Celebrating a decade of glowing community fun at the 2018 Rowlin National Glow Run

It was a colourful, glowing affair on the streets.

November 12, 2018

Logan Green 2 minutes read

Getting excited for some fun at the Rowlin Glow Run are Wayne Taylor, Trent Burlison, Michelle Taylor and Michael Burlison.

The threat of bad weather was not enough to dim the optimism of the numerous community members who flocked to Benoni Northerns Sports Club on October 31 for the 10th annual Rowlin National Brokers Glow Run, organised by Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC).

The weather has in the past been a bugbear for the organisers and sponsors, but this year the stormy, windy conditions that initially threatened the smooth running of the popular road race, cleared up just in time for a fun-filled night under the Rynfield street lights.

According to BNAC race organiser, Jan Jordaan, about 2 300 road runners and walkers took part in the race over the three race distances (the 5km fun run, 10km and 15km routes).

“The weather worked out perfectly and everything just went off smoothly from the running of the water tables to the marshalling to the handing out of the medals,” said the stalwart race organiser.

Jordaan always has praise for his club members who ensured that ‘everything takes care of itself’ on the evening.

“We haven’t had any complaints from the night, so it was a great success.

“The community really came out in numbers to support the race with around 1 500 people enjoying the fun run.”

Jordaan, who has been organising this race for the last decade as well as the more complex Robor Scaffolding Marathon for many years, will soon hand over the reins to a new race organiser at BNAC in Julie Dekker.

He will still, however, continue to provide assistance and expertise to the new club race organiser.

“It is time for some new blood and new energy,” he said.

On the running side of things, it was Nedbank Running Club’s Thato Masina (20) who crossed the finishing line first in the longest of the three distances with a time of 49 minutes and 55 seconds followed in the second position by Rocky Road Runners’ Simon Mpholo who finished 10 seconds later.

Makoma Batji (25) of Run Walk for Life was the first woman home in the 15km race with a time of one hour, three minutes and 25 seconds.

In the 10km distance, it was 17-year-old Thabo Shabangu of Rocky Road Runners, who was the first man home with a time of 32 minutes and 49 seconds.

Anet Coetzee (30) of KPMG Running Club was the first woman home in the 10km race with a quick time of 42 minutes and 14 seconds.

Full results for the 10km and 15km distances are available at raceresults.co.za