The 2025 aQuelle Zone 3 Marathon took place on September 7 at the Marks Park Sports Complex, featuring a variety of race distances including the full marathon of 42.2km, a half marathon of 21.1km, as well as 10km and 5km races.

Organised by Run Zone Athletics, the event has been officially approved as a qualifier for the Two Oceans Marathon 2026 and the Comrades Marathon 2026, offering runners a valuable opportunity to secure their place in these prestigious races.

Candis Lubbe, the race operations manager for Run Zone, highlighted the event’s focus on encouraging social runners to participate. “We are currently the cheapest race in the country, so we are trying to encourage the masses to get involved,” she said. Lubbe also noted that this was only the second time the 42km distance was offered, describing the turnout as ‘absolutely fantastic.’

Read more: Runners flock to 2025 aQuelle Zone 3 Marathon as qualifier for Two Oceans and Comrades

The success of the event was described as a true team effort by Graham Block, the founder and chairperson of Run Zone Athletics Club. Reflecting on the day, Block said, “There are so many people in the background that you don’t even know that they’re involved, and they’re doing things, and everybody is just playing their part. How it all comes together always fascinates me. I stand in awe and amazement at just how it all falls into place.”

He acknowledged the challenges each event brings but praised the team’s ability to turn those challenges into victories.

“That has been the core, I believe, for Run Zone, and it’s where we are. We’re known to be one of the biggest community clubs in South Africa, and that doesn’t come from anything other than the fact that I believe what you put in is what you get out. We produced a service for the running community.”

Block shared the vision behind the club’s founding, emphasising affordability and accessibility.

“We started the club on the grounds of making running affordable and accessible to anybody passionate about changing their life through the sport of running and developing the principles and powers of running in everyday life. That will definitely make you successful and help you face daily challenges with the attitude that, at the end of the day, it will result in victory.”

With strong participation across all distances, the 2025 aQuelle Zone 3 Marathon continues to grow as a popular fixture on Johannesburg’s running calendar, embodying a spirit of community, accessibility, and personal achievement.

Winners at the 2025 aQuelle Zone 3 Marathon:

• 42.2km – Kopano Muso
• 21.1km – Kamohelo Daniel Sogasa
• 10km – Admire Chiwambo
• 5km – Brian Mhlangu.

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