Local runners tackle iconic Soweto marathon

It’s Sunday morning, November 6; South Africans are preparing to attend church service while others are recovering from a long Saturday night. For thousands of Soweto Marathon runners, it is a morning they have been waiting and preparing for months.
The 23rd Old Mutual Soweto Marathon started at 6am from the iconic FNB Soccer Stadium. Traffic came to a stand-still as runners passed historical monuments like the Hector Peterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street, Morris Isaacson High School, Regina Mundi Church, Walter Sisulu Square and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
With pleasant weather conditions runners were enjoying the township atmosphere. Residents were echoing welcoming messages in different African languages including Afrikaans.
Sowetans displayed the spirit of Ubuntu by being kind to visitors, passing words of encouragement and showing their support in numbers to celebrate with the runners.
BT Khanyile of Dundee, who participated in the 21km race, said “organisers did a wonderful job and people of Soweto were welcoming and encouraging”. Some runners took time to take photos with residents and children in the streets.
In some parts of the route there was refuse that had been dumped on the road side as well as a leaking sewer pipe to contend with.
Several drivers, who lost their patience while waiting in long queues of traffic, were easily dealt with by marshalls and traffic cops who were in control of the situation.
About 25 000 runners were reported to have taken part in the three marathon’s streams: 42, 21 and 10 km.
The main race was won by Ethiopian national, Sintayehu Legese, in 2:20:44, while Edward Mothibi was the first South African home. He finished seventh in a time of 2:25:33.
David Manja, 1:07:01, took the honours in the half-marathon.