Athletes set to test their mettle
The route from Nquthu to Dundee is an undulating course, which can be roughly broken into three sections.
The battlefields of Northern KwaZulu-Natal will be the focus of KZN road running on August 11. On this date, the province’s top ultramarathon runners will go to war for the R100 000 first prize during the inaugural Prince Mangosuthu Ultramarathon in Dundee.
The event will offer runners a choice of 3 distance categories. It caters for the serious ultra-distance runner with a tough 52km race, which finishes at Dundee’s Kallies Stadium, as well as a 10km event for the speedsters and a 5km for the casual athlete.
1 man and 1 woman will win R100k in the 52km main race. 2nd- and 3rd-placed athletes will earn themselves R50 000 and R25 000 respectively, with prizes going down to the tenth-placed finisher, who will earn R1 000. Even the winner in the 10km race will win a R3 000 prize.
It is fitting the 52km ultramarathon is named after one of South Africa’s most enduring politicians, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and doubly so because the event takes place in the month the long-time leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party celebrates his 91st birthday.
The route from Nquthu to Dundee can be roughly broken into 3 sections. The 1st section will be a fast predominantly downhill section of about 18km until the runners cross the Buffalo River, with the next 16km characterised by some long climbs, including a tough 9km ascent out of the river valley. The remainder will see competitors taking on hills and descents into Dundee.
Races are co-hosted by the Nquthu and Dundee Development Athletics Clubs, with the 52km event starting at Mgazi Secondary School in Nquthu and concluding at Kallies. The 10km race and 5km fun run start and finish at the stadium.
Online entries can be made at www.webtickets.co.za and Pick ‘n Pay stores, manual pre-entries at the Umzinyathi District Municipality, with race-day entries to be completed at the starting venues. Entry fees: 52km – R130, 10km – R50, 5km – R5.
The 52km event starts at 5.30am and the 10km at 6am, with the race timed by FinishTime and all participants receiving a free T-shirt.
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