The Runified City 50km event, which will start and finish at Pollok Beach, Summerstrand, on February 25, will be open to all this year, and will be an official Two Oceans and Comrades Marathon qualifier.
An added incentive for entrants is that there will also be an official 42.2km timing mat which runners will also be allowed to use to submit as a qualifier.
Transport back from the 50km finish line will be arranged for those athletes who finish on the 42.2km mark.
This event, which is organised by EP Athletics in partnership with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, has also added a 10km race, and for the first time this event will incorporate the Athletics South Africa 50km national championships, with athletes from around the country expecting to compete for the honour of being crowned national champion.
Not only is this a first for the event in Gqeberha, but it is also the first time that the 50km distance qualifies for an official national championship.
The flat and fast 50km route is the perfect opportunity to use as a qualifier for the Two Oceans and Comrades Marathons, and for competitive athletes to achieve personal best times.
The 50km route starts at Pollok Beach and heads towards Kings Beach, Humewood, for the first turn and then back to just beyond the Humewood Golf Course to turn and return past the start towards Kings Beach for the final turn, before heading back to the finish line.
“As long as the weather plays along, we are expecting some very fast times on this flat course which is a mildly rolling route on the out-and-back with a high of around 25m and low of 3m,” said Norrie Williamson, World Athletics A grade course measurer and technical delegate.
“This event could well become the most popular qualifying 50km race in the country due to its perfect timing prior to the Comrades Marathon.
“Athletes need to finish the marathon in five hours, and the 50km in six hours and 30 minutes to qualify for Two Oceans Marathon, and they need to finish the marathon in four hours and 50 minutes (6:53 minutes per km), and the 50km in five hours and 50 minutes (7 min per km) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon.
“So, the advantage of the 50km is the slower pace required for qualification and seeding.”
This year local athletes will be able to pick a pacing bus that will lead them to their personal best finish goal for the Runified City 50km.
Athletes will be able to pick a bus that suits their race finish time goal for the 50km, with pacing buses arranged for sub-five hours, sub-five hours and 30 minutes, sub-six hours and sub-six hours and 30 minutes, the qualifying finish time for the Comrades Marathon.
Local athletes will have the opportunity to be led by East London’s Mkhululi Jack who will lead the sub-five hour bus, Jabulani Dube and David Mama will lead the sub-five hour and 30 minute bus; Mkokeli Malghas will lead the sub-six hour bus.
The only female bus pacer, Nosita Nqwataand, will lead the sub-six hour, 30 minutes bus.
The closing date for online entries is February 18; however, for elite contenders all entries and applications must be done by Friday, February 16.
Collection of race numbers as well as late entries will be available on February 24, from the Marine Hotel between 09:00 and 20:00.
Race number collection will also be available from the Marine Hotel from 04:00 to 05:15 on race day for the 50km, and from 05:15 to 06:30 for the 10km. No late entries will be taken on race day under any condition.
Hosted by the Nedbank running club, the event will once again enjoy live TV coverage on race day from SuperSport, with the 50km setting off at 05:30 and the 10km following at 06:45.
For more information, athletes can contact Michael Mbambani on 079 149 6796, Irene van Eeden on 083 299 1775, and the EP Athletics office at 041 374 2818 or email epa@pe.co.za.
