Measuring and certifying the mile

While many were enjoying a braai on Heritage Day, Herbert Makhale was seen on his bicycle in Parys’ main road, carefully measuring and making notes of the Parys Crater Street Mile route scheduled to take place on Saturday 12 October.

This was done for official certification according to the rules and regulations of World Athletics, Athletics SA and Athletics Free State, giving participating athletes the opportunity to qualify for provincial, national and international recognition.

This year some changes have been made to the Parys Crater Street Mile route. Athletes will start and finish at the Spur entrance at the Pick ‘n Pay Centre in Water Street. The turning point of the route will be at Plum Tree Restaurant in Breë Street.

The event will for the first time be hosted on a Saturday by Rotary Parys in conjunction with Parys Info & Tourism. The first race is set to start at 07:00.

The distance – 1 609.4m – will be the exact measurement of a mile.

Herbert, who is from Soweto, is one of only three people in South Africa with a World Athletics Road Running Measuring Diploma that he obtained in 2021.

Being a long-distance athlete himself, who has won a silver medal at the Comrades some time ago, he takes his responsibility serious to ensure that the measuring of routes is done according to the expected standards.

Since he obtained his first IAAF qualification in 2013, he has measured and certified a number of routes. He explains that the measuring of a route is done with a calibrated Jones counter attached to the front wheel of a bicycle.

After measuring the route, he writes a comprehensive report for the administrators of World Athletics who then give international certification.

I have to be a perfectionist in what I do to safeguard athletes, says Herbert, who not only loves what he is doing, but takes pride in his work.

After all, he knows the heartbeat of an athlete.