The Running Mann

21st February 201820th September 2018

Potties Marathon Photies (A Pictorial Report from the South African Bushveld)

[MARATHON #176 / UNIQUE MARATHON #93 / 10 FEBRUARY 2018]

Running with a buddy is fun and saves costs when travelling. I’ve been running a marathon a weekend and my travelling running buddy, Julian Karp, has been doing two a weekend – but it was only on week four of the South African marathon calendar that our plans aligned for the Potties Marathon.

We caught up on marathon adventures on the drive to Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus). Although the town name was officially changed in 2003, there are no plans to change the race name to Mokkies in the near future. Continue reading “Potties Marathon Photies (A Pictorial Report from the South African Bushveld)”

16th February 201820th September 2018

Bay Ultra (See the Lighthouse at the End of an Ultra)

[MARATHON #175 / UNIQUE MARATHON #92 / 3 February 2018]

The 2018 running year has started really well with two fantastic marathons (Finlime and Volksrust). The first weekend of February seemed like the logical time to escalate to an ultra. This required a flight to the east coast for Port Elizabeth’s Bay Ultra Marathon – 50km around Algoa Bay.

I was surprised that most of the budget airlines don’t fly into Port Elizabeth – and those that do don’t offer good “in-and-out for a marathon” flight times. Therefore, I had to settle for a premium priced airline offering budget rate service. Nothing signifies the decline of the British Empire quite like the experience of flying British Airways. Continue reading “Bay Ultra (See the Lighthouse at the End of an Ultra)”

4th February 201820th September 2018

Volksrust Marathon (High Spirits in the Highlands)

[MARATHON #174 / UNIQUE MARATHON #91 / 27 January 2018]

The first marathon you run after Comrades always seems really easy (“just a marathon” / “almost short distance”). Similarly, after enduring a 7-hour drive into the sweltering Kalahari for the Finlime Marathon last week, getting to Volksrust – an easy 3-hour drive from Johannesburg – was an absolute doddle.

The local farmers man most of the water tables and bring out their finest tractors to show off to the runners!

Volksrust was founded in 1889 – “Volk” means nation and “Rust” means rest. There is no truth in the rumour that the town was founded by a disgruntled car owner and was originally called Volkswagensrust.

Continue reading “Volksrust Marathon (High Spirits in the Highlands)”

29th January 201828th October 2024

Finlime Marathon (The Time I Ran a Marathon in Middle of the Kalahari Desert)

[MARATHON #173 / UNIQUE MARATHON #90 / 20 January 2018]

Pretty much everything shuts down in South Africa over the December / January school holiday period. Unfortunately, marathon running is no different: there is a total Sub-Saharan marathon shutdown between 16 December and 20 January.

Some people spend forty days fasting in the desert – so I thought it was appropriate to break my 40-day marathon drought with a run in the desert! The location was Lime Acres – a small town of about 4,500 people in the middle of the “green” Kalahari desert.

Finlime Marathon, Lime Acres (the middle of the Kalahari Desert)

Continue reading “Finlime Marathon (The Time I Ran a Marathon in Middle of the Kalahari Desert)”

14th January 201814th January 2018

The Time I Got Free Beer Whilst Buying My Wife A Christmas Gift

Sometimes stereotypes are unkind and unfair. However, in my case the stereotype of “the husband who leaves Christmas shopping to the last minute” was totally justified. It was December 24th and I still had not bought my wife anything for Christmas…

This is a story with a happy ending: How I scored all this free craft beer whilst buying a last minute Christmas present for my wife.

Continue reading “The Time I Got Free Beer Whilst Buying My Wife A Christmas Gift”

7th January 201820th September 2018

JB Marks Marathon, Ventersdorp

[MARATHON #172 / UNIQUE MARATHON #89 / 16 December 2017]

I visited Ventersdorp for the first time ever in March this year (to run a marathon).

I visited Ventersdorp for the for second time this December (also to run a marathon).

Running a marathon is a one good reason to visit Ventersdorp. You will be hard pressed to find a second…

About to re-enter Ventersdorp – twice in one year (voluntarily).

Continue reading “JB Marks Marathon, Ventersdorp”

4th January 201820th September 2018

NGK Familiefees Marathon: The Time I Finished 2nd

[MARATHON #153 / UNIQUE MARATHON #75 / 4 March 2017]

Many runners spend hours doing speed, track and hill work in the hope of getting faster and securing an elusive podium finish. I recently found out that this time could be better spent searching for the right race: It’s not how fast you run, it’s the races you pick!

It’s not always how fast you run, it’s the races you pick. The story about the time I finished 2nd in a marathon.

Continue reading “NGK Familiefees Marathon: The Time I Finished 2nd”

18th December 201720th September 2018

Heroes Marathon, Mthatha (Back2Back Marathon Weekend)

[MARATHON #171 / UNIQUE MARATHON #88 / 3 December 2017]

[Part 2 or my first back2back marathon weekend – click here for Part 1]

The best way to get really stiff legs after a marathon is a long car drive – and the 7-hour drive from Port Elizabeth ensured that rigor mortis engulfed the lower half of my body by the time we reached Mthatha. Not ideal with the prospect of one of the toughest marathons in the country ahead… but at least the drive provided stunning views for this first time visitor to the Transkei.

Heroes Marathon was my first visit to the Transkei. I made it to the start but would I make it to the finish?

Continue reading “Heroes Marathon, Mthatha (Back2Back Marathon Weekend)”

18th December 201720th September 2018

Aspen PE City Marathon (Back2Back Marathon Weekend)

[MARATHON #170 / UNIQUE MARATHON #87 / 2 December 2017]

My current running goal is to complete 100 unique marathons. It’s a great way to stay motivated – annual double-lappers around Benoni are enough to destroy the spirit of even the most enthusiastic runner (there’s been nothing glamorous to look at in Benoni since Charlize Theron left for Hollywood)!

Running different marathons is also a great way to explore our beautiful country. With this in mind, I agreed to see off 2017 with a bang and do something I said I would never do – run back to back marathons.

Continue reading “Aspen PE City Marathon (Back2Back Marathon Weekend)”

5th December 201720th September 2018

Platinum Belt Marathon: Rustenburg to Marikana (sans water)

[MARATHON #169 / UNIQUE MARATHON #86 / 26 November 2017]

My wife has a good friend in Rustenburg that we don’t see often enough. During a WhatsApp chat bemoaning this fact, said friend wished that there was a marathon in Rustenburg so that we would visit. Like the plot of a Disney movie, her wish came true shortly thereafter when the inaugural Platinum Belt Marathon was announced . Every Disney movie needs a Prince Charming – so naturally I assumed this role by immediately registering for the marathon.

Does my bum look fat in these pants? Fashion modelling on the Marikana high street.

Continue reading “Platinum Belt Marathon: Rustenburg to Marikana (sans water)”