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Afternoon running back on EPA’s Calendar

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Good Friday sees the inaugural afternoon marathon (42.2km) of the Festival of Running from Cows Corner. The event also includes a half marathon, 10km and 5km fun run. The route showcases 3 of Nelson Mandela Bay’s 5 biomes in the pristine Theesecombe and Maitlands areas. It is the 4th cheapest marathon in South Africa at R130pp making it very accessible.

The organizers, X-Cel Athletics Club say, “this is one of 2 scheduled marathons in the Bay giving runners an opportunity to be more prepared for runs like Comrades. It is a hilly route, and we encourage people to run easy with friends and enjoy the amazing views on the route.” The route goes from Cows Corner, down De Stades Road to Maitlands, Seaview and back up “5 kay Hill”. The half-marathon ends on Lower Seaview Road while the marathon returns the same way. The 5 and 10km runs are out-and-back on De Stades Road.

Aspire #LiveFit coach, Bruce Campbell says runners will build strength even taking the run slow. He suggests an easy approach to the hilly course, especially for those running Two Oceans and Comrades. The gains will make the longer races more enjoyable.

In recent times ASA and EPA have called on race organizers to be more “eco-aware”. Heeding this call, the Festival of Running with be the first event of its kind in NMB where there will be no plastic sachets. Cost effective water bottles are on sale during the entry process at www.getsteve.co.za. Water points will be at the usual 2.5-3.5km distance apart and provision is made for enough water to refill athletes bottles, cups or hydration packs.

Plastic-free events are part of the goal for the #icarrymyown movement that started in Cape Town, One of their advocates, ultra-trail athlete Karoline Hanks, has praised X-Cel on their efforts and wishes all participants and volunteers a fun time outdoors. The movement advocates little-to-zero plastic use at events, and asks runners to carry a cup, bottle or hydration pack to refill as necessary. Nelson Mandela Bay’s extreme athlete, Steven Lancaster, reports that his marathon PB was at a hot marathon where he carried a hydration pack and refilled it once, showing that with managed training and expectations, anything is possible.

The Festival of Running name suggests that this is not a fast or “Personal Best” route. It is a “time on legs and time with friends” training run; it just happens to be an official event, too. With various distances and very generous cut off times we encourage Nelson Mandela Bay and South Africa to join us. Pre-entries on the website will close at 12noon on Thursday 28 March. Late entries will be an extra R50 from 11am on Good Friday.

The marathon starts at 13h00 with a 6 hour cut off. The half marathon starts at 15h30 with a 3hr30 cut off. And the 10km and 5km both start at 16h00 and cut off at 18h30.

Queries can be directed to Steven at 0760275280 or loud@amplico.world or to X-Cel club chair, Marvin Draai at the above email.
Stay updated on event developments on Facebook.com/NMBfestivalRun.

Steven Lancaster – 076 027 5280 || Marvin Draai, club chair – 082 772 5578

Author: Steven Lancaster
Website: https://www.getsteve.co.za

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