Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 55, February 2014 | Page 25

OF M O CI DE AL RN M ED ATH IA LE PA TE RT NE R FI Race Advertorial Old Mutual Om die Dam Marathon, Schoemansville, Hartbeespoort Dam, North West North, 15 March The Old Mutual Om die Dam Marathon is the largest inland ultra-marathon in South Africa, offering a 50km ultra that goes around the Hartbeespoort Dam – hence the name – as well as a half marathon, 10km and 5km fun run. The event attracts over 7 000 participants and offers magnificently scenic routes, so clear your diary for Saturday 15 March and get your entry in today! The Om die Dam event was first run in 1991 and has grown into one of the finest ultra-marathons in South Africa, offering a great family day out thanks to its offering of four race distances. Just an hour’s drive from Johannesburg, or around 40 minutes from Pretoria, a trip to the Hartbeespoort Dam is always a pleasure, and the magnificently scenic routes will have you wanting to do a second lap when you reach the finish! The ultra route goes out on the R104, through the tunnel, crossing the dam wall and passing under the Arch de Triumph, then turns left at Damdoryn, onto the R512, and climbs the first big hill, Commando Neck. After crossing the westerly point of the dam – a beautiful stretch with the rising sun reflecting dramatically on the calm water below – it’s left again, past Peaconwood Golf Estate. Coming into Broederstroom, the R512 turns away towards Lanseria, but the race route continues straight onto the R104 past Pelindaba. BEWARE SAARTJIES Another left turn at the R511 intersection brings runners to Saartjies Neck, the 2km monster at 36km, but the view over the dam is well worth the climb! After Saartjies, it’s on past Jasmyn Farm Stall and through the residential suburbs of Meerhof, Ifafi and Melodie before reaching the finish at Schoemansville. The half marathon and shorter races run mainly around the suburbs of Hartbeespoort and are generally flat, easy and fast. It can be hot in Harties at this time of year, but the event is renowned for its superb refreshment stations, with 19 in total on the ultra route, spaced every 3km for the first half, and then every 2km from halfway. Besides water and Coke at all stations, some also offer potatoes, bananas, chocolates, jelly sweets and other ‘morale lifters.’ The organisers know how to look after tired runners! That attention to detail is just part of what makes this race one of the benchmark races on the South African race calendar. See you there! ESSENTIAL EVENT INFO Date: Saturday 15 March Registration: Race numbers can be collected at various locations from 8 to 14 March and at the start on race day – see www.omdiedamultra.co.za for details. Start venue: Opposite Hartbeespoort High School grounds, Schoemansville, Hartbeespoort Dam. Parking: Various areas within walking distance from the start, at local schools and churches, along the R104 and in the open veld opposite the start. Start times: 50km – 6am; 21.1km & 10km – 6:30am; 5km – 6:40am Cut-off times: 50km – 7 hours, with intermediate cut-off marks at 25km (3.5 hours) and 42.2km (5 hours); 21.1km – 4 hours; 10km – 3 hours; 5km – 1 hour Accommodation: Check www.omdiedamultra.co.za for recommended options. More info: www.omdiedamultra.co.za, tel. [phone] or [email protected] VITAL ADVICE: Runners should try get to the start early, especially those who still need to enter or collect race numbers, as Schoemansville gets congested quickly. Arrive early and avoid the traffic and queues! GET YOUR ENTRIES IN! The 50km ultra is pre-entries only, closing on 2 March, and all entries received by 15 February will qualify for a race T-shirt. Entries for the Half, 10km and 5km can still be done up till race day. Online entries at www.omdiedamultra.co.za or hand entries in at various sports shops in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Rustenburg (see www.omdiedamultra.co.za for the full list). Entries will also be taken at the Om Die Dam office in Scott Street, Hartbeespoort. This event is being timed with the ChampionChip system and therefore you are required to own a ChampionChip to participate and be recorded in the race results. Your ChampionChip code must be entered on your registration form. N