The Clearwater Mall Race brought runners of different ages and abilities together, with the morning offering plenty of reasons to take part beyond the race results on Saturday, August 22.

Hosted by Panorama Running Club in partnership with Clearwater Mall, the event attracted 3 828 entries across the 21km, 10km and 5km Fun Run. A total of 3 260 runners completed their races.

Among the runners were families enjoying the morning together, including mothers who took on the route while pushing their children in prams. There were also senior runners, including participants over 70, showing that the race was not limited to one age group or level of fitness.

For those on the route, the hills provided one of the biggest challenges of the morning. Some runners admitted that the climbs were tough, but continued putting one foot in front of the other until they reached the finish.

Supporters also played their part, lining sections of the route and encouraging runners as they passed.

The competitive side of the race saw Winfred Mutiro of Mr Price take the 10km title in 00:31:39. Xolisa Tyali of Rockies finished second in 00:32:07, followed by Jacob Malefo of Entsika in 00:33:06. Lebogang Molebatsi won the 5km Fun Run in 00:20:04.

But once the running was over, what stood out was the mix of people who had shared the same route – families, friends, experienced runners and those simply challenging themselves to finish.

Organisers thanked the volunteers, marshals, cyclists, pacers, medical teams, sponsors and community organisations who helped keep the event running. For many participants, the Clearwater Mall Race was not just another race on the calendar. It was a morning spent outdoors, surrounded by people cheering each other on.