Humorous Anecdotes, Observations & Accounts of Marathon Running & Agile Adventures.
This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s October 2026 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2026 marathon / ultra calendar here.
A summary of your choices is below:
Documentation has emerged that the Central Gauteng Athletics president, Karabo Mabilo Thobakgale, was debarred from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) by ABSA Bank on 14 November 2022 as she “Does not comply with personal qualities of honesty and integrity”.
I get a lot of questions via email and direct message but this is one of the most interesting and deserved its own article:
“Dear Running Mann.
Thank you for your awesome blog. I know this is a weird question but I have been having this weird question, that may be a story for your blog. But if it is too trivial or insignificant for a reply or a blog I would understand.
I love to jog shirtless in Limpopo where I live. In my town, Mokopane, I think I am the only person in the afternoon after work to go out and jog under our lovely sun, especially during summer, shirtless, still have pants and shoes on, don’t worry.
Continue reading “Men: Get Your Mitties Out (Saying “No” to Noceanism)”
On 17 July Central Gauteng Athletics issued a statement indicating that Soweto Marathon prize winners could expect to receive partial payment of their prize money. The Daily Maverick reported that the source of the “limited funds” were from “the 2024 Soweto Marathon [that] are currently available and are being held by the Gauteng Sports Confederation (GSC).”
The CGA statement also stated, “Although the available funds are insufficient to settle the outstanding prize money in full, CGA has committed to facilitating the distribution of the available funds to affected athletes as soon as reasonably possible, while continuing its efforts to secure payment of the outstanding balance”
However, almost two months after that statement (and approaching a year after the race itself) no athlete has seen a cent of any prize money.
Great news for the running community is that popular East London runner, Mkhululi Jack, has been fully exonerated in his disciplinary hearing appeal decision. On the other hand, Border Athletics (BORA) were severely chastised and came in for scathing criticism from Selby Thabethe who chaired the Disciplinary Committee on behalf of Athletics South Africa (ASA).
The nine page document, which is available below, finds fault with every aspect of BORA’s approach, states that they acted in “bad faith”, broke almost every procedural and governance principal, were “defective” in every argument and action, made a critical constitutional breach, lacked substantial fairness and inferred that they had applied the “no earphones” rules incorrectly and inconsistently when compared with every other athletics province.
Continue reading “Mkhululi Jack is Back / BORA Bullies Blasted”