Runners have the opportunity to run qualifying times for the Comrades during the Mimosa Mall Marathon – set to be held on Saturday, 1 March.
The idea of having a Comrades qualifying race so early in the running calendar stems from the successful Mimosa Family Run held in March this year.
In celebrating Mimosa Mall’s 25th birthday in 2025, the Mimosa Mall Marathon will be deemed the cherry on top of the year-long celebrations.
As was the case this year, the run will be held in aid of the Louzanne Coetzee Foundation and organised by the Bloemfontein Striders running club.
Runners can start lacing up their running shoes in preparation for the event of the year and not only expect exciting inserts to their goodie bag from Mimosa Mall stores and partners, but also R32 500 in Mimosa Mall gift cards that are up for grabs for the winners in the race’s various age categories.
“Mimosa Mall is extremely proud of the overall outcome of the first annual Mimosa Family Run. From the initial stages of planning, our commitment to delivering an unforgettable experience for the running community was unwavering and we are excited to host the Mimosa Mall Marathon in March next year,” said Neelofar Issa, general manager of Mimosa Mall.
Mimosa Mall was also the first official partner of the Louzanne Coetzee Foundation during the 2024 Mimosa Family Run, where the runners contributed R10 000 towards Coetzee’s foundation, aimed at empowering differently-abled athletes whilst providing much-needed education and support to the country’s aspiring para-athletes.
“As a key gatekeeper of the Bloemfontein community, relationships, collaborations, and partnerships remain of utmost importance to us when planning and executing events of this nature. We are pleased to announce that we will again be partnering with the Bloemfontein Striders who, as one of the oldest running clubs in Bloemfontein, have set an unmatched pace in executing events like this,” said André Rossouw, marketing manager of Mimosa Mall.
BloemNews is the exclusive print media sponsor for the Mimosa Mall Marathon.
According to Jeannine van Zyl, general manager of Novus Media Community News in the Free State and Northern Cape, the Mimosa Mall Marathon represents more than just a race – it embodies the values that align with Novus Media’s mission and vision.
“This entails community engagement by connecting with our communities throughout the Free State and Northern Cape, fostering goodwill and strengthening relationships with stakeholders.
“An event like this highlights determination, teamwork, and perseverance which are values that drive our success every day. By supporting the Mimosa Mall Marathon, we confirm BloemNews’, along with BloemExpress’, reputation as being dedicated to investing in people and meaningful causes.”
Entries open on 17 January.
Apart from the marathon, there will also be a 5 km fun run, along with a 10 km and 21 km run that will be a qualifier for the Two Oceans Half Marathon.
