The MNS Carnival City Marathon route was described as fast and flat, making it ideal for runners to achieve their PBs while Comrades runners are sure to improve their seeding.
This verdict came after a successful dry run, led by hosting club Mamepe Striders from Duduza, at Carnival City on April 6.
Over 100 runners attended the route tester and most agreed that it was fast and flat. The race takes place on May 1 from 06:30. The 42.2km Comrades Marathon qualifier is a double-lap of the 21.km route. The race also includes a 10km race and a 5km fun run.
While many had expected that they would be forced to contend with a series of steep climbs and quad-crushing downhills, the course proved to be relatively flat, with a handful of uphills.
“It’s a smooth route with little challenges. The runners have no tough uphills to contend with besides a 5m elevation on the Denne Road/N17 bridge and another one on the Van Dyk Street/N17 bridge,” said Mamepe’s development coach Lefu Lephoto.
The event also includes a 10km and 5km races.
Tsotetsi was part of the lead group with a few of his young athletes. They completed the course in 01:28 running at 04:14/km.Giving his prediction, Lephoto said he expects faster runners to clock between 01:06 and 01:10 in the half-marathon and between 02:15 and 02:25 in the marathon.
“It’s not that testing to the body. It will depend on a person’s fitness level. An elite runner can finish the 21km in 01:06 and I expect the marathon time to be around 02:15,” he said.
They started at the Engen Carnival City Service Station, with the runners turning right into Heidelberg Road at the intersection.
They turned left at the 5km mark into Koot Street, which merges into Denne Road at the Agricultural School of Excellence.
They went up Denne, past the BP filling station on Springs Road, before turning left into Lemmer Road. They ran up Gloucester Street and turned right at KFC Dalview into Van der Walt Road.
The marathon is a double-lapper of the 21.1km race.
At the traffic circle, they took the Van der Walt Road exit and turned left into Hendrik Potgieter Road, which merges into Athlone Avenue and Airport Drive. They continued on that stretch, went past Mall@Carnival to their right and continued straight until turning right into Van Dyk Street.
They turned left into Elsburg Road and at the traffic lights, turned left into Carnival City to finish the 21.1km race. On race day, the marathoners will repeat the same loop.
“We are happy with the turnout. People are happy. Most have indicated that they get their PBs and improve their Comrades seeding. We are waiting for the race. I invite those who haven’t registered to do so. It’s a fast and flat route,” said Mamepe’s deputy chairperson Arther Selowa.
“We also have a competition for the 21km and marathon entrants. The winner will win a one-night stay at Carnival City. All they have to do is take a video responding to the questions on our race flyer after registering. We will then do a raffle and the lucky winner will sleep here on April 30.”
Moba indicated that all parts of the route, especially the long stretch on Denne Road, will be patrolled by the EMPD and a private security company for the safety of the runners.
To register, go to www.peaktiming.co.za.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.