After a 24-month hiatus, the popular Soweto Marathon is returning with a bang and is now the biggest South African one day race this year.
The “People’s Race” is one of the toughest events on the athletics calendar, and athletes will face many a hill as they chase for glory. The challenging route and soaring temperatures never deter the thousands who enter year on year.
This year marks the 27th edition of the iconic Soweto Marathon.
Soweto Marathon Trust Chairman Sello Khunou says the post-Covid return is long overdue and extends his condolences to people who lost loved ones to the pandemic.
“We’re back with a bang. It’ll be a special edition and possibly our best race ever,” Khunou enthuses.
An estimated 20 000 athletes from around the world will start and finish from FNB Stadium on Sunday, November 6.
“Entries are still open, so we encourage all to enter and experience the rich history on offer,” says Khunou.
The starting point is FNB Stadium for all the distances. The 42km marathon will start at 05:30am, the 21km at 6:30am and the 10km at 07:30am.
The City of Johannesburg, Rand Water, Prime-Corp, South African National Blood Service, Sizonke Foundation and other sponsors will be gearing up for the marathon. All the runners will use the Nasrec Road and find the first water point 3km into the race.
The Soweto Marathon will trace some of the most historic routes of the township to inspire the runners and reflect on Soweto’s heritage. hey will pass through the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the third-largest hospital in South Africa, Regina Mundi Catholic Church, which is one of the prominent churches that played a pivotal role during apartheid, Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world where two Noble Peace prize winners former president Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu resided, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Orlando Stadium.
INFO SUPPLIED.PIC BELONGS TO MEDIA 24.
