THIS year’s Sani Stagger Marathon is one of the most iconic races on the calendar, with its route taking runners to the summit of Sani Pass and back over 42 gruelling kilometres and doubling as a Comrades Marathon qualifier on Saturday, 24 November.

The popularity of the event has snowballed, to the point that both the full marathon and the half marathon sold out in record time, showing the demand for entries to one of the more unique marathons around.

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What sets the Sani Stagger apart is the fact that the race takes place on a gravel road to the top of Sani Pass and back to the Premier Resort Sani Pass Hotel. The race will form an important part of runners’ preparations for the Comrades Marathon.

With the altitude being a factor, many runners use the race as part of a training regime leading up to the Comrades Marathon. This coupled with the tough conditions that are experienced mean that the Sani Stagger medal is prized.

Both runs are based around the Premier Resort Sani Pass and take in some of the most exciting trail in the Southern Drakensberg.

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