Lace up to take on toughest half throughout SA

IT IS a generally held belief that the Windmill 60:11 Half Marathon, with its magnificent history in tow, is the fastest half marathon in South Africa, indeed Africa.

That being the case it seems fitting to register another “best of” labels to a local race albeit at the other end of the spectrum.

In this instance the Bridle Drift Half Marathon, which will be run for the second time next Sunday, is the race in focus. The label should surely read “The toughest half marathon in the land”.

If anyone thinks labelling the race as such is cruel to the event, the organisers or the sponsors, nothing could be further from the truth, for Alex Kambule, the race director, bursts with pride when the Real Gijimas-hosted half marathon is referred to in such terms.

It seriously seems very unlikely that there is a tougher half marathon in the country.

Running the race over the hills and through the valleys of Mdantsane on the last Saturday of January obviously adds to the challenge given the likelyhood of high temperatures and humidity.

Running in Mdantsane is simply hilly anyway but when the course plummets all the way down to the Bridle Drift Dam and then turns sharply to retrace its steps up the same down hills that have just punished the legs then we can talk torture?

Last year the top three men were all members of visiting clubs. First in was Zuko Mambula of Cool Running. Second was Anele Maliza of Nedbank, Port Elizabeth and third Anele Maqele of Cheetahs, Mthatha.

The winning time was 73:30 and, to put that into perspective, the same runner would probably record 63 or 64 minutes at the fastest half.

Hanlie Botha won the women’s race in 84:28 and she is capable of well under 80 minutes at most half marathons, while a newly pregnant Stephanie Smith recorded 97:18 and Siphokazi Nojoko of Port Elizabeth’s Motherwell AC was third two minutes back.

Entries have been open for a while and it seems likely that the lure of the great atmosphere, the friendly finish at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium and the opportunity to put in one last hard training run before the new look Caltex Masters Half Marathon will all be a draw card.

Sandwiched between the Bridle Drift and the Masters is the Red Barron Tomato Trot to which early bird entries close at midnight tomorrow night (Sunday).

Bridle Drift entries close on-line Tuesday at noon and at sports shops on Wednesday at 5pm.

A good tough half marathon will also be great training for the Hemmingways Buffs Marathon which makes a welcome return in 2017.