SOWETO MARATHON TRUST LAUNCHES THE PEOPLE'S RACE WITH A NEW ROUTE

This highly anticipated race will commence at the Golden Highway and conclude at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec on 3 November.

Entries will open at midnight, with no cap on participants.

During the launch in Soweto on Thursday, African Bank Soweto Marathon race director Danny Blumberg told SABC Sport that they listened to participants ‘feedback and made some changes to the route.

The prize for winning the 42.2km race remains R250 000 for the first male and female runners to cross the finish line.

“We received a substantial amount of feedback, which we have taken very seriously. Many of our runners, especially those participating in the marathon, expressed concerns about the stairs leading up to FNB Stadium. Additionally, numerous clubs were unhappy about the lack of tents at the finish line and had suggestions regarding the route measurement. These are areas we can improve on. Runners can visit sowetomarathon.com to register starting at midnight,” said Blumberg.

This year, the organizers are open to accommodate unlimited entries, inviting enthusiasts to participate in the race without any restrictions.

“It’s a challenging race with mass participation, and we don’t want to limit it this year. Let’s grow the event and see where it goes from there. Instead of capping it at 20 000 or 40 000, we are inviting everyone to join the running party,” explained Blumberg.

"It's a challenging race with mass participation, and we don't want to limit it this year. Let's grow the event and see where it goes from there. Instead of capping it at 20,000 or 40,000, we are inviting everyone to join the running party," explained Blumberg.

They have launched the event, but there is still much work to be done in preparation for the race. Meetings with the sponsors are scheduled to take place from now until November.

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“Where do we begin? There are countless meetings with clubs, the city, sponsors, residents, and our stakeholders, including our participants, to address safety concerns. We have to coordinate with the ward councilor and others. We are looking forward to the event with excitement, driven by our passion for the sport. It’s hard work, but the reward is priceless. Come November, we will celebrate,” added Blumberg.

2024-07-05T08:20:40Z dg43tfdfdgfd