Loskop Ultra Marathon sponsored by Forever Resorts South Africa

FOREVER RESORTS LOSKOP SERIES

25th Marathon

25th Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon another Major Success

Joseph Mputhi and Riana van Niekerk win 50km Marathon

5 524 Entrants make the Loskop Marathon the Best Yet!

25th run of the Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon Series

The 25th run of the popular Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon Series took place on Saturday, 17 April 2010. The 50km Loskop Marathon from Middelburg to Loskop Dam has been rated as the second best ultra marathon for 2009, outperforming both the Comrades and the Two Oceans Marathons. The Forever Resorts Wild Challenge, a 21,1km country race that is run through the Loskop Nature Reserve is growing in popularity and was voted the best half-marathon in SA.

The Forever Resorts Loskop Marathon is a 50km ultra marathon from Middelburg to Forever Resorts Loskopdam Resort. The Forever Resorts Wild Challenge is a 21.1km half marathon that is run through the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve.

Joshia Thugwane was out to prove he can still run an ultra marathon, when he stood at the start of the Forever Resorts Loskop marathon, here on Saturday.

But the former Olympic gold medalist was hit by a stomach bug and had to pull out of the race after 27km, leaving the eventual winner Joseph Mphuthi to win from start to finish. His winning time for the 50km race was 2:50.09.

"My hero is Josiah because he was the first South African to win gold at the Olympic marathon," said Mphuthui. "I wanted to do well against him, but he did not finish the race," said Mphuthi.

"I had a very good race and led from start to finish. There was no time at all that anyone was a threat to me," said the man from Boipatong, in the Vaal area.

"I know myself and was determined that if anyone was going to beat me, he would have to faint or I would at the end," said the victor.

Second place went to a fast finishing Marco Mambo, three times winner of the Two Oceans, running under the Mr Price colours.

Mambo was in second place for a long time, but then Doctor Mtsweni, from Middelburg Striders passed him and opened a gap of 200m, until the last killer hill, Faraday hill, where the tall figure of Mambo came hurtling past him at a blistering pace to finish a minute ahead of Mtsweni.

"I was having problems with my calf muscles and had to take things easy or else I would be injured," said Mambo, who is preparing for Comrades next month.

Mtsweni was third across the line saying this is his second running of Loskop, he ran in 2002, but did not do very well.

"I am pleased with my performance today and now I want to look for City to City,"said the small runner from Bloemfontein.

Riana van Niekerk was upset by a newspaper report last week saying that she had over raced in the past two months, she wanted to silence her critics, and she did, winning the 50km race in a time of 3:19.06.

"I was upset about the report that I was over racing, but I did have a bad Two Oceans, so this win is great for me. I spoke to a sports psychologist who has helped me and now I look forward to doing Comrades, this year," said the small Pretoria runner.

Second place went to the Zimbabwean, Muchaneta Gwata, with Belinda Waghorn in third place.

"I have not been over racing, just running a lot, there is a difference," said Waghorn. "I had a good day today and everything is going according to plan and my plan for Comrades is to finish under seven hours," said the tall blonde athlete from Bonitas.

Her running partner, veteran runner and also a gold medal winner at Comrades, Lindsay van Aswegen, won the over 40 section.

There were 5 524 runners at the resort race, 1 400 runners opting for the shorter distance of 21km, while the rest did the 50km ultra distance.

Even though weather reports were expecting rain, it was a perfect day for running.

The beauty of this race is that the residents of the area come out to support the runners even at 6am.

"Everyone comes and supports the race and this is great for the runners," said Thugwane.

Official media sponsor of the Loskop Marathon: www.mpowerfm.co.za