Joburg’s toughest race is a level playing field
GREENSIDE – About 4 500 runners are expected to take part in Pirates Road Running Club as they try to get back into shape.
GREENSIDE – It’s that time of the year again when runners take part in the Pirates Road Running Club annual half marathon on 19 February.
The marathon will begin and end at the Pirates Sports Club in Greenside and this year 4 500 runners are expected to participate.
“The prize money is among the highest for a 21km race around the country and is regarded as one of the country’s most challenging half marathons. Gold medals will be awarded to the top five finishers, silver to the finishers within 90 minutes, and bronze to all the other finishers. Men and women receive equal prize money,” said the club’s spokesperson, Struan Brown.
The winner will receive R6 500, second prize is R3 200, third prize is R1 700, fourth prize is R1 100 and the fifth-placed runner will walk away with R850. There will be cash prizes for different age groups.
The club has a play facility that caters for children and ther will be a variety of food and drinks for participants and visitors to choose from throughout the event.
The race follows a circular route which will take runners past the water tower on top of Northcliff Hill and back again. The first half of the route has challenging hills, starting after 1km, and with two more climbs, the last being at the King of the Mountain point at about 14km. The downhill after that is fast and the cut-off is three and a half hours.
The club’s spokesperson, Struan Brown, said Metro police would conduct the roadblocks.
Entry Fee:
- 21.1km race (pre-entries) – R100
- 21.1km race (on the day) – R130
- Grandmasters – R50
- Blind runners – Free
- Temporary licence – R25.
- Pre-entries can be bought from:
- The Pirates Sports Club on 18 February from 10am to 2pm
- The Sweat Shop outlets at Dunkeld Centre 011 325 2567/8, at Fourways Crossing 011 467 5966, and in Bedfordview 011 450 2421
- Randburg Runner at Manlam Court in Linden 011 888 9644
- Online entries close on 15 February and can be accessed at entrytickets.net/pirates21
Details: Pirates Club 011 646 5025.
