Mohlakeng runner shifts focus to Soweto Marathon

Local ultra-runner from Mohlakeng, Max Ramagaga, is one of 24 000 athletes who could not participate in the iconic Sanlam Cape Town Marathon recently.

“I was looking forward to doing my eighth Cape Town Marathon. I, like many of the runners, was advised of the race’s cancellation. When I woke up at about 04:00, I experienced heavy winds, but it somehow subsided towards the scheduled start time of the race,” said Max, who runs for Correctional Services Athletics Club in Pretoria.

Some runners feel that, despite the unfavourable windy conditions, the Local Organising Committee and Joint Operations Centre could have waited until closer to the scheduled start time, about an hour, to assess the weather patterns and possibly give the go-ahead instead of cancelling.

“Be it as it may, I still went out for a 27-minute run,” he said.

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is the only race with the Abbott Major Race Standard, like the Boston, Berlin, and New York Marathons, according to World Athletics sanctioning.

Max has so far completed Abbott Major Races like the Berlin and Sydney Marathons.

“I feel I still have to do more of the major races, like Chicago and New York,” he expressed.

He described himself as a hardcore runner who goes for a run regardless of conditions, such as when he recently ran the City to City 50km Marathon despite having an eye operation. He has completed four Soweto Marathons, eight On Die Dam races, nine Tough One races, and six Comrades Marathons. His best Comrades result is 11:20, and he only needs to run four more to achieve his Comrades Green Number. His times for major races include Chicago at 4:45, Berlin at 5:01, and Sydney at 5:05.

He is now looking forward to the African Bank Soweto Marathon on November 29.