The 2025 City2City official launch took place at the Gautrain Management offices in Midrand on September 4, with road runners setting their sights on the R200 000 prize money for the 50km.
From Jozi to Tshwane, the runners will endure the uphill slopes, from Marlboro Gautrain Station finishing at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane on September 28.
There will be 10km and 5km races. The organisers said about 735 entries were already sold, and they will get more before the September 19 cut-off date for online entries.
The reigning Soweto Marathon winner, Onelanna Khonkhobe, believes he can win the ultra-marathon.
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“Just like the Soweto Marathon last year, I didn’t know the route, but I managed to win. I am very excited, and that’s why I love running races I don’t know. I don’t have any pressure going into this race,” said the charismatic runner. He said after this, he will have about a week’s rest time before going for the Soweto Marathon in a bid to defend his 2024 crown.
Lucky Mohale, who now trains with Khonkhobe, said he was happy with his preparation and being a race ambassador.
“I am hoping to do well because I have been preparing well. If I can get top 10, I will be happy. I think I am ready because last year I was running alone, and now I am training in Klerksdorp, and that has helped me prepare well. Anything can happen, and I am looking at the podium finish,” added Mohale.
He said they have tough roads that they train in, and that helps them prepare better, with Khonkhobe.
Another race ambassador, Nobuhle Nobukhosi Tshuma, said she was disappointed with her Comrades Marathon’s performance after suffering an injury.
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However, Tshuma says she’s ready to defend her podium finish after finishing second last year. “I will be happy if I finish on the podium again. The main goal is to defend my podium finish and be within the top 3. After the injury at the Comrades, I went to physiotherapy and now I am fine. The injury also played in my mind, but I am thankful to the coach, Hendrick Ramala, who was a big one because they kept on motivating,” said Tshuma.
She said she is not feeling any pain in her injuries and she’s raring to go. Registered runners can use their official race numbers for free travel on Gautrain to and from the race.
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