David Case Archives - The Running Mann

27th March 202027th March 2020

Hemel & Aarde Marathon (Leap year running)

[MARATHON #239 / Unique Marathon #139 / 29 February 2020]

For the last few years, my daughters’ mid-term break had provided the opportunity for the family to have a short holiday (and for dad to run a new marathon). This year it was down to the Fairest Cape for the inaugural Hemel and Aarde Marathon, run between Caledon and Hermanus.

For those unfamiliar with Afrikaans, ‘Hemel’ means Heaven and ‘Aarde’ means Earth. Despite what Belinda Carlisle sang in the 80s, Heaven is not a place on Earth, but the Hemel and Aarde is a marathon in the Western Cape.

Heaven might not be a place on earth but Hemel and Aarde is a marathon (and a valley) in the Western Cape.

Continue reading “Hemel & Aarde Marathon (Leap year running)”

7th December 2019

Golden Gate Marathon (The National Park run)

[MARATHON #227 / UNIQUE MARATHON #130 / 5 October 2019]

In South Africa we are privileged to be able to run several marathons inside our National Parks and World Heritage Sites. I am always keen for the chance to add another National Park run to my collection and therefore jumped at the opportunity to enter the inaugural Clarens Golden Gate Marathon.

Having run Surrender Hill Marathon in Clarens earlier this year, I was familiar with the scenery (= stunning) and terrain (= gruelling) so I knew we could expect a run of unsurpassed beauty and unrelenting hills just down the road in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Continue reading “Golden Gate Marathon (The National Park run)”

I am Stuart Mann

Professional Lean-Agile Coach and Unprofessional Athlete (and like writing about both).
Compulsive marathon runner (over 190 marathons and ultras completed).
Experienced joker and mischief maker.
Father (2 gorgeous girls), husband (1 gorgeous wife) and Trainee Feminist.

Current Running Goal: Complete every marathon and ultra in South Africa

Previous Goal (Completed April 2018): #100UniqueMarathons

Mission:

Promote great marathons and running tourism to South African runners.
Promote South Africa as the marathon running destination of choice for International runners.
Run as many marathons as I can and share the experience with a humorous report that brings out the “personality” of the race.
Share great running stories.

Pipe Dream (some people call this a vision): Earn enough blog readers and social media followers to:

Have travel costs covered to run marathons and write about the experience (selfish goal).
Use as a platform to help raised awareness for inspirational charities and runners (altruistic goal)

International runners: If you’re planning to visit South Africa and want info on SA marathons, I’m happy to answer your questions. There are great marathon options all year round – I’ve run most of them and would love to help you run a marathon in our beautiful country.