The Rand Athletic Club (RAC) is proud to be presenting and celebrating 50 years of the RAC Tough One on Sunday, 24 November.
A group of avid Welkom runners travelled to this renowned marathon, being the last one on the running calendar for 2024.
“Starting at the Old Parks Sports Club, Bordeaux, the 32 km route remained the same challenge as previous years and thousands of runners from around the country and afar were up for the challenge. This is a very hilly, undulating and challenging race in Randburg, central Gauteng, with significant elevation gains,” says Nkhetheni Masupa, Welkom’s renowned marathon runner.
Masupa says 2024 has been the busiest year in his running history.
“I have managed to complete 15 marathons, accompanied by lots of personal best finishing times, age category and overall prizes.
“The most outstanding achievements for me were getting Two Oceans silver medals in both 56 km (3:43:16) and the following day’s 21 km (1:27:29), the N12 50 km ultramarathons (3:07:18) and Comrades 86 km marathon (6:38:23).”
Masupa also finished the famous Berlin Marathon in 2:39:50.
Masupa and Abe Nkomo, known nationally as the Team Vitality Twins, travelled to Germany for the 50th anniversary celebration of the globally famous Berlin Marathon, which was run on 29 September.
This was Masupa’s second Boston race.
With his time at the Boston Marathon, Masupa has achieved the world championship qualifying standard of 2:48:00 for the men’s 50 to 54 year age group, which qualifies him for registration to run in the 2025 Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Marathon Championship series.
During 2024, he came first in Welkom’s Mielie Marathon (age category); first in the Joburg North City 42 km race; first in the Kosmos 3-in-1 42 km event and second in its 21 km event; second in the Om Die Dam 50 km race; second in the 56 km Two Oceans marathon, first in the N12 Ultra 50 km, and fifth in the 86 km Comrades Marathon.
“And now as the 2024 running stage curtain falls, I will continue doing more of what I love, that is running, competing with no-one else but myself.”
