Highveld Marathon (An unreserved apology to Ermelo)

[MARATHON #265 / UNIQUE MARATHON #161 / 6 April 2024]

Unlike the Boards of major ultra marathons in South Africa, I will readily admit when I am wrong. My memories of running marathons in Ermelo were clouded by the coal smoke from this industrial town when I ran the Gert Sibande Marathon in 2016.

I based my description of the Highveld Marathon in my detailed race calendar on my previous Ermelo experience, “Nothing pretty about this route. Your stock, standard small industrial mining town marathon past mine dumps and coal smelters.” And, under “What to do there?”, my tourism advice was “Check out the coal mines before they all disappear.” This is unfair, unjust and untrue – and I apologise unreservedly for this erroneous description.

I am still not sure what else there is to do in Ermelo but I have just updated the description to read, “This is a small field (runner-wise) / big field (agricultural-wise) out-and-back route in Ermelo. You are into the countryside within the first kilometre and it’s rolling hills, beautiful landscapes and bulky bullocks over the rest of the undulating route.”

Julian and I made the 2h30h drive through from Joburg on the Friday afternoon through some wet and rainy conditions. When we arrived at our B&B Julian, whose bladder strength is inversely proportional to his running grit, leapt out the car and added to the condensation. Whilst checking in I noted that our spinster host was giving Julian some special attention which might have been because her HD security cameras had been pointing directly in Julian’s ‘line of fire’.

The race has a luxurious 7am start which allows those from neighbouring towns to conduct their marathon commute in the light. With the event taking place in early April, the weather was also very pleasant for marathon running. The start and finish is right outside the Body Strong Fitness Gym in Ermelo with the gym changerooms providing the facilities for runners to complete their pre-race routines in relative luxury.

Prize bulls are a big part of the Ermelo landscape. This boy in black below was looking on curiously at the passing marathon runners. On that note, I was very pleased to see that the marshals were waving yellow flags rather than the traditional red – although there might have been a few more PBs if that were the case.

The tables were all organised by local businesses and organisations with plenty of friendly faces, food and drink and many of them put in extra effort to make their table stand out and that your run is a memorable one. Of note was the Gateway City Church table at 9km to go who decorated their gazebo with an impressive array of running shoes. I did enquire if I could pick up a fresh pair of takkies but unfortunately, they didn’t have my size.

One of the only signs of civilisation along the route were strategically positioned portaloos. These blue bastions of bliss are to the marathon runner what the safety net is to the trapeze artist. I am not sure why this was for “Men Only” (but I was pleased to see that the seat had been left up).

The route is simplicity itself with most of the run being done in a south-westerly straight line along the R39. You get to warm up over the first 6km with a climb to the highest point of the race (1760m) and then enjoy a gentle drop to the lowest point at 18km (1600m). After which you have a 6km ‘speed bump’ to and from the turnaround point. The gentle drop on the way out now turns into a harrowing and relentless climb back to the highest point and your last 6km are mainly downhill.

This is a bonafide country marathon and it was great to escape the sights and smells of the city for a morning of running. This is good because all the buildings in the industrial part of town are painted a sickly, sallow off-white I could call Ermelo-yellow* (don’t think Dulux carries that colour code though).

* Yes, I do expect that Donovan is turning in his grave right now.

With the race finishing outside the Body Strong Fitness Gym, after giving your legs a good workout over Ermelo’s rolling hills (while waiting for your slower running friend to return), if you can stomach, back and shoulders it, a quick upper body workout can bring balance to one’s physique.

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