Tag: Run South Africa

Posted on

2024 Marathon & Ultra Statistics

Share:

This article provides detailed statistics and analysis of South Africa’s 2024 marathon and ultra road running season.

Total Events

There were a total of 129 events, comprising 106 standard marathons, 22 ultras and 1 combo (Benoni Northerns which offered a marathon and a 48k). This is 10 more than the pre-Covid number and the highest since I’ve been tracking marathons. On a personal note, I still have 29 (plus whatever new marathons arise in 2025 to run).

There were 16 new races (marathon unless otherwise noted): Air Force Base Makhado, Mapungubwe, Johannesburg City, Festival of Running, Gazamed, Lemo Mall, Nedbank Coastal Marathon, Musina, Mpumalanga, Masingita Mall, Makhuduthamaga Mayor’s, Fetakgomo Tubatse, Midvaal MADMAC, Waterberg, Hope Challenge and NRB Harriers Challenge.

Continue reading “2024 Marathon & Ultra Statistics”
Share:
Posted on

Bluff Marathon (Ruff and Tuff with zero Fluff)

Share:
[MARATHON #276 / UNIQUE MARATHON #169 / 17 November 2024]

When someone introduces you to a friend or acquaintance with the caveat, “They’re from the Bluff”, this is a warning. It’s the equivalent of cautioning a friendly stranger that, “My dog bites!”

When you tell someone that you are running the Bluff Marathon, they recoil and give you a similar cautionary look – and whatever statement follows indicates, “That marathon bites!”

With 275 marathons under my belt, I decided it was finally time to see whether I could bite off more than I could chew at the Bluff Marathon – or whether this brutal route would chew me up and spit me out (or, as this is a double-lap course, I guess you could call that a case of “once bitten, twice shy”).

I had been told a lot about the Bluff. Some descriptions fail to live up to expectations. However, it took just a two-second scan of the Fynnlands Sports Club bar (which was also the registration venue and doubles as the Bluff AC clubhouse) to realise that the “Rough and tough and from Bluff” mantra was not propaganda. In fact, if anything the slogan is underhyped. Wearing baggies and a T-shirt, I was probably the most overdressed male at the venue (and by far the least tattooed). You’ll have to take my word for it as I was not about to take an unsolicited photograph and risk someone taking offence.

The Fynnlands Sports Club doubles as the Bluff AC clubhouse (they only serve doubles here – Coke mixer strictly optional).
Continue reading “Bluff Marathon (Ruff and Tuff with zero Fluff)”
Share:
Posted on

Complete 2025 South African Road Marathon & Ultra Calendar

Share:

This article contains high level details and, where available, flyers, profiles and route maps for every 2025 South African road marathon and ultra. Updates will be made regularly as races are added, cancelled and confirmed.

The 2025 calendar is brought to you by RaceSpace – the app that has every running and endurance event in the country at your fingertips. RaceSpace are covering some of my marathon running travel costs in 2025 – you can support me and the site by downloading the RaceSpace app on Apple, Android or by using the QR Code below.

Continue reading “Complete 2025 South African Road Marathon & Ultra Calendar”
Share:
Posted on

The 2023 Marathon & Ultra Statistics

Share:

This article provides statistics and analysis of South Africa’s 2023 marathon and ultra road running season. Comparisons are made to 2019 (pre-Covid) and 2022 (first full post-Covid season).

Total Events

There were a total of 114 events, comprising 93 standard marathons and 23 ultras and. This is just below the 2019 number of 119 events but a big increase from the 2022 number of 99 events.

Continue reading “The 2023 Marathon & Ultra Statistics”
Share:
Posted on

MadMac Marathon (a cure for coulrophobia)

Share:
[MARATHON #274 / UNIQUE MARATHON #168 / 6 October 2024]

Between Comrades and Two Oceans, I have spent a lot of time this year writing about clowns. You could say I was acquiring a severe case of coulrophobia – which is of course the fear of clowns. However, I seem to have developed a unique strain called antici-coulrophobia – which is a fear about what the aforementioned clowns will do or say next (and then I have to spend a great deal of time writing about it).

Fortunately, I was confident that I could find a 100% successful cure for extreme antici-coulrophobia by facing my fears head on and self-medicating at the clown-themed MadMac Marathon. The theme was chosen as the race venue is the site of the old Boswell Wilkie Circus in Randvaal and there is still plenty of circus apparatus and remnants of the now defunct circus around.

Fitting right in: Julian Karp has promised to dye his hair for next year’s race.
Continue reading “MadMac Marathon (a cure for coulrophobia)”
Share:
Posted on

Great Kei Marathon (Kei Mouth to mouth resuscitation)

Share:
[MARATHON #273 / UNIQUE MARATHON #167 / 14 September 2024]

Running marathons in the Eastern Cape is always a pleasant experience. They possess the charm and character of a big club run with plenty of chatter and everyone seems to know everyone else. The sentiment is further enhanced with many of the support tables being enthusiastically crewed by ‘rival’ running clubs.

The support tables of East London races provide enthusiastic support and are always well stocked.
Continue reading “Great Kei Marathon (Kei Mouth to mouth resuscitation)”
Share:
Posted on

Musina Marathon (Borderline crazy)

Share:
[MARATHON #272 / UNIQUE MARATHON #165 / 7 September 2024]

The inaugural Musina Marathon held in the northern extremities of Limpopo was the only marathon in the whole of South Africa over the entire weekend of 7-8 September. Musina is a stone’s throw from the Zimbabwean border and the last town on the N1 before hitting the Beit Bridge border post and crossing the Limpopo River.

Musina is where the devil spends his winters when he wants to warm up. It’s a place where your entry level sunblock is Factor 50. Legend has it that a Scotsman visiting Musina made the fatal mistake of sitting down on the pavement and ended up with hard boiled eggs in under three minutes. In other words, this is a fantastic place for a connoisseur to run a marathon.

Continue reading “Musina Marathon (Borderline crazy)”
Share:
Posted on

Blouberg Marathon (Bayesian instinct)

Share:
[MARATHON #271 / UNIQUE MARATHON #165 / 24 August 2024]

When Dewey Bunnell, the lead singer of the band America, sang “I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name, it felt good to be out of the rain”, I would not be surprised if he was inspired after experiencing a Cape Town winter.

I spent the first 21 years of my life in Cape Town before moving up to Johannesburg. People often ask, “Don’t you miss Cape Town?” There are definitely things to miss about the Mother City but a Cape Town winter is not one of them.

Blouberg is perhaps the most appropriate location in the country to run into a stiff head wind.
Continue reading “Blouberg Marathon (Bayesian instinct)”
Share: