implementing its strategic plans under his guidance.

Totalsports Extends Title Sponsorship of the Two Oceans Marathon for 2025-2027

Totalsports is thrilled to announce the extension of its Title Sponsorship for the iconic Two Oceans Marathon for an additional three years, running from 2025 to 2027.

Known as the "World’s Most Beautiful Marathon," the Two Oceans Marathon is a prestigious event that celebrates endurance, community, and the awe-inspiring landscapes of Cape Town. Totalsports’ renewed commitment reaffirms its dedication to supporting South Africa’s running community and promoting active lifestyles.

“As the Title Sponsor, Totalsports is proud to continue this journey with the Two Oceans Marathon, a landmark event that unites runners from across the country" says Jonathan Stein, Head of Business at Totalsports. “This partnership represents our shared values of resilience, passion, and the spirit of movement, and we look forward to empowering runners to conquer the current and achieve their personal bests over the next three years."

With this renewed sponsorship, Totalsports aims to continue to elevate the runner experience through innovative initiatives, performance running shoes and apparel, and unwavering support for elite and amateur athletes alike. The extended partnership also reinforces Totalsports’ role as the Home of Running in South Africa.

“The Two Oceans Marathon is thrilled to have this valued extension of support from Africa’s biggest sports apparel retailer, Totalsports, a leader in innovative sportswear. Together we look forward to promoting the freedom, power and joy of movement which harnesses the drive within and determination to conquer both on and off the course,” says Race Manager Hilton Kearns.

Revised Qualifying Time for #Comrades2025

With 150 days to race day, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) is excited to announce a significant change to the qualifying criteria for this year’s 98th Comrades Marathon. Effective immediately, the qualifying time for the standard 42.2km marathon has been adjusted to 5 hours for all participants.

This change is aimed at making the Comrades Marathon more inclusive and accessible to a broader range of runners, encouraging more athletes to qualify for and participate in this iconic event, come Sunday, 8 June 2025.

The decision was made after careful consideration and consultation with various stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and running clubs.

CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo says, "We are thrilled to make the Comrades Marathon more accessible to a wider range of runners. This change reflects our commitment to inclusivity and the growth of the sport."

“The Ultimate Human Race continues to uphold its tradition of challenging endurance and celebrating the spirit of camaraderie and perseverance. We believe that this adjustment will inspire more runners to participate and experience the unique challenge and camaraderie that the Comrades Marathon offers.”

CMA Acting Race & Operations Manager, Alain Dalais says, "The new qualifying time is a fantastic move. It opens up the race to more participants and encourages a greater diversity of runners to take on this incredible challenge."

Monday, 5 May 2025 is the final date for submission of qualifying details for this year’s Comrades Marathon. Athletes are required to submit their qualifying race and time, running club details, provincial club licence number and fill in the medical questionnaire.

Qualifying for the 2025 Comrades Marathon is applicable as of 10 June 2024 till 5 May 2025. The qualifying criteria for this year’s Comrades Marathon will be to complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 5 hours. To update your details, please log into your entry profile via the Comrades website www.comrades.com

#Comrades2025 will be a Down Run on Sunday, 8 June 2025. The race starts at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 05h30 and ends 12 hours later at Durban’s People’s Park, covering an approximately 89km distance. This will be the 49th Down Run.

The Pirates 21k "Over The Mountain" 16th February 2025

CIRCULAR 4 OF ASA 2025 - EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 2024 ASA LICENSES