IN PHOTOS: Steep inclines and declines test Makhonjwa Marathon athletes’ legs
The mountains along the route were covered in mist for the majority of the race.
Hundreds of runners, local and from abroad, laced up their running shoes and took on the ever-tough Makhonjwa Marathon on Saturday, September 28.
They had to take on some seriously difficult terrain, overcoming significant amounts of elevation changes along the route.
The Makhonjwa Marathon, hosted by Bella’s Athletics Club, is renowned for being one of the tougher runs on the Ehlanzeni road-running calendar for exactly this reason. It is a race that offers four distances: 4.9km (a fun run), 10km, 21.1km and 42.2km. The two shortest distances, while not entirely flat, are still a fair bit easier than the half- and full marathon distances.
The full marathon (42.2km) started out at the South African/eSwatinian border at Belembu, while the half-marathon (21.1km) started halfway along the route. The runners then run through the breathtaking Makhonjwa Mountains that not only steal your breath with their challenging terrain, but also through the stunning views runners get to enjoy before finishing at Coronation Park in Barberton.
On this occasion, though, the conditions didn’t lend themselves to much sightseeing as a chilly morning meant the clouds had descended on the Makhonjwa Mountains. They covered the road and left every runner’s next few steps shrouded in mystery.
In the 10km race, Siyabonga Ndlovu was the fastest man on the road, finishing his run in no less than 30:51. His winning margin was as tight as it could be as Musawenkosi Mnisi finished only one second behind him. Siyabonga Xowani was third, finishing in 31:20. Nomvula Sithole was the first woman, completing her 10km in 39:55.
Samuel Kalalei was the victorious runner in the half-marathon, winning with a time of 01:06:30. Olebogile Selokela finished in second place just over a minute later, in 01:07:54. Denis Kipchumba finished in a time of 01:09:11 to take third place. Millicent Nyaberi was the first woman across the line, and finished in 01:28:17.
In the full marathon, Kenyan runner Victor Chepkwony was the number one man, leading for most of the race to win in a time of 02:29:37. Local runner Eliud Meli pushed him right to the end, though, coming second with a time of 02:30:21. Mthembeni Mahlobo was third, finishing the run in 02:30:37. Gladys Jepchirchir was the women’s winner, finishing in 02:59:58.
